A
Absolute zero - the lowest temperature that can possibly be reached in our universe. Scientists have gotten very close to reaching absolute zero but it is impossible to reach it
Absorb - to soak up, take in, suck up or take up
Acceleration - rate of change of velocity
Acid - a sour tasting, corrosive substance - the opposite of abase substance. Acidic solutions will turn a litmus red.
Acid rain - rain that contains chemical pollutants and can harm living and nonliving things. Acid rain has made the lake's water poisonous and is harming the fish.
Adhesive - a substance used to stick things together such as glue
Air - a mixture of nitrogen, oxygen and minute amounts of other gases that surrounds the earth and forms its atmosphere
Air molecules - the smallest physical unit of the atmosphere’s compound particles consisting of one or more like atoms
Air pollution - the introduction of harmful substances or products into the environment, specifically the atmosphere
Air pressure - the force put on a given area by the weight of the air around it
Alkali - a substance having marked basic properties (i.e. Substance with properties of a base).
Anemometer - a device used to measure the speed of wind.
Animal - a living thing that can move from place to place, has a body covering, and eats other animals or plants for food.
Amphibian - animal with smooth, moist skin; it has gills when young and then develops lungs when older.
Ammonium hydroxide - basic compound nh₄oh, existing on solution formed by dissolving ammonia gas in water
Amplify - to make larger, greater, or stronger, to expand or extend
Anemometer- any instrument for measuring the speed of wind
Animals - any member of the kingdom animalia
Antibodies - any of numerous y-shaped protein molecules produced by b cells as a primary immune defense as on a virus or bacterium
Astronomer - expert in astronomy; a scientific observer of the celestial bodies
Atmosphere - the blanket of gases that surrounds the earth.
Atmospheric pressure - the weight force exerted on an area by the weight of a vertical column of air rising above the surface area to the upper reaches of the earth’s atmosphere. Sometimes referred to as ‘barometric pressure’ or simply as ‘air pressure’ it varies due to changes in local weather conditions. At sea level it is approximately equal to a weight of 1kg per square cm or 10 tons per square meter. We only notice the effects of this potentially very large force when the air is acting on only one side of a surface.
Atoms - the smallest particle of a chemical element that can take part in a chemical reaction without being permanently changed made up of protons and neutrons in a central nucleus surrounded by electrons
Atomic number- the number of positive charges or protons in the nucleus of an atom of a given element
Asexual reproduction - the production of a new organism from only one cell
Attract - to draw to a source, put towards or bring together
Aquifer - an underground layer of loose rock, sand, or gravel that holds water in its spaces
Axle- the pin, bar, shaft, or the like, on which or by means of which a wheel or pair of wheels rotates.
B
Backbone- the spinal column; spine
Bacteria - members of either of two kingdoms of one-celled living things that have no nucleus, or center, in their cell body
Balance- a state of equilibrium or equal distribution of weight, amount, etc.
Balance point - the position in which equilibrium or balance in achieved or mastered
Barometer - a device used to measure the pressure of the atmosphere. The barometer unit of measure is called mill-bars
Base - a bitter tasting substance (and often slimy) - the opposite of an acid substance. Base solutions will turn litmus blue
Battery - a device that produces electricity by means of chemical reaction. A battery consists of one or more units called electric cells. Each cell has all the chemicals and parts needed to produce an electric current
Behavior- observable activity
Bend- to force from a straight form to a curved or angular one, or from a curved or angular form into some different form
Bernoulli effect - described by swiss mathematician daniel bernoulli in 1738. Bernoulli's theorem (sometimes called the venturi effect) implies that a decrease in fluid pressure is associated with an increase in the fluid's velocity (speed). It's the basics for aircraft wing design explaining that air flowing over the upper, curved part of the wing moves faster than the air on the underside of the wing so that the pressure underneath is greater and hence causes lift
Big bang - take a large hardcover book and hold it flat about the level of your eyes. On a hard, flat surface, drop the book. That's a big bang
Biosphere - part of the earth system located between the geosphere and the atmosphere, in which life can exists
Blood- the fluid that circulates in the principal vascular system of human beings and other vertebrates, in humans consisting of plasma.
Blood vessels - flexible tubular canals through which blood circulates throughout the body. The blood vessels are part of the circulatory system. Arteries, veins, and capillaries are all kinds of blood vessels. Arteries carry blood from the heart to capillaries which are the smallest type of blood vessels. Capillaries have very thin walls which allow liquids and gases to exchange between cells and the blood. Veins then return blood containing wastes to organs for its removal and then on to the heart for circulation
Boiling point - the temperature at which the vapor pressure of a liquid is one atmosphere
Bounce- to rebound from a surface.
Brain- the part of the central nervous system enclosed in the cranium of humans and other vertebrates, consisting of a soft, convoluted mass of grey and white matter and serving to control and coordinate the mental and physical actions.
