Flashcards: Ecosystem Energy and Matter Dynamics — 24 cards

Food web — definition?

Interconnected feeding relationships in ecosystems.

Energy flow — in ecosystems?

Transferred from producers to consumers, decreasing at each level.

Poison accumulation — in food webs?

Toxins build up in top predators through bioaccumulation.

Food web — example?

Aquatic ecosystem with algae, insects, fish, birds.

Particle theory — of matter?

Matter made of tiny particles in constant motion.

States of matter — particle movement?

Solids vibrate, liquids slide, gases move freely.

Fuels — combustion?

Reactions with oxygen releasing heat and light.

Complete combustion — products?

Carbon dioxide and water.

Incomplete combustion — products?

Carbon monoxide, soot, pollutants.

Energy transfer — mechanisms?

Conduction, convection, radiation.

Energy transformation — example?

Chemical to thermal energy in combustion.

Sankey diagram — purpose?

Visualize energy flow and losses.

Photosynthesis — chemical formula?

6CO₂ + 6H₂O + light → C₆H₁₂O₆ + 6O₂.

Respiration — chemical formula?

C₆H₁₂O₆ + 6O₂ → 6CO₂ + 6H₂O + energy.

ATP — role?

Main energy currency in cells.

Newton's First Law —?

An object stays at rest or moves uniformly unless acted upon.

Newton's Second Law —?

Force equals mass times acceleration (F=ma).

Newton's Third Law —?

Every action has an equal and opposite reaction.

Energy sources — examples?

Solar, wind, fossil fuels, hydro.

Global warming — cause?

Greenhouse gases from burning fossil fuels.

Environmental impact — fossil fuels?

Pollution, habitat loss, greenhouse effect.

Potential energy — example?

Stored energy due to position, e.g., at height.

Kinetic energy — formula?

KE = ½ mv².

Endothermic —?

Reactions that absorb heat from surroundings.