Semester 1 study guide flash cards

Front

The first law of thermodynamics states that energy cannot be created or destroyed, only transformed.

Back

This law emphasizes the conservation of energy in physical processes.

Front

The first law of thermodynamics is also known as the law of energy conservation.

Back

It highlights that the total energy in an isolated system remains constant.

Front

The second law of thermodynamics is known as the law of entropy.

Back

It states that the total entropy of an isolated system can never decrease over time.

Front

The second law of thermodynamics states that energy transfer between trophic levels results in energy loss, often as heat.

Back

This explains why energy decreases as it moves up the food chain.

Front

Energy is transferred through ecosystems via food chains, food webs, and trophic levels.

Back

These concepts illustrate how energy flows through different organisms.

Front

A food chain is a linear sequence of organisms where each organism is a source of energy for the next.

Back

It represents a direct path of energy transfer.

Front

A food web is a more complex representation of energy flow in an ecosystem.

Back

It shows how various food chains are interconnected.

Front

Trophic levels represent the different levels of energy transfer and consumption in an ecosystem.

Back

They categorize organisms based on their role in the energy flow.

Front

Only about 10% of energy is passed between trophic levels.

Back

This is known as the 10% rule in ecology.

Front

A series of linear steps in which organisms transfer energy by eating and being eaten is called a food chain.

Back

It simplifies the complex interactions in an ecosystem.