Scientific Lexicon - "E" Trivia Quiz

Answer: epidermis

The epidermis acts as a protective barrier for the body. It helps keep harmful things like bacteria, viruses, and dirt from getting in, and also prevents too much water from escaping. The epidermis is made up of several layers of cells, with new cells forming at the bottom and older cells moving up to the surface, where they eventually die and shed off.

It also contains special cells that give skin its color and help protect against damage from the sun's ultraviolet (UV) rays.

Answer: entropy

Entropy describes the amount of disorder or randomness in a system. In physics, especially in thermodynamics, entropy helps explain how energy spreads out over time. Systems in nature tend to move toward higher entropy, meaning they become more disordered unless energy is used to keep them organized. Entropy is also related to the concept of time, since it generally increases as time goes on.

Answer: estuary

Estuaries create a unique environment with a mix of both types of water, called brackish water. They are rich in nutrients and support a wide variety of plant and animal life, making them some of the most productive ecosystems on Earth. Many fish, birds, and other animals rely on estuaries for food, shelter, and a place to raise their young. Estuaries also help protect inland areas from flooding and storm surges by absorbing extra water.

Answer: exothermic

An exothermic reaction is a chemical reaction that releases energy, usually in the form of heat or light. This means that the surroundings get warmer during and subsequent to the reaction. A common example is when wood burns in a fire, releasing heat and light as it turns to ash.

In an exothermic reaction, the energy of the products is lower than the energy of the starting materials (called reactants), because some energy has been given off.

Answer: embryo

An embryo is an early stage in the development of a living organism, starting right after fertilization and continuing as the organism begins to form basic structures. In humans and many animals, the embryo develops from a single cell (the fertilized egg) and goes through several stages of growth.

This stage usually happens inside the mother's body or within an egg. During the embryo stage, the organism is not yet fully formed but is rapidly developing into a more complex being.

Answer: exosphere

In the exosphere, the air is extremely thin and gradually fades into outer space. It starts about 600 kilometers (370 miles) above Earth's surface and extends thousands of kilometers outward. In this layer, gas particles are so spread out that they rarely collide, and some even escape into space.

The exosphere contains mostly light gases like hydrogen and helium. Because it's so far from Earth, it doesn't support weather or breathable air. Satellites often orbit within or just below the exosphere, using its low resistance to stay in motion for long periods.

Answer: eukaryote

A eukaryote is a type of organism whose cells contain a nucleus and other membrane-bound organelles, such as mitochondria and the endoplasmic reticulum. The nucleus holds the cell's DNA, which is separated from the rest of the cell by a membrane. This makes eukaryotic cells more complex than prokaryotic cells, which do not have a nucleus. Eukaryotes include a wide variety of living things, such as animals, plants, fungi, and protists.

Answer: electrolyte

An electrolyte is a substance that breaks apart into ions when it dissolves in water, allowing the solution to conduct electricity. Common electrolytes include salt (sodium chloride), potassium, calcium, and magnesium compounds. In the body, electrolytes are important for keeping cells working properly, helping muscles contract, nerves send signals, and fluids stay balanced. You often get electrolytes from food and drinks, and they are especially important to replace after heavy exercise or illness, when your body loses water and minerals through sweat or other fluids.

Answer: endocrine

The term endocrine refers to a system in the body that uses glands to produce and release hormones into the bloodstream. These hormones act like chemical messengers, helping to regulate important body functions such as growth, metabolism, mood, and reproduction.

Some major endocrine glands include the pituitary gland, thyroid gland, adrenal glands, and pancreas. Unlike other glands that release substances through ducts (like sweat glands), endocrine glands release hormones directly into the blood, where they travel to target organs or tissues.

Answer: echolocation

Echolocation is a method some animals use to "see" their surroundings by using sound. Animals like bats, dolphins, and some whales send out high-pitched sound waves that bounce off objects and return as echoes. By listening to these echoes, the animal can tell how far away something is, what direction it's in, and even what it might be.

This helps them find food, avoid obstacles, and navigate in the dark or underwater. Echolocation is a natural form of sonar and is especially useful in environments where sight is limited.