ASVAB flashcards
ASVAB · Build recall with a focused review session.
32 cards. Read the term and the definition here. The deck at the top of this page is optional.
- Photosynthesis equation
- Carbon dioxide plus water plus light energy yields glucose and oxygen: 6CO2 + 6H2O + light -> C6H12O6 + 6O2; chloroplasts carry out this process in plants.
- Atomic number
- The number of protons in an atom's nucleus; it determines the element's identity and equals the electron count in a neutral atom.
- pH scale
- A 0-to-14 scale of hydrogen-ion concentration; below 7 is acidic, 7 is neutral, and above 7 is basic; each unit represents a tenfold change.
- Rock types
- Igneous rock forms from cooling magma or lava; sedimentary rock forms from compacted or cemented sediments; metamorphic rock forms from existing rock changed by heat and pressure.
- Percent formula
- Part equals percent times whole. Convert the percent to a decimal before multiplying; to find a percent change, divide the change by the original amount and multiply by 100.
- Average formula
- Average equals the sum of all values divided by the number of values. Rearranged, total equals average times count, which helps find missing totals.
- Distance formula
- Distance equals rate times time. Equivalent forms are rate equals distance divided by time, and time equals distance divided by rate, using consistent units.
- Simple interest formula
- Interest equals principal times annual interest rate times time in years, written I = P × r × t; express the rate as a decimal, not a percent.
- Prefix pre-
- A prefix meaning before or earlier, as in preview, predict, and prehistoric; recognizing it helps determine a word's meaning from its parts.
- Suffix -ology
- A suffix meaning the study of or science of, as in biology, geology, and psychology; words ending this way usually name fields of knowledge.
- Contrast context clue
- A clue using words such as but, although, however, or unlike to signal that an unfamiliar word means the opposite of a nearby word or idea.
- Root bene
- A Latin root meaning good or well, seen in benefit, benevolent, and benefactor; it usually gives a positive meaning to the word.
- Main idea
- The central point a passage communicates about its topic; supporting details explain or prove it, and it is often stated near the beginning or end.
- Inference
- A conclusion logically supported by details in a passage but not directly stated; valid inferences stay close to the text rather than adding unsupported assumptions.
- Author's purpose
- The reason a writer produces a text, commonly to inform, persuade, entertain, or explain; content, tone, and language help identify which purpose is primary.
- Fact versus opinion
- A fact is a statement that can be verified with evidence; an opinion expresses a judgment, belief, or feeling and often includes evaluative words.
- Pythagorean theorem
- In a right triangle, the square of the hypotenuse equals the sum of the squares of the other two sides: a² + b² = c², where c is the hypotenuse.
- Slope formula
- The slope of a line through two points is the change in y divided by the change in x: m = (y2 − y1)/(x2 − x1); horizontal lines have slope zero.
- Area of a circle
- The area enclosed by a circle equals pi times the radius squared, A = πr²; circumference equals two times pi times the radius.
- Quadratic formula
- For ax² + bx + c = 0, solutions are x = [−b ± √(b² − 4ac)]/(2a), provided a is not zero; the discriminant b² − 4ac indicates root type.
- Ohm's law
- Voltage equals current times resistance, V = I × R; rearranged, current equals voltage divided by resistance and resistance equals voltage divided by current.
- Electrical power formula
- Power in watts equals voltage times current, P = V × I; using Ohm's law, it also equals current squared times resistance or voltage squared divided by resistance.
- Series circuit
- A circuit with one path: current is the same through all components, total resistance is the sum of resistances, and voltage divides among the components.
- Parallel circuit
- A circuit with multiple paths: voltage is the same across each branch, total current divides among branches, and total resistance is less than the smallest branch resistance.
- Four-stroke engine
- A gasoline engine cycle with intake, compression, power, and exhaust strokes; the spark plug ignites the compressed air-fuel mixture during the power stroke.
- Alternator function
- An engine-driven generator that produces electricity to run a vehicle's electrical systems and recharge the battery while the engine is running.
- Fuse purpose
- A protective device containing a metal strip that melts and opens the circuit when current exceeds its rating, preventing overheating or fire; replace it with the same rating.
- Brake caliper
- A hydraulic component that squeezes brake pads against a spinning disc rotor to create friction and slow or stop a vehicle.
- Mechanical advantage
- The ratio of output force to input force in a machine, or output distance to input distance; a value greater than one means the machine multiplies force.
- First-class lever
- A lever with the fulcrum between the effort and the load, such as a seesaw or crowbar; it can change force direction and provide mechanical advantage.
- Gear ratio
- The number of teeth on the driven gear divided by the number on the driving gear; a larger driven gear turns slower but delivers more torque.
- Hydraulic pressure
- Pressure equals force divided by area; in a hydraulic system, pressure is transmitted equally, so a larger piston area produces a larger output force.