Brittle- having hardness and rigidity but little tensile strength; breaking readily with a comparatively smooth fracture
Buoyancy - the ability to float, or in more technical terms - the upward forces exerted by a fluid on a body in it
Burning- the state, process, sensation, or effect of being on fire, burned or subjected to intense heat.
C
Calcium (ca) - element #20 on the periodic table, is reactive and, for a metal, soft. In contact with air, calcium develops a mixed oxide and nitride coating, which protects it from further corrosion. Calcium reacts easily with water and acids and the metal burns brightly in air, forming mainly the nitride
Calorie - a unit of energy widely used to measure the chemical energy in food. It is equal to the amount of heat energy required to raise the temperature of 1 gram of water 1°c and is equivalent to 4.184 joule. Some confusion exists when this term is used in the context of food where the kilocalorie is also used, but is often written as calorie or cal. One calorie (or ‘large’ calorie - capital c) is equal to one kilocalorie (or 1000 calories – small c).
Capillaries - the smallest of a body's blood vessels which connect arteries and veins. They are important for the exchange of gases, such as oxygen and carbon dioxide, and other substances between the blood and cells. The walls of capillaries are very thin and are often composed of only a single layer of cells. This allows molecules such as oxygen and water and waste products such as carbon dioxide and urea to pass through them. This property of capillary walls is critical to the role that the circulatory system has in collecting and transporting different substances to and from different parts of our bodies.
Carbohydrates- the major energy source within plants and animals: sugars, starches and glucose polymers.
Carbon (c) - element #6 on the periodic table, is one of the softest substances and has the highest melting/sublimation point of all the elements and, in the form of diamond, has the highest thermal conductivity of any element. Carbon exists in several allotropes, including graphite, diamond, amorphous carbon, fullerenes and nanotubes
Carbon dioxide - a heavy colorless gas that does not support combustion, dissolves in water to form carbonic acid, is formed in animal respiration and in the decay or combustion of animal and vegetable matter, and is absorbed from the air by plants in photosynthesis
Carbon dioxide gas- see carbon dioxide
Carnivore - an animal that eats other animals, meat eater
Cartilage- a firm, elastic, flexible type of connective tissue of a translucent whitish or yellowish color; gristle
Catalyst - something that triggers or increases the rate of a chemical reaction
Cell(s) - the smallest unit of living matter
Celsius - a unit of measurement for temperature. Water freezes at 0˚ c (zero degrees celsius) and boils at 100°c (100 degrees celsius)
Center of gravity-
Charge - the state of an atom that has lost or gained an electron
Characteristic- a distinguishing feature or quality of an organism that helps to define, identify or describe it.
Chemical change -see chemical reaction
Chemical erosion – the act or state of a surface being worn away by chemical interactions
Chemical indicator– a substance, as litmus, that indicates the presence or concentration of a certain element or material
Chemical reaction - when two or more chemicals combine to make a new chemical substance. A process by which one substance is chemically converted to another. Chemical reactions involve the formation or destruction of bonds between atoms.
Chlorophyll - a green chemical in plant cells that allows plants to use the sun’s energy for making food
Chromosomes- thread-like bodies, usually x shaped and usually found in pairs in the nuclei of living cells. They carry genetic information that determines the inherited characteristics of an organism. Chromosomes consist of deoxyribonucleic acid (dna) and proteins and each chromosome can be regarded as comprising a number of genes. Each species can be characterized by the number of chromosomes that its cells contain, for example, humans usually have 46 chromosomes per cell (23 pairs
Circulate- to move or flow freely in an enclosed space or defined area
Circulatory system - contains the blood vessels (arteries, veins and capillaries) and heart which moves blood throughout the body. Among other things this system provides oxygen and nutrients to cells and aids them in the removal of waste products, fighting infection and general repair
Cirrus cloud - a high-altitude cloud with a featherlike shape, made of ice crystals
Classification- the arranging of groups of organisms into sets or divisions on the basis of their evolutionary relationships
Climate- 1. Meteorology the average weather or the regular variations in weather in a region over a period of years 2. The prevailing conditions or environment in an indoor setting such as an office
Cloud- a mass of tiny droplets of water that condensed from the air.
Closed circuit- an electrical circuit in which there is an uninterrupted endless path for current to flow when voltage is applied
Closing- to bring the edges or ends of something together, or be brought together. To move, or move something, so that an opening or hole is covered or blocked
Clot- a mass of thickened liquid, especially blood
Clouds- a visible mass of water or ice particles in the atmosphere from which rain and other forms of precipitation fall
Coal- a hard black or dark brown sedimentary rock formed by the decomposition of plant material, widely used as a fuel
Cohesion- the force of attraction by which the molecules of a solid or liquid tend to remain together
Coal gas- a flammable mixture of gases obtained by distilling coal, consisting mainly of methane and hydrogen. Use: fuel. 2. The gas produced when coal is burned
Coal tar- a thick black liquid. Use: making dyes, drugs, and soap.
Color- the property of objects that depends on the light that they reflect and is perceived as red, blue, green, or other shades
Combustion - the process of burning (rapid oxidation) in which oxygen is chemically combined with a fuel to release energy in the form of light and heat. Combustion occurs in the gaseous state for example, when a candle or wooden log is burning, for example, the reaction (and hence the flame) is always just above the fuel. The variation in ignition temperatures of different fuels reflect the different temperatures needed to get either the fuel or (in cases such as wood) decomposition products of the fuel into the gas state
Compete- to try to outperform, win or do better
Coke- a solid residue consisting mainly of carbon, left after the volatile elements have been driven from bituminous coal or other petroleum material. Use: fuel, carbon fuel
Compound- a substance containing more than one element.
Compound machine- a device used to overcome resistance at one point by applying force at another point made by combining two or more things
Combine- to be joined or mixed together, or join or mix people or things together
Communicable- able to be passed from one person, animal, or organism to another
Composition- the way in which something is made, especially in terms of its different parts
Compressed- to make something smaller by applying pressure or a similar process, or become smaller in this way
Condensation - when a substance changes state from a gas to a liquid
Conductor - a thing that transmits heat, electricity, light, sound or other form of energy
Constellation - patterns formed by groups of stars in the sky
Conserve- to keep and protect from harm, loss, or change.
Contagious- transmitted from one person to another either by direct contact with the person or by indirect contact, e.g. Contact with his or her clothes
Contract- 1. To shrink or become smaller, or make something shrink or become smaller 2. To catch or develop an illness or disease
Control - in a science experiment, it is important to keep at least one variable constant so that the impact of the other variables can be accurately measured
Consumer- an organism that cannot produce its own sources of energy, but feeds on other living organisms. Animals and parasitic plants would be considered consumers. In a food chain, herbivores (animals that eat green plants) are primary consumers and carnivores (that eat herbivores or other carnivores) are secondary consumer
Converted- to change something from one character, form, or function to another, or be changed in character, form or function
Core- the central or most important part of something
Cross pollination- the transfer of pollen from an anther of one flower to the stigma of another
Corrosion- a process by which something, especially a metal, is destroyed progressively by chemical action, as iron is when it rusts
Crust- the thin outermost layer of earth, approximately one percent of earth's volume, which varies in thickness and has a different composition from the interior. Other terrestrial planets are believed to have crusts.
Crystal- solid substance with a regular geometric arrangement of atoms.
Cumulus cloud - a puffy cloud that appears to rise up from a flat bottom
Current - the movement or flow of electric charges
D
Data points- information, often in the form of facts or figures obtained from experiments or surveys, used as a basis for making calculations or drawing conclusions
Decompose- to break down organic matter from a complex to a simpler form, mainly through the action of fungi and bacteria, or be broken down in this way
Decomposition- to break something down into smaller or simpler parts, or be broken down in this way see decompose
Density - the ratio of the mass of a body to its volume, usually expressed as its specific gravity
Die- to cease to be alive
Diffusion - the movement of molecules in a gas or liquid by random thermal agitation from a region of high concentration to a region of lower concentration
Digestive system - a series of connected organs from mouth to anus whose purpose is to break down, digest and excrete wastes from the food we eat. The digestive system breaks down complex food molecules into simple molecules, so that they can easily be absorbed into the bloodstream. These molecules are transported in the blood to the body's cells, where they are used for maintenance, growth and reproduction
Dilute- to make something thinner or weaker by adding water or another liquid, or to become thinner or weaker in this way
Direct current- electrical current that flows in only one direction and has a fairly constant average value.
Direction- the way in which somebody or something goes, points, or faces
Disease- a condition in humans, plants, or animals that results in pathological symptoms and is not the direct result of physical injury
Disperse-to distribute something over a wide area, or become widespread
Displaced-physics to replace a volume of fluid with a floating or submerged object, forcing the original fluid to move elsewhere
Dissolved- to break up into smaller or more basic parts, or to become absorbed in a liquid solution, or make a solid do this
Dna- deoxyribonucleic acid. Twisted helical polymer chains. See chromosomes.
Doesn't matter- well, yes, actually it does matter...
Dominant- 1. In control or command over others 2. Genetics describes a gene that causes a parental characteristic it controls to occur in any offspring, or describes the characteristic itself
E
Earth- the third planet in order from the sun with an orbital period of 365.26 days, a diameter of 12,756 km/7,926 mi, and an average distance from the sun of 149,600,000 km/93,000,000 mi. Surrounded by an atmosphere composed primarily of nitrogen and oxygen, it is the only planet in the universe known to support life
Earth’s layers- made of three main parts; crust, mantle and core
Earthquake- a violent shaking of the earth's crust that may cause destruction to buildings and results from the sudden release of tectonic stress along a fault line or from volcanic activity.
Ecology - the study of how living and non-living things interact with each other
Ecosystem - a isolated group of living (plants, animals, people) and non-living (rocks) things that coexist together and interact which each other to ensure each other’s survival
Elasticity- the ability of a body to regain its original shape after deformation.
Electric current - electric current, especially when used as a source of powered current
Electricity- physics a fundamental form of kinetic or potential energy created by the free or controlled movement of charged particles such as electrons, positrons, and ions
Electrons- a negatively charged subatomic particle. Electrons are found at varying distances from a atom's nucleus. They make up almost the entire volume of a atom but only account for a small part of the atom's mass. Compare to protons
Element- a basic chemical substance in which all the atoms are the same, and different from the atoms of any other substance
Embryo- the immature plant inside a seed
Emulsion- tiny droplets of one liquid floating in another liquid, such as oil droplets floating in water energy - the name given to the ability to do work
Epidermis - an outermost layer of such plant parts as roots and leaves. Also refers to human skin.
Environment- 1. All the external factors influencing the life and activities of people, plants, and animals 2. The natural world, especially when it is regarded as being at risk from the harmful influences of human activities 3. A set of external conditions, especially those affecting a particular activity
Equalize- to make things uniform or equal or stable
Equilibrium- a stable situation in which products and reactants are balanced.
Erosion- the process in which a material is worn away by a stream of liquid (water) or air, often due to the presence of abrasive particles in the stream.
Evaporation - the slow changing of a liquid to a gas
Expanded- made larger, extended, unfolded, or outstretched
Eye- the organ of sight or light sensitivity in vertebrates, usually occurring in pairs. The eye is an approximately spherical organ with light-sensitive rod and cone cells in the retina, which is responsible for converting light into impulses that are transmitted to the brain for interpretation.
F
Fact - something that is known to be true
Fats- molecules of fatty acids or glycerol. Used as a food storeage
Field- a region in space that is defined by a vector function. Common fields are: gravitational, electric and magnetic
Filter- a device made of or containing a porous material used to collect particles from a liquid or gas passing through it
Focus- 1. Concentrated effort or attention on a particular thing 2. An area of concern, responsibility, or investigation 3. The quality that makes an image sharply defined with clear edges and contrast
Food- material that provides living things with the nutrients they need for energy and growth
Food chain - a chain of organisms of which each members uses the lower member as a source of food
Food web - the overlapping food chains in an ecosystem
Force- an action (transfer of energy) that will accelerate a body in the direction of the applied force. See newton’s laws of motion.
Force – 1. The power, strength, or energy that somebody or something possesses 2. Physical power, effort, or violence used against somebody or something that resists
Freeze- to change into a solid by the loss of heat, or cause liquid to do this, especially to change into ice
Freezing point - the temperature at which a liquid becomes a solid. Increased pressure usually raises the freezing point
Freshwater- water that contains less than 1,000 milligrams per liter (mg/l) of dissolved solids; generally, more than 500 mg/l of dissolved solids is undesirable for drinking and many industrial uses.
Friction - the resistance that occurs when two objects rub together
Fungi- see fungus
Fungus - members of a kingdom that contain one-celled and many-celled living things that absorb food from their environment
G
Galaxy - a collection of billions of stars. Our sun belongs to the milky way galaxy
Galileo
Gametes. Sex cells (spermatozoa or ova) that carry the genes donated by each parent
Gas- a form of matter that can move about freely and does not have a definite shape.
Gene- a unit of inheritance. A section of dna. Comprising a sequence of four bases: adenine, guanine, cytosine and thymine
Genome- the collective noun for a set of genes. The human genome contains 100 000 genes
Geosphere- the solid earth (rock materials on the surface and in earth's interior layers) and soil. See lithosphere
Geotropism - a response of a plant to turn toward the ground or earth or away light see tropism
Germination- start to grow from a seed or spore into a new individual, or cause a seed or spore to do this
Glaciers - a huge mass of ice, formed on land by the compaction and recrystallization of snow, that moves very slowly downslope or outward due to its own weight.
Gravity - the force that causes an object to fall to earth. (a) the attractive central gravitational force exerted by a celestial body such as earth
Groundwater- water beneath the earth's surface in underground streams and aquifers-
Group- a number of people or things considered together or regarded as belonging together
Grow- to become larger in size through natural development
H
Habitat - the place where a plant or animal normally lives and grows
Half-life - the time taken for the level of radioactivity in an element to halve.
Heat- the internal energy of a body (substance)
Heat energy-
Helium (he) - element #2 on the periodic table, is a light, odorless, colorless, inert, monatomic gas. It can form diatomic molecules, but only weakly and at temperatures close to absolute zero. Helium has the lowest melting point of any element and its boiling point is close to absolute zero. Unlike any other element, helium does not solidify but remains a liquid down to absolute zero (0 k) under ordinary pressures
Hemisphere- 1. One half of the earth, especially a half north or south of the equator or west or east of the prime meridian 2. One half of a sphere or of anything spherical in shape 3. Either of the two symmetrical halves of the front part of the brain cerebrum
Herbivore - an animal that eats plants, algae, or other producers
Hitchhike- to get a ride from a passing vehicle, usually by standing at the side of the road and holding out the hand with the thumb raised
Humidity - the amount of water vapor in the air
Hydrogen (h) - element #1 on the periodic table, is the simplest element of all, and the lightest. It is also by far the most common element in the universe. Over 90 percent of the atoms in the universe are hydrogen. In its commonest form, the hydrogen atom is made of one proton, one electron, and no neutrons. Hydrogen is the only element that can exist without neutrons
Hydrosphere- all of earth's bodies of water, including groundwater. The hydrosphere also includes the cryosphere- the frozen part of the earth's surface, including the polar ice caps, continental ice sheets, glaciers, sea ice, and permafrost
Hypothesis - this is your proposed explanation of your experiment. It is usually formed based on previous experience or your preliminary observations
I
Ice mass- an area, layer, or body of frozen water
Igneous rock- describes rock formed under conditions of intense heat or produced by the solidification of volcanic magma on or below the earth's surface
Image- the likeness of somebody or something that appears in a mirror, through a lens, or on the retina of the eye, or is produced electronically on a screen
Impurities- of or relating to the state or quality of being contaminated
Indicator- chemistry a substance that shows the presence or concentration of a specific material or chemical, e.g. Litmus
Inheritance- the features of an organism are determined by a set of chromosomes. These originate in the parents and are passed on to an offspring during fertilization. It follows then that since chromosomes are inherited, all the features of an organism must be inherited.
Inertia - the tendency of a moving object to keep moving in a straight line or of any object to resist a change on motion.
Invertebrate - an animal that does not have a backbone
Ion(s) - atoms that carry an electric charge, either positive or negative. If an atom gains an electron it takes on a negative charge. If the atom loses an electron it takes on a positive charge
Ionic bond- an bond formed by the electro-magnetic attraction between ions of opposite charge.
Iron- a heavy, magnetic, malleable, ductile, lustrous, silvery white metallic element that is present in very small quantities in the blood and is the fourth most abundant element in the earth's crust. Use: engineering and structural products. Symbol fe
J
K
Kinetic energy- the energy possessed by a body in motion.
L
Leaf- the thin, flat green part of a plant that grows on a stem.
Lens- light modifier. Convex lenses focus and concave lens diffuse light waves.
Life cycle- the series of changes of form and activity that a living organism undergoes from its beginning through its development to sexual maturity
Light- the visible part of the electromagnetic spectrum: red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo and violet. White light is a combination of all the above colors.
Light energy- energy coming from the sun. Plants use it to make food and scientists use it to create lasers.
Linear motion- the power or ability to move something in a straight line
Lithification- newly loose unconsolidated sediment coverts to solid rock
Lithosphere- the solid earth (rock materials on the surface and in earth's interior layers) and soil. See geosphere.
Liquid- a form of matter that can flow easily and takes on the shape of any container into which it is poured.
M
Magma- molten rock deep within the earth from which igneous rock is formed by solidification at or near the earth's surface
Magnesium - element #12 on the periodic table, is a silvery-white, low density, reasonably strong metal that tarnishes in air to form a thin oxide coating. Magnesium and its alloys have very good corrosion resistance and good high temperature mechanical properties. The metal reacts with water to produce hydrogen gas. When it burns in air, magnesium produces a brilliant white light
Magnet- a body which produces a magnetic field. All magnets are di-pole and follow the rule that like poles repel and unlike poles attract
Magnetism (mg) - the force that electric currents exert on other electric currents
Magnetic- possessing the quality of magnetism see magnetism
Mantle- the part of earth or another planet that lies between the crust and core
Mass - often defined as the amount of matter in an object. Note that mass and weight are not the same thing. Weight is the force on an object due to the gravitational pull of a planet or other heavenly body. Mass on the other hand, remains constant, no matter where it is
Materials- the substance used to make things
Matter- the material substance of the universe that has mass, occupies space, and is convertible to energy
Melting point - the temperature at which the vapor pressure of the solid and the liquid are the same and the pressure totals one atmosphere
Meteor - a chunk of rock from space that burns up as it travels through the earth's atmosphere.
Metamorphic rock- any rock derived from preexisting rocks that have changed mineralogically, and or structurally, through a solid-state transformation, in response to various pressure/temperature changes
Meteorite - a chunk of rock from space that strikes the surface of the earth of the moon
Microbe- a plant or animal of microscopic size.
Microorganism- any living thing that is too small to be seen with the naked eye. Minerals
Microscope- a tool using one or more magnifying lenses to see things too small to see with the naked eye
Model-a copy of an object, especially one made on a smaller scale than the original
Moisture- wetness, especially as droplets of condensed or absorbed liquid, or in a vapor
Molecule - one of the basic units of matter. It is the smallest particles into which a substance can be divided and still have the chemical identity of the original substance.
Momentum - the speed or force of something that is moving. The product of mass multiplied by velocity. Momentum is conserved in any system of particles.
Multidimensional- relating to or having more than three dimensions
Multiplied- to increase by a considerable number, amount, or degree, or make something increase in this way
Muscles- a tissue that can undergo repeated contraction and relaxation, so that it is able to produce movement of body parts, maintain tension, or pump fluids within the body. There are three types: voluntary striped muscle, involuntary smooth muscle, and branched or heart muscle.
Mutual attraction- done, felt, or expressed by each toward or with regard to the other
N
Natural resource- materials that come from the earth and can be used by living things, for example: water, oil, and minerals
Negative charge- physics with the same electric charge as that of an electron, shown by the symbol (−)
Neutral- chemistry neither acidic nor alkaline. Physics having zero electric charge or potential
Neutralization- a reaction in which the characteristics of an acid or base disappear
Neutrons- particles with zero charge forming part of an atomic nucleus.
Newton’s laws of motion- classical laws which enable the prediction of the path of any object from a grain of sand to entire galaxies:
1. A body will remain at rest or move with a constant velocity unless acted upon by an outside force.
2. The acceleration of a body is proportional to the applied force. This is expressed by the universal formula: force = mass × acceleration.
3. For every action there is an equal and opposite reaction.
Nitrogen (n) - element #7 on the periodic table, a colorless, odorless, tasteless, diatomic and generally inert gas at standard temperature and pressure. At atmospheric pressure, nitrogen is liquid between 63 k and 77 k. Liquids colder than this are considerably more expensive to make than liquid nitrogen is.
North-
Nucleus- 1. Organelle containing the chromosomes. 2. That part of an atom containing the protons and neutrons-a neutral elementary particle of the baryon family with a zero electrical charge and a mass approximately equal to that of a proton
Nutrients- a substance that provides nourishment, e.g. The minerals that a plant takes from the soil or the constituents in food that keep a human body healthy and help it to grow
O
Omnivore - an animal that eats both plants and animals
Orbit- the path that a planet or other heavenly body follows as it moves around the sun or another heavenly body
Osmosis - the natural passage or diffusion of water (or other liquids) through a semi permeable membrane.
Organic-see organic matter
Organic matter- plant and animal residues, or substances made by living organisms. All are based upon carbon compounds
Organic compound- naturally occurring substances that contain carbon.
Organism- 1. A living thing, e.g. A plant, animal, virus, or bacterium 2. A functioning system of interdependent parts that resembles a living thing
Oxidize - to combine with oxygen oxidation- see oxidize
Ozone- an isotope of oxygen that blocks ultra-violet radiation. Normally found in the stratosphere.
Oxygen (o) - element #8 on the periodic table, a colorless, odorless, tasteless gas that is the most plentiful element in the earth's crust. It was discovered in 1772 by swedish chemist carl wilhelm scheele.
P
Perceive-to understand or interpret something in a particular way
Ph- a measure of the relative acidity or alkalinity of water. Water with a ph of 7 is neutral; lower ph levels indicate increasing acidity, while ph levels higher than 7 indicate increasingly basic solutions.
Ph scale- the strength of acids and bases. Pure water has a ph value of 7, acids have a lower value and bases higher
Photosynthesis - the food-making process in green plants that uses sunlight
Phototropism- a response of a plant to turn toward light stimulus see tropism
Physical change- changes affecting the form of a [chemical substance], but do not change the chemical composition of that substance. Physical changes are used to separate mixtures into their component compounds, but cannot usually be used to separate compounds into chemical elements or simpler compounds.
Physical defenses- naturally possessed self-defense capability in the form of body parts used to counter an immediate threat of violence may be camouflage, protective shielding or weaponry
Pigments- a substance that is added to give something such as paint or ink its color. Pigments are often available in the form of dry powders to be added to liquids.
Planet - any of the nine major objects that travel around the sun
Plant- a photosynthetic organism that has cellulose cell walls, cannot move of its own accord, grows in soil or water, and usually has green leaves. Kingdom: plantae
Plastic- 1. An extremely versatile synthetic material made from the polymerization of organic compounds. It can be molded into shapes or fabricated in many different forms for use in commerce and industry. 2. Physics able to be bent, stretched, squeezed, or pulled out so that the resulting change of shape is permanent
Poles- 1. Either of the two points on the earth, the north and south poles, that are the endpoints of its axis of rotation, are farthest from the equator, and are surrounded by icecaps 2. Either of two completely opposed or contrasted positions, states, or views 3. Physics either of the two ends of a magnet or magnetized body, where the lines of force are most concentrated
Pollination - the transfer of a pollen grain to the egg-producing part of a plant
Pollutants- a substance that pollutes something, e.g. A chemical or waste product contaminating the air, soil, or water
Polymers- long chain molecules such as pvc, nylon or dna produced by the polymerization of monomers.
Potassium (k) - element #19 on the periodic table, is silvery-white, low melting, metal soft enough to be easily cut with a knife. It tarnishes rapidly in air, forming a dull oxide coating. Potassium burns with a lilac colored flame. It is extremely reactive, reacting violently with water
Potential - the amount of electrification of a point with reference to some standard
Potential energy - amount of useable energy within a body at rest.
Power- amount of work done per second.
Proteins- amino acid polymers with specific biological functions, especially the growth, regeneration and repair of cells.
Precipitation - any form of water particles that falls from the atmosphere and reaches the ground such as rain, snow, sleet, etc.
Predator - an animal that hunts other animals for food
Preservations- the guarding of something from danger, harm, or injury, or change, keeping intact
Pressure - the application of a steady force upon another object
Prey- an animal or animals caught, killed, and eaten by another animal as food
Prism- a transparent polygonal solid object with flat faces and a usually triangular cross section, used for separating white light into a spectrum of colors
Probability- the likelihood that an event will occur, expressed as the ratio of the number of favorable outcomes in the set of outcomes divided by the total number of possible outcomes
Protons - a positively charged subatomic particle. Protons, along with other subatomic particles called neutrons, make up the nucleus of a atom. The number of protons in an atom is called the atomic number of the element. Compare to electrons.
Pull- to apply force to somebody or something so as to draw or tend to draw that person or thing toward the origin of the force
Pumice- a very light porous rock formed from solidified lava, used in solid form as an abrasive and in powdered form as a polish
Push- to press against somebody or something in order to move that person or object
Q
R
Radiation- 1. Transfer of heat between bodies without a change in the temperature of the intervening medium. 2. Any release of energy from its source.
Radioactive- the potential of spontaneous release of energy from atomic nuclei. Radioactivity
Rainbow- an arc of light separated into bands of color that appears when the sun's rays are refracted and reflected by drops of mist or rain. The colors of the rainbow are conventionally said to be red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, and violet
React- to respond to something by taking action
Recycle- the process of making materials available for reuse
Relative humidity - a comparison between how much water vapor is in the air and how much the air could hold at a given temperature if it were full, or saturated
Resistance - how much an object resists or opposes any electrical current that attempts to pass through it
Reflect- to redirect something that strikes a surface, especially light, sound, or heat, usually back toward its point of origin
Refraction -the deflection of a wave as it passes from one medium to another, eg through a lens.
Relativity- the relative values of time, motion, mass and energy of a body in motion. Click here for more information
Repel- to exert a force that tends to push something away
Reproduction- reproduction is the process by which a new organism is produced. The first stage in the production of any organism is the fertilization of an ova by spermatozoa (or spores on the case of plants). Fertilization produces a single cell called a zygote which contains all the information required to build the adult organism. The progression (growth) from zygote to adult is achieved through cell division.
Respiration- the production of energy by the oxidization of glucose
Retina- a light-sensitive membrane in the back of the eye containing rods and cones that receive an image from the lens and send it to the brain through the optic nerve
Ring- 1. A durable circular band of something, especially a small band made of a particular material or for some special use 2. An outline, mark, or figure in the shape of a circle 3. Astronomy a band of dust, particles, and small bodies revolving around a planet. Such bands are known to circle saturn, jupiter, uranus, and neptune.
Rock- any consolidated material consisting of more than one mineral and, sometimes, organic material, e.g. Granite or limestone
Roots- the part of a plant that has no leaves or buds and usually spreads underground, anchoring the plant and absorbing water and nutrients from the soil
Rotary motion- movement that rotates around an axis or a fixed point
Rust- a reddish brown coating of iron oxide on the surface of iron or steel that forms when the metal is exposed to air and moisture
S
Sand- a substance consisting of fine loose grains of rock or minerals, usually quartz fragments, found on beaches, in deserts, and in soil, sometimes used as a building material
Saturn- the second-largest planet in the solar system and the sixth planet from the sun. It has bright rings made up of orbiting fragments of rock.
Scientific name- biological classification, or scientific classification in biology, is a method to group and categorize organisms by biological type, such as genus or species …
Seed coat- the protective covering of a seed from a flowering plant same as testa
Seed- the part of a plant from which another plant can grow
Sediment- usually applied to material in suspension in water or recently deposited from suspension. In the plural the word is applied to all kinds of deposits from the waters of streams, lakes, or seas
Sedimentary rock- A layered rock resulting from consolidation of sediment and derived from weathering processes
Sexual reproduction - the production of a new organism from a female sex cell and a male sex cell
Shape- the outline of something's form
Simple machines- each of the six devices formerly considered to be the basic components from which all machines were composed. They were the inclined plane, lever, pulley, screw, wedge, and wheel and axle.
Size- the dimensions, extent, amount, or degree of something, in terms of how large or small it is
Sodium (na) - element #11 on the periodic table, is a soft, silvery-white metal. Freshly cut surfaces oxidize rapidly in air to form a dull, oxide coating. Sodium burns in air with a brilliant yellow flame. Sodium floats on water, because its density is lower than water's. It also reacts vigorously with water to produce sodium hydroxide and hydrogen gas. Explosions occur when the heat generated by the sodium-water reaction ignites the resulting hydrogen gas.
Soil- the surface layer of earth where plants grow
Solid- a form of matter that has shape and hardness.
Sound- vibrations traveling through air, water, or some other medium, especially those within the range of frequencies that can be perceived by the human ear. At sea level and freezing point, the speed of sound through the air is 1,220 km/760 mi per hour.
South- the direction that lies directly to the right of somebody facing the rising sun or that is located toward the bottom of a conventional map of the world
Speed- the rate at which something moves, happens, or functions
Spoilage - the process of decaying or becoming damaged, or the condition of being decayed or damaged
Stable-steady and not liable to change
Static electricity - describes the situation where objects carry a charge
Stimulation- to encourage something such as an activity or a process so that it will begin, increase, or develop
Stratus cloud - clouds are uniform grayish clouds that often cover the entire sky. They resemble fog that does not reach the ground a cloud that forms in a blanket like layer.
Stress - the measure of the force acting on a body.
Sulfur (s) - element # 16 on the periodic table, is a soft, pale yellow, odorless, brittle solid. It is insoluble in water. It burns with a blue flame, oxidizing to sulfur dioxide. Sulfur exists in several crystalline and amorphous allotropes. The best known sulfur compound is hydrogen sulfide. This is a toxic gas that smells like rotten eggs; the smell is used in stink bombs, many of which release a small amount of hydrogen sulfide.
Surface tension- the attraction of molecules to each other on a liquid's surface. Thus, a barrier is created between the air and the liquid
Surface water- water that is on the earth's surface, such as in a stream, river, lake, or reservoir.
System- a set of interacting or interdependent parts working together
T
Taxonomy- the science of classifying plants, animals, and microorganisms into increasingly broader categories based on shared features. Traditionally, organisms were grouped by physical resemblances, but in recent times other criteria such as genetic matching have also been used.
Telescope- a device for making distant objects appear nearer and larger by means of compound lenses or concave mirrors
Temperature- how hot one body is when compared to another
Texture- the general appearance, including particle size, particle shape, and arrangement of grains
Thermodynamics- the branch of physics that deals with the conversions from one to another of various forms of energy and how these affect temperature, pressure, volume, mechanical action, and work
Thymolphthalein- is an acid-base (ph) indicator. Its transition range is at approximately ph 9.3-10.5. Below this ph, it is colorless; above this ph, it is blue.
Torque- the tendency of a body to rotate under an applied force.
Transfer- to move from one place to another, or cause somebody or something to do so
Tropism - a response of a plant toward or away from stimulus
Troposphere - the layer of the atmosphere closet to the earth's surface.
Twist- to make one part or end of something turn in the opposite direction from the other, or turn in this way
U
Unstable- 1. Not firm, solid, or fixed 2. Physics having a brief existence or half-life
V
Velocity- the rate of change of distance with respect to time
Voltage - differences in potential (or electric state) related to the electrical forces that 'push' charges through a conductor. Can be thought of as the pressure which pushes electricity through a wire.
Vibrations- the process of moving or being moved back and forth very rapidly
Volcanic gasses- the gaseous product of or relating to or originating from a volcano
Volcanoes- a naturally occurring opening in the surface of the earth through which molten, gaseous, and solid material is ejected
W
Water- the clear colorless liquid, odorless and tasteless when pure, that occurs as rain, snow, and ice, forms rivers, lakes, and seas, and is essential for life. Naturally occurring water picks up color and taste from substances in its environment. Formula: h2o
Water cycle- the path that water follows as it evaporates into the air, condenses into clouds, and returns to earth as rain, snow, sleet, or hail.
Wavelengths- in physics, the distance between two points on adjacent waves that have the same phase, e.g. The distance between two consecutive peaks or troughs.
Wave- 1. A raised ridge-shaped formation moving across the surface of a liquid, especially the ocean, or an ocean wave curling over and falling as it reaches the shore 2. A line, shape, surface, or pattern that curves in one direction and then another, especially one with repeated curves
Weight - the force on an object due to the gravitational pull of a planet or other heavenly body. The gravitational force exerted on a mass.
Wheel- a round ring with spokes that is attached to objects to move them
Wind- air moving across the surface of the planet or through the atmosphere at a speed fast enough to be noticed
Wind speed- measurable rate at which air moves
Work- the amount of energy transferred to a system
X
Xylem - the tissue through which water and minerals move up through a plant
Y
Yield- mass per