States of Matter: Solids, Liquids, Gas

Phases of Matter

Solids 

Liquid

Gas 

Trophic Levels Ecology - The Flow of Energy

A trophic level is basically an organisms position in the food chain. There are four levels of a trophic level:

Producers

Producers are photosynthetic organisms who make their own energy using the sun. See photosynthesis. (organisms that make their own food from sunlight and/or chemical energy from deep sea vents) are the base of every food chain - these organisms are called autotrophs. 

Primary Consumers

Primary consumers are animals that eat primary producers; they are also called herbivores (plant-eaters). They survive on leaves, grass, or roots. Some examples are insects, cows, rabbits, deer, pigs, hippos and pigs. 

Secondary Consumers

An animal that feeds on smaller plant-eating animals in the food chain. Animals that are secondary consumers include bears, dogs, cats, and snakes. 

Tertiary Consumers 

A Carnivore is at the top level of the food chain that feeds on other carnivores; an animal that typically only feeds on secondary consumers. 

Energy is lost as you move up the chain - example - the owl has to eat a lot of mice to fuel it's energy needs 

Body Systems

Types of Body Systems (Draft - will continue to add)
Our body has many systems which are all interconnected.

All Body Systems on Brainpop.com
Body Systems Basic Brainpop Short Clip

Respiratory System
It exchanges harmful carbon dioxide for oxygen through breathing
Take the Quiz

The respiratory system is responsible for breathing. It includes the air path to the lungs, larynx, Pharynx, trachea, and bronchi, the lungs themselves and the diaphragm that inflates the lungs. Lung elasticity deflates the lungs, air is inhaled into the lungs, which has small air tubes called bronchioles and alveoli (little air bags with capillaries). Oxygen diffuses through the alveoli into the bloodstream. Carbon dioxide diffuses in the opposite direction and is exhaled. 

By this method the, the respiratory system interacts with the circulatory system, which transports blood to the lungs to be oxygenated, then to the heart which pumps it to the rest of the body to distribute oxygen and collect CO2.

Skeletal System

Skeletal System Brainpop Video 

• The skeletal system has 206 bones

The skeletal system is a framework of bones that protects your organs and assist in movement. Bones are hollow. In the hollow of most bones is a jelly-like substance called marrow, which produces a lot of the blood cells in your body. Bones also store calcium which is needed by your nerve and muscle cells. Bones are connected to each other by tough tissues called ligaments, then attached by equally tough tissues called tendons. To prevent wear and tear on the bones from moving around they are padded with a rubbery substance called cartilage at the places where bones meet, called joints. In conclusion the skeletal system provides structural support and movement. 

Nervous System 

The nervous system is a network of nerves that sends signals to the brain so that it could make decisions. It is basically the control center of your entire body. It's made up of your brain, spinal cord, and a large network of nerves. The brain uses all the information it receives from the nerves to coordinate your actions and reactions. Your brain contains nerve cells called neurons that carry messages back and forth. The nervous system works in two ways: The autonomic system is responsible for things that happen on their own, like breathing or your heart beating. The somatic nervous system controls voluntary actions like talking or walking.

Circulatory System 

The circulatory system has the heart pumping oxygen and nutrients through your body. The circulatory system transports blood to the lungs to be oxygenated, and then to the heart, which pumps it to the rest of the body to distribute oxygen and collect CO2.

Lymphatic System 

Muscular System

Immune System

Battles virus and bacteria.

Integumentary System 

Digestive System 

Breaks down food so that nutrients and water can be used by your body.

Urinary System 

Gets rid of chemical waste from your body by flushing it out.

Endocrine System 

All the hormonal glands that control body growth and reproduction

Photosynthesis

Chemical Equation: 

Photosynthesis is the process in which plants (photosynthetic organisms) take in heat energy (light) and convert it into chemical energy (glucose).

Photosynthesis happens in the chloroplast (a cell organelle), chlorophyll is the the green pigment that captures the light (How to remember: Chloro-Fill fill up with light).

More to know:

Light Reaction (Light Dependent) 

The first stage of photosynthesis occurs in the presence of light. The captured light energy drives the production of ATP. ATP is a cells energy currency. REQUIRES LIGHT!

Dark Reaction (Calvin Cycle) DOES NOT REQUIRE LIGHT

This stage is called dark reaction (Calvin Cycle) 

A series of chemical reactions that occur in the stroma. 

Mitosis

Mitosis is a process of cell division for growth and repair. Not to be confused with meioses (meiosis involves sex cells for reproduction). In mitosis you  end up with two daughter cells, each identical to the original.

Quiz: Mitosis

FYI: Microtubules are also called spindle fibers

This is how I remember mitosis:

Mi-TOE-sis: my toe is not a sex organ 

This is how I remember the stages of mitosis:

PMAT

Interphase: this is the normal state of a cell. A cell spends most of its life in this state 

Prophase: DNA condenses into chromosomes, nuclear envelope around DNA begins to disappear. 

Metaphase: Chromosomes line up at the center of the cell. Centrioles move to opposite ends of the cell. Spindle fibers move across the cell and connect to centromeres of each chromosome. The centromere is the center of the chromosome. See the picture. 

Anaphase: While in the anaphase stage of mitosis the centrioles will begin to pull each chromosome into two halves called sister chromatids. Each chromatid contains the same information.

Telophase (Cytokinesis happens during this phase - it's the part were the cell splits): Finally in the Telophase stage of mitosis the nuclear membrane forms around the chromatids and they are completely located at opposite ends of the cell.

Cytokenisis: Usually after Telophase the cell will also divide its cytoplasm and pinch off into two separate but identical daughter cells. Each daughter cell is an exact copy of the parent cell before the DNA was duplicated during Interphase.