CAT-ASVAB flashcards
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32 cards. Read the term and the definition here. The deck at the top of this page is optional.
- Photosynthesis equation
- In the presence of light, chloroplasts combine 6CO2 and 6H2O to yield glucose (C6H12O6) and 6O2. Light energy is stored as chemical energy in the sugar.
- pH scale
- A measure of hydrogen ion concentration from 0 to 14. Values below 7 are acidic, 7 is neutral, and values above 7 are basic; each whole step is a tenfold change.
- Mitosis versus meiosis
- Mitosis divides one cell into two genetically identical diploid cells for growth and repair. Meiosis produces four genetically varied haploid gametes, halving the chromosome number for sexual reproduction.
- Newton's second law
- The acceleration of an object equals the net force acting on it divided by its mass, written F = ma. Doubling the force doubles acceleration; doubling the mass halves it.
- Percent change formula
- Percent change equals the amount of change divided by the original value, then multiplied by 100. An increase from 40 to 50 is 10 divided by 40, or 25 percent.
- Simple interest formula
- Simple interest is I = P x r x t, where P is the principal, r the annual rate written as a decimal, and t the time in years. Interest accrues only on the original principal.
- Combined work rate formula
- If two workers or machines finish a job alone in a hours and b hours, their combined time t satisfies 1/t = 1/a + 1/b. Working rates add; the individual times do not.
- Distance formula
- Distance equals rate multiplied by time, d = rt. Rearranged, rate = d/t and time = d/r. The time units in the rate and the time given must match before multiplying.
- Prefix ante-
- A Latin prefix meaning before, as in antecedent (going before) and antebellum (before the war). It is distinct from anti-, which means against or opposed to.
- Root cred
- A Latin root meaning to believe or trust, found in credible (believable), credulous (too easily believing), incredulous (unwilling to believe), and credentials (evidence of trustworthiness).
- Affect versus effect
- Affect is usually a verb meaning to influence; effect is usually a noun meaning result. Effect can also be a verb meaning to bring about, and affect a noun for outward emotion.
- Connotation
- The emotional or evaluative shading a word carries beyond its literal meaning. Thrifty and stingy share a basic denotation but carry positive and negative connotations respectively.
- Main idea
- The central point the entire passage supports. It is usually stated in a topic sentence near the beginning or end and is broader than any single supporting detail.
- Inference
- A conclusion drawn from the text that is not stated outright but follows logically from the evidence given. It must be supported by the passage, not merely plausible in general.
- Author's purpose
- The reason a passage was written: to inform, to persuade, to entertain, or to explain a process. Word choice, tone, and structure are clues to which purpose dominates.
- Supporting detail
- A specific fact, example, or reason that backs up the main idea. Details answer who, what, when, where, or why questions and are narrower than the passage's central claim.
- Quadratic formula
- For any equation ax^2 + bx + c = 0, the solutions are x = (-b plus or minus the square root of b^2 - 4ac) divided by 2a. The discriminant b^2 - 4ac indicates how many real solutions exist.
- Pythagorean theorem
- In a right triangle, a^2 + b^2 = c^2, where c is the hypotenuse opposite the right angle. Frequently used triples are 3-4-5, 5-12-13, and 8-15-17.
- Slope formula
- For two points on a line, m = (y2 - y1)/(x2 - x1). Parallel lines have equal slopes, while perpendicular lines have slopes that are negative reciprocals, so their product is -1.
- Area of a trapezoid
- A = 1/2 (b1 + b2) h, where b1 and b2 are the parallel bases and h is the perpendicular distance between them. The formula averages the two bases and multiplies by the height.
- Ohm's law
- Voltage equals current multiplied by resistance, V = IR. Current in amperes equals voltage in volts divided by resistance in ohms, and power equals voltage times current.
- Series resistance
- In a series circuit the resistances add: R total = R1 + R2 + R3. The same current flows through every component, and the supply voltage divides among them.
- Parallel resistance
- In a parallel circuit, 1/R total = 1/R1 + 1/R2 + ..., so the total is always less than the smallest branch resistance. Voltage is equal across branches and current divides.
- Capacitor versus inductor
- A capacitor stores energy in an electric field, is rated in farads, and blocks DC while passing AC. An inductor stores energy in a magnetic field, is rated in henries, and opposes changes in current.
- Four-stroke cycle
- The operating sequence of a gasoline engine: intake (air-fuel mixture enters), compression, power (the spark ignites the mixture and drives the piston down), and exhaust (burned gases are pushed out).
- Compression ratio
- Total cylinder volume divided by clearance volume, or (swept volume + clearance volume) / clearance volume. Higher ratios extract more power but raise the risk of detonation, called knock.
- Rip saw versus crosscut saw
- A rip saw has chisel-like teeth for cutting along the grain; a crosscut saw has knife-like teeth for cutting across the grain. Using the wrong saw produces slow, rough cuts.
- Alternator
- An engine-driven generator that produces alternating current, which is rectified to charge the 12-volt battery and run the vehicle's electrical system while the engine operates.
- Lever mechanical advantage
- Mechanical advantage equals effort arm length divided by resistance arm length, both measured from the fulcrum. A longer effort arm lets a small force lift a large load.
- Movable pulley advantage
- A single movable pulley has a mechanical advantage of 2 because two rope segments support the load. A fixed pulley has a mechanical advantage of 1 and only changes force direction.
- Gear ratio
- The number of driven gear teeth divided by the number of driving gear teeth. A larger driven gear turns more slowly and delivers more torque; a smaller one turns faster with less torque.
- Hydraulic pressure principle
- Pascal's principle states that pressure applied to a confined fluid is transmitted undiminished, so F1/A1 = F2/A2. A small piston driving a large piston multiplies force.