BIO 101 Exam 1 TCC Norfolk – Prof. Murray Verified Q&A 2025–2026
Homeostasis - answersthe body's ability to maintain relatively stable internal conditions, even though
the outside world changes continually; the ability of an organism to maintain constant internal
conditions
Independent Variable - answersthe component that you're actually testing to see what will happen;
variable that you directly manipulate (and causes change)
Dependent Variable - answersusually something you measure to know what your independent
variable did; the change that happens dependent/based on what I did; measurable
Standardized Variables - answersall outside factors that may affect your results and must keep these
the same every time you do the experiment; also called constants or controls
Control - answersthe part of the experiment that doesn't change
Hypothesis - answersan educated guess in statement form (NOT a question) that is testable and
falsifiable; should include the independent and dependent variables
Theory - answersrepeatedly tested a hypothesis and almost always get the same results
-Homeostasis is the body's ability to maintain internal constancy despite changes in the environment
-If our bodies cannot maintain homeostasis, then we die - answersWhat is homeostasis? What
happens if our body cannot maintain homeostasis?
-Hypothesis: an educated guess that can be tested
-Theory: repeatedly tested, generally accepted, and confirmed explanation for why things happen
based on evidence
-Law: describes what will happen 100% of the time and is backed and proven by math (in
mathematical formulas) - answersWhat is the difference between scientific hypothesis, theories, and
law?
Elements - answersa pure substance that cannot be broken into simpler substances by ordinary
chemical methods; each has unique properties; made up of atoms
Atoms - answerssmallest particles of an element with properties of that element; give each element
its physical and chemical properties; unique building blocks for each element; has a constant # of
protons; combine with other atoms to form molecules
Molecule - answers2 or more atoms bonded together
Proton - answerspositively charged particle that resides in the nucleus of an atom with a mass of 1
and a charge of +1
, BIO 101 Exam 1 TCC Norfolk – Prof. Murray Verified Q&A 2025–2026
Electron - answersnegatively charged particle that travels in the space around the nucleus with
negligible mass and a charge of -1
Neutron - answersparticle that carries no charge (neutral) and resides in nucleus with a mass of 1
and no charge
Electron Orbit - answersthe path of an electron around the nucleus of an atom
Atomic Number - answersequal to the # of protons and neutrons an element contains
Atomic Symbol - answersabbreviated name/symbol for a given element
Valence Shell - answersthe outermost electron shell
Ion - answersatoms with a charge due to gaining or losing an electron from their valence shell (# of
electrons are no longer equal to # of protons in that atom)
-Atoms: make up an element (smallest component of an element)
-Elements: pure substances that can't be broken into simpler substances by ordinary chemical
methods
-Main difference from one element to another: the # of protons in the nucleus - answersWhat are
atoms and elements? What's the main difference between one element and another?
-Protons: positively charged
-Neutrons: no charge
-Electrons: negatively charged
-Protons determine what type of element an atom will be
-Electrons (in valence shell) determine if an atom is reactive or not - answersWhat's the difference
between protons/neutrons/electrons? Which determines what type of element an atom will be?
What determines if an atom is reactive or not?
-Stable: valence shell is complete/full
-Neutral: net charge of zero; equal # of protons and electrons (all elemental forms are neutral) -
answersStable vs. Neutral
-Octet rule (rule of eights): except for the 1st shell (full with only 2 electrons), atoms interact with
each other to have 8 electrons in valence shell, making it stable
-The # of openings in valence shell determines if an atom will bond with other atoms or not
-Bonding allows for atoms' valence shells to be complete (via transfer or share) - answersWhat's the
"octet rule?" What about an atoms says if it'll bond with other atoms or not? How does bonding
make atoms stable?
-Molecule: 2 or more atoms bonded together
Homeostasis - answersthe body's ability to maintain relatively stable internal conditions, even though
the outside world changes continually; the ability of an organism to maintain constant internal
conditions
Independent Variable - answersthe component that you're actually testing to see what will happen;
variable that you directly manipulate (and causes change)
Dependent Variable - answersusually something you measure to know what your independent
variable did; the change that happens dependent/based on what I did; measurable
Standardized Variables - answersall outside factors that may affect your results and must keep these
the same every time you do the experiment; also called constants or controls
Control - answersthe part of the experiment that doesn't change
Hypothesis - answersan educated guess in statement form (NOT a question) that is testable and
falsifiable; should include the independent and dependent variables
Theory - answersrepeatedly tested a hypothesis and almost always get the same results
-Homeostasis is the body's ability to maintain internal constancy despite changes in the environment
-If our bodies cannot maintain homeostasis, then we die - answersWhat is homeostasis? What
happens if our body cannot maintain homeostasis?
-Hypothesis: an educated guess that can be tested
-Theory: repeatedly tested, generally accepted, and confirmed explanation for why things happen
based on evidence
-Law: describes what will happen 100% of the time and is backed and proven by math (in
mathematical formulas) - answersWhat is the difference between scientific hypothesis, theories, and
law?
Elements - answersa pure substance that cannot be broken into simpler substances by ordinary
chemical methods; each has unique properties; made up of atoms
Atoms - answerssmallest particles of an element with properties of that element; give each element
its physical and chemical properties; unique building blocks for each element; has a constant # of
protons; combine with other atoms to form molecules
Molecule - answers2 or more atoms bonded together
Proton - answerspositively charged particle that resides in the nucleus of an atom with a mass of 1
and a charge of +1
, BIO 101 Exam 1 TCC Norfolk – Prof. Murray Verified Q&A 2025–2026
Electron - answersnegatively charged particle that travels in the space around the nucleus with
negligible mass and a charge of -1
Neutron - answersparticle that carries no charge (neutral) and resides in nucleus with a mass of 1
and no charge
Electron Orbit - answersthe path of an electron around the nucleus of an atom
Atomic Number - answersequal to the # of protons and neutrons an element contains
Atomic Symbol - answersabbreviated name/symbol for a given element
Valence Shell - answersthe outermost electron shell
Ion - answersatoms with a charge due to gaining or losing an electron from their valence shell (# of
electrons are no longer equal to # of protons in that atom)
-Atoms: make up an element (smallest component of an element)
-Elements: pure substances that can't be broken into simpler substances by ordinary chemical
methods
-Main difference from one element to another: the # of protons in the nucleus - answersWhat are
atoms and elements? What's the main difference between one element and another?
-Protons: positively charged
-Neutrons: no charge
-Electrons: negatively charged
-Protons determine what type of element an atom will be
-Electrons (in valence shell) determine if an atom is reactive or not - answersWhat's the difference
between protons/neutrons/electrons? Which determines what type of element an atom will be?
What determines if an atom is reactive or not?
-Stable: valence shell is complete/full
-Neutral: net charge of zero; equal # of protons and electrons (all elemental forms are neutral) -
answersStable vs. Neutral
-Octet rule (rule of eights): except for the 1st shell (full with only 2 electrons), atoms interact with
each other to have 8 electrons in valence shell, making it stable
-The # of openings in valence shell determines if an atom will bond with other atoms or not
-Bonding allows for atoms' valence shells to be complete (via transfer or share) - answersWhat's the
"octet rule?" What about an atoms says if it'll bond with other atoms or not? How does bonding
make atoms stable?
-Molecule: 2 or more atoms bonded together
