Kerala Plus Two Home Science (DHSE) flashcards

31 cards. Read the term and the definition here. The deck at the top of this page is optional.

Object permanence

The understanding that objects continue to exist even when they cannot be seen or heard. It develops in Piaget's sensorimotor stage, typically becoming established by about 8-12 months of age.

Authoritative parenting

A parenting style combining high warmth and responsiveness with high, reasoned control. Parents set clear limits and explain reasons, and this style is associated with the most positive child outcomes.

Conservation (Piaget)

The recognition that quantity, mass or volume stays the same despite changes in appearance or arrangement. It develops in the concrete operational stage, around 7 years, not in the preoperational stage.

Identity vs role confusion

Erikson's psychosocial stage of adolescence, roughly 12-19 years, in which the young person explores values, beliefs and social roles to form a stable sense of self.

Maillard browning

A non-enzymatic reaction between reducing sugars and amino groups of proteins that browns food and develops flavour at about 140-165 degrees Celsius. It is favoured by alkaline conditions and by moisture loss.

Gelatinization

The irreversible swelling of starch granules when heated in water at about 60-70 degrees Celsius, as granules absorb water and amylose leaches out. On cooling the mixture sets into a gel.

Emulsion

A dispersion of one liquid in another that does not mix, such as oil in water in mayonnaise. An emulsifier with hydrophilic and lipophilic ends, like egg lecithin, keeps droplets dispersed.

Enzymatic browning

Browning of cut fruits and vegetables caused by polyphenol oxidase acting on phenols in the presence of oxygen. It is prevented by blanching, acid, ascorbic acid or excluding air.

Pasteurization

A heat treatment that kills most pathogenic microorganisms and reduces spoilage organisms without sterilizing the food. Typical conditions are 63 degrees Celsius for 30 minutes or 72 degrees for 15 seconds.

Balanced diet

A diet supplying all nutrients in the proportions the body needs for energy, growth and maintenance. Cereals, pulses, milk, vegetables, fruits and fats are included in quantities suited to age and activity.

Pellagra

A deficiency disease of niacin, or vitamin B3, marked by the three Ds of dermatitis, diarrhoea and dementia. It occurs where maize is the staple and animal protein and pulses are scarce.

Body mass index

Weight in kilograms divided by height in metres squared. Values below 18.5 indicate underweight, 18.5 to 24.9 normal, 25 to 29.9 overweight and 30 or above obesity.

Haem and non-haem iron

Haem iron comes from animal foods such as meat and liver and is well absorbed. Non-haem iron from plants is absorbed less well and is inhibited by phytates, tannins and calcium, but enhanced by vitamin C.

Mercerization

A treatment of cotton fabric with strong sodium hydroxide under tension. It increases lustre, strength and dye uptake and improves dimensional stability, giving the fabric a smoother appearance.

Denier

A yarn count expressing the weight in grams of 9000 metres of yarn. A higher denier means a coarser, heavier yarn, and it is commonly used for filament and synthetic yarns such as nylon.

Twill weave

A weave in which warp and weft float over two or more threads to produce a diagonal rib. It drapes better than plain weave and is used for denim, gabardine and drill fabrics.

Sanforizing

A mechanical finishing process that compresses cotton fabric to control shrinkage. Treated fabric usually shrinks less than about one percent in washing, unlike untreated cotton.

Grain line

A pattern marking arrow placed parallel to the selvedge, indicating how the pattern piece must lie on the fabric. Cutting off grain causes garments to twist and hang poorly.

Trickle-down theory

A fashion adoption theory holding that new styles originate among high-status groups and spread downward to lower-status groups, who imitate them. It is now less influential than trickle-across.

Principles of design

The organizing rules used to arrange elements into pleasing compositions: balance, rhythm, emphasis, proportion, harmony and unity. They apply equally to clothing, interior decoration and floral arrangement.

Seam allowance

The extra width of fabric beyond the stitching line, left so the seam can be joined and finished. It is usually about 1.5 cm on normal seams and 2.5 cm or more at hems.

Work simplification

The systematic removal of unnecessary steps and motions from a task by eliminating, combining, rearranging and simplifying, so that time and energy are saved without lowering standards.

Maslow's hierarchy

A ranking of human needs from physiological needs through safety, belonging, esteem and self-actualization. Lower needs are usually satisfied before higher ones become motivating.

Kitchen work triangle

The path linking sink, stove and refrigerator in a kitchen. The three sides should total about 3.6 to 6.6 metres to keep movement efficient without long distances.

Consumer Protection Act 2019

Indian legislation protecting consumers against defective goods, deficient services, unfair trade practices and misleading advertisements. It provides three-tier commissions and covers e-commerce transactions and product liability.

Agmark

An Indian certification mark for agricultural and allied products, such as spices, pulses and edible oils, indicating that the product meets government-graded quality specifications.

Opportunity cost

The value of the next best alternative given up when a choice is made. In family resource management, spending on one item means forgoing the satisfaction another use of the same money could give.

Cross ventilation

Air movement through a room with openings on opposite or adjacent walls. The outlet should be at least as large as the inlet and placed high, so that warm stale air can escape.

Rainwater harvesting

Collection and storage of rainwater from roofs or ground surfaces for later use, or its direction into the soil to recharge groundwater. It reduces dependence on scarce or polluted surface supplies.

MGNREGA

The Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act provides a legal guarantee of at least 100 days of unskilled wage employment per rural household each year, with equal wages for women and men.

Adoption process

The five stages through which a person accepts a new practice: awareness, interest, evaluation, trial and adoption. Extension workers tailor methods to the stage the learner has reached.