CSAT Vocational Inquiry flashcards

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

Rhizobium symbiosis

Bacteria in root nodules of legumes convert atmospheric nitrogen into ammonia the plant can use, reducing the need for synthetic nitrogen fertilizer in rotation.

Economic threshold

The pest population density at which control measures are justified because expected crop loss exceeds the cost of treatment; core decision rule of integrated pest management.

N-P-K fertilizer label

Percent by mass of nitrogen, phosphorus as P2O5, and potassium as K2O. A 20-10-10 bag supplies 20 kg N, 10 kg P2O5, 10 kg K2O per 100 kg.

Soil pH and liming

Most field crops grow best near pH 6.0–7.0. Below 5.5, aluminum toxicity and phosphorus lock-up rise, so calcium carbonate or hydroxide is applied to raise pH.

Ohm's law

Voltage equals current times resistance (V = I × R). Combined with P = V × I, it lets you compute the third quantity when two are known in a circuit.

Transformer turns ratio

Voltage ratio equals coil turns ratio: V1/V2 = N1/N2. Transformers change AC voltage only and cannot change frequency or operate on direct current.

PLC scan cycle

The controller repeatedly reads inputs, executes the stored program, then updates outputs. Scan time determines how quickly an input change can affect outputs.

Quenching and tempering

Rapid cooling forms hard brittle martensite; reheating to a lower temperature (tempering) relieves internal stress and restores toughness in steel parts.

Accounting equation

Assets equal liabilities plus equity. Every transaction affects at least two accounts and keeps this equality balanced, which is the basis of double-entry bookkeeping.

Break-even quantity

Fixed costs divided by unit contribution margin (unit price minus unit variable cost). It is the sales volume at which total revenue equals total cost.

Current ratio

Current assets divided by current liabilities. It measures short-term solvency; values near 1.5 to 2.0 generally indicate adequate liquidity.

FIFO inventory valuation

First-in, first-out assigns the oldest costs to cost of goods sold and leaves newer costs in ending inventory, raising reported profit when prices are rising.

Maximum sustainable yield

In logistic population growth, the largest harvest that can be taken indefinitely occurs near half the carrying capacity; harvesting above it depletes the stock.

Recirculating aquaculture system

A closed fish-production system using mechanical filtration, biofiltration where bacteria convert ammonia to nitrite then nitrate, plus aeration and oxygenation to maintain water quality.

Otolith aging

Ear stones in fish lay down annual growth rings (annuli). Counting these rings under magnification estimates the fish's age for stock assessment.

Spring tide

Tide of greatest range occurring at new and full moon, when solar and lunar gravitational forces align; neap tides occur at quarter phases.

Piaget cognitive stages

Sensorimotor (0–2), preoperational (2–7), concrete operational (7–11), formal operational (11+). Each stage describes characteristic ways children reason about the world.

Care-planning cycle

Assessment, needs identification, planning, implementation, and evaluation, with documentation at every step; the evaluation feeds back into reassessment.

Maslow hierarchy

Needs ordered from base: physiological, safety, belonging, esteem, self-actualization. Lower-level needs generally must be met before higher ones motivate behavior.

Standard precautions

Infection-control practices applied to all clients: hand hygiene before and after contact, gloves for body fluids, and mask plus eye protection when splashing is likely.

Additive versus subtractive color

Additive mixing uses red, green, blue light and adds to black; subtractive mixing uses cyan, magenta, yellow pigments and subtracts from white. Screens use RGB, print uses CMYK.

Rule of thirds

Dividing the frame into a 3×3 grid and placing the subject near an intersection creates more dynamic, balanced composition than centering it.

Vector versus raster graphics

Vectors store mathematical paths and scale without pixelation, suited to logos; rasters store a pixel grid and lose quality when enlarged, suited to photographs.

Print resolution rule

Images for print need about 300 pixels per inch at final size; screen images typically use 72–96 ppi. File size grows with the square of resolution.

HACCP seven principles

Hazard analysis, identify critical control points, set critical limits, monitor them, establish corrective actions, verify the system, and keep records.

Danger zone temperatures

Perishable food held between 5 °C and 60 °C allows rapid bacterial growth, fastest near 37 °C. Rapid chilling and reheating above 75 °C core are required.

Macronutrient energy values

Carbohydrate and protein supply about 4 kcal per gram, fat about 9 kcal per gram, and alcohol about 7 kcal per gram. These values underpin energy calculations on labels.

Maillard reaction

Browning between amino acids and reducing sugars beginning around 140–165 °C, producing flavor and color in roasted and grilled foods; distinct from sugar-only caramelization.

Tourism area life cycle

Destinations pass through exploration, involvement, development, consolidation, stagnation, then decline or rejuvenation. Planning aims to prolong benefits and avoid stagnation.

Tourism multiplier effect

Tourist spending recirculates through local businesses and wages, generating indirect and induced income larger than the original outlay; leakage reduces the multiplier.

Kirchhoff's current law

At any circuit node, the sum of currents entering equals the sum leaving. It expresses conservation of charge and underlies nodal circuit analysis.

Lockout/tagout procedure

Isolate all energy sources, apply personal locks and tags, verify zero energy before maintenance, and remove locks only by the worker who applied them.