Download Introduction to Physical Sciences: Terms and Concepts and more Quizzes Physical Education and Motor Learning in PDF only on Docsity! TERM 1 What is the Biosphere? DEFINITION 1 All the living stuff on the the planet (bacteria, algae, trees, lizards, etc) TERM 2 What is the Geosphere? DEFINITION 2 All the solid stuff that makes up the earth; rock, soil, etc. TERM 3 What is geothermal energy? DEFINITION 3 the energy in steam and hot water heated by subsurface magma near groundwater; the heat from earths interior TERM 4 what is gravitational energy? DEFINITION 4 the effect of gravity on energy TERM 5 what is the hydrosphere? DEFINITION 5 all the wet stuff (oceans, lakes, streams, etc.) TERM 6 Earths open.closed system DEFINITION 6 The earth is an OPEN system for energy, but a CLOSED system for matter (energy in, energy outl matter recycles) TERM 7 what is positive feedback? DEFINITION 7 amplifies or encourages responses in a system TERM 8 what is negative feedback? DEFINITION 8 tends to slow or damped response in a system; promotes self-regulation in a systrem; far more common than positive feedback in living systems TERM 9 what is the scientific method? DEFINITION 9 an approach that uses applied common sense in an organized and objective manner; based on observation, generalization, formulation, and testing of a hypothesis and utlimately the development of a theory TERM 10 what is a system? DEFINITION 10 Any orderedm intereelated set of material or items existing, separate from the environment, or within a boundary; energy transofmations and energy and matter storage and retrieval occur within a system TERM 21 Energy DEFINITION 21 Enters the earth as light, then passes through different components of the system (results in everything that happens in the arths system). Kinestic, potential, electrical TERM 22 Thermal Enegery DEFINITION 22 The motion of atoms or molecules, through heat (average motion of the molecules in a room, using temeprature). TERM 23 Fusion DEFINITION 23 Take small nuclei (4) put under extreme pressure of heat, and we end up with energy left over (gamma rays) TERM 24 What is Fission? DEFINITION 24 Neutron arrives from somewhere, hits the nucleaus, and makes the nucleaus unstable (nucleus spontaneously splits into 2 smaller nuclie) TERM 25 The first law of Thermodynmaics DEFINITION 25 In a system of constant mass, the energy involved in any physical or chemical change is neither created nor destroyed, but merely changed from one form to another TERM 26 The second law of Thermodynamics DEFINITION 26 Energy always changes from a concentrated, more stable form to a less concentrated, less useable form TERM 27 Electromagnetic spectrum DEFINITION 27 All the radiant energy produced by the sun placed in an ordered range, divided according to wavelengths TERM 28 Ether DEFINITION 28 The earth revolving around the sun (the distance the earth travels in a year) - velocity of earth at any moment is around 67,000 mph TERM 29 Proton DEFINITION 29 positive charge TERM 30 Electron DEFINITION 30 nagtive charge TERM 31 neutron DEFINITION 31 no charge
