Life Science
Organisms that make their own food are known as this.
Producer
What do scientists call a property that can be observed without changing the identity of the substance?
Physical property
Plants and animals have these characteristics that help them survive in their environment.
adaptations
This process breaks rocks into smaller pieces without changing what they are made of.
weathering?
The Sun appears to move across the sky during the day because of this.
Earth’s rotation
When an organism dies, its energy can still move through the ecosystem by this process.
Decomposition
In a closed system, what remains the same before and after a physical change occurs?
mass
Why are different plant and animal traits important for survival in different habitats?
Because they increase the chance of surviving, reproducing, and finding resources.
How does the Sun drive the water cycle on Earth?
By providing energy that causes evaporation.
Why are shadows longer in the morning and evening than at noon?
Because the Sun is lower in the sky in the morning and evening.
Why do food chains usually have fewer top predators than producers?
Energy is lost at each level
Matter appears to disappear during evaporation. What is actually happening to the particles?
They spread out into the air
Decomposers, such as fungi or bacteria, perform this role in an ecosystem.
recycling nutrients from dead organisms
How can human construction like dams or roads affect erosion?
can change water flow and increase or reduce erosion in certain areas
What evidence supports that Earth and other planets orbit the Sun?
Observations of planetary motion and predictable changes in star positions
Which statement best explains why ecosystems need producers?
producers bring energy into ecosystems
Which evidence best supports that no new substance forms during a physical change?
The chemical properties remain the same; the change is reversible
Why is biodiversity important for stable energy flow in ecosystems?
diverse species maintain balanced food webs and energy distribution
How can scientists use layers of rock to learn about Earth’s history?
Older layers are below newer layers, showing past events and environmental changes.
How does the tilt of Earth explain why the North and South Hemispheres have opposite seasons?
When one hemisphere tilts toward the Sun, it experiences summer while the other tilts away, experiencing winter.
Two ecosystems have different food webs. Which would be more stable and why?
ecosystem with greater biodiversity is more stable
How does observing gas formation, color change, or heat release help determine a chemical change?
These observations provide evidence that a new substance has formed.
How does an invasive species that eats native plants affect energy flow and ecosystem balance?
It reduces energy available to herbivores that rely on native plants, affecting predators and ecosystem stability.
A coastal city is experiencing increased flooding due to erosion and rising sea levels. How can scientists use evidence to propose solutions?
By measuring erosion rates and water levels, they can design barriers or restore wetlands to protect the coast.
How does observing patterns in star positions help sailors and scientists?
Predictable patterns of constellations allow navigation and understanding of Earth’s rotation and orbit.