NeSA Science Flashcards

Which organelle is known as the 'powerhouse of the cell' because it produces ATP through cellular respiration?

Answer: Mitochondria

Mitochondria convert glucose and oxygen into ATP (adenosine triphosphate), the cell's main energy currency, through the process of cellular respiration.

During photosynthesis, plants use carbon dioxide, water, and sunlight to produce glucose and which other substance?

Answer: Oxygen

Photosynthesis produces glucose for the plant and releases oxygen as a byproduct, which is essential for most living organisms on Earth.

Which type of rock is formed when molten magma cools and solidifies?

Answer: Igneous

Igneous rocks form when magma (underground) or lava (above ground) cools and hardens; examples include granite and basalt.

What is the term for the total amount of energy an object has due to both its motion and its position?

Answer: Mechanical energy

Mechanical energy is the sum of kinetic energy (energy of motion) and potential energy (stored energy due to position), and it describes the energy of moving or positioned objects.

Which layer of Earth's atmosphere contains the ozone layer that absorbs harmful ultraviolet radiation?

Answer: Stratosphere

The stratosphere, extending from about 12 to 50 km above Earth's surface, contains the ozone layer that shields life on Earth from harmful UV radiation.

In an ecosystem, which organisms are classified as primary producers because they create their own food from sunlight?

Answer: Autotrophs

Autotrophs (such as plants and algae) are primary producers that use photosynthesis to convert solar energy into chemical energy stored in organic compounds.

What property of matter describes the amount of matter in an object and does NOT change based on location?

Answer: Mass

Mass measures the amount of matter in an object and remains constant regardless of location, while weight changes depending on gravitational pull.