Glossary


A abiotic factor: the non-living part of an ecosystem 20, 22–25, 60–61, 100


absorb: when light travels into the object 138, 141, 146, 160


adaptation: a feature that makes a plant or animal well-suited to survive in its environment 38, 40–43


algae: rootless plant-like organisms that grow in water 26–27, 60, 171


antibiotic: a medicine used to treat diseases caused by bacteria 57, 60, 101


anti-clockwise: in the opposite direction than the arms of a clock would rotate 169


arid: hot and dry 190 astronomer: scientist who studies the stars 181


atom: smallest unit or building block of matter 64, 66–70, 83, 96–98, 102 attract: pull towards 105


B bacteria: micro-organisms made up of one cell only 26, 48–57, 60


battery: a collection of connected cells 107–108, 114–115


biosphere: all the Earth’s ecosystems combined 21, 23, 60


biotic factor: the living part of an ecosystem 20, 22–23, 25, 60–61, 100


bond (chemical): a link between atoms in a molecule 70


by-product: something that is made/ produced while making something else 13


C camouflage: blending in to hide from prey or predators/with surroundings – usually by colour or patterns 40, 42, 60


carrion: the rotting flesh of dead animals 29


carnivore: an organism that eats (other) animals only 27, 29


cell: the smallest, whole, working part of a battery 108, 110-111, 114–115


cellulose: tough material of which plants are mainly made of 14


chemical: substances and how they react with one another, for example carbon dioxide from the air combines with rain water to form weak carbonic acid, which breaks down certain rocks 13–14, 20, 57


198 Glossary


charge: property of sub-atomic particles that makes them attract or repel other particles; charge comes in two types, positive and negative 66-67


chemical reaction: when substances react with each other to form new substances 13, 17, 63, 68, 70–72, 90–93


chlorophyll: green substance in plants that absorbs/captures the energy from sunlight 13, 15, 60–61


circuit diagram: a symbolic picture of a circuit 110–111


collision: when two or more particles bump into each other 88


community: two or more populations of different organisms or species 21, 23, 29, 61, 169


complete circuit: a circuit in which electricity can flow in a continuous unbroken pathway 106


compound: a substance made from two or more elements 70–73


compress: to squash 38 condensing: changing from a gas state to a liquid state when cooled 78


cone cells: cells in the retina which are stimulated by different frequencies of light 147


conservation: sustainable use of ecosystem resources 29, 44–45, 47


constellation: fixed star patterns 176–177, 182–183, 185, 194


consumer: an organism that eats other organisms 26, 101


contraction: the process of taking up less space 86–87


convex: bulging 153 core: center 162–163, 170 current: the movement of charge in an electric circuit 72, 106–109, 112–118, 120–122, 124–126


D decomposer: an organism that feeds on dead plant or animal matter 26, 29, 101


decomposition reaction: chemical reaction in which a compound is broken down into simpler compounds or elements 72, 99, 102


density: the amount of mass in a particular volume 81–85


diarrhoea: runny stomach, which can lead to dehydration 52–53, 101


diatomic molecule: two atoms of the same kind joined together 68–69


diffusion: the process in which particles in a liquid or gas separate and spread out 76–77, 96, 102


disperse: to split white light into different colours 134


E ecology: the study of interactions between organisms and their environment 20–21


ecosystem: a community and its habitat 21–23, 25–37


electrical charge: a store of electrical energy 104–106


electrolysis: the process of breaking down a liquid compound by using electricity 72, 116–117, 157


electromagnet: a metal containing iron that becomes magnetic when an electric current passes around it 103, 114–115, 126, 157


electromagnetic induction: magnetic effect of electric current that causes an electromagnet to form 126


electron: a negatively-charged particle that orbits the nucleus of an atom 66–67


electroplating: method of coating metal objects with a thin layer of another metal 116


element: a substance made up of only one kind of atom 64, 66–68, 71–72, 96, 98


energy pyramid: a scheme that shows how energy flows from one trophic level to the next; the amount of energy decreases in each trophic level 31–32, 101


evaporating or boiling: changing from a liquid state to a gas state when heated 78


exert: to apply a force 88 expansion: the process of taking up more space 86–87, 98


extinct: eliminated, or no longer in existence 43, 60


F fermentation: the process of changing carbohydrates into acids, alcohols and carbon dioxide 56, 93, 96


filament: a very thin metal wire found in some light bulbs 106–107, 109, 112, 122


film: a thin layer 85 food chain: sequence of who eats what 30–33, 36–7, 43, 62, 171


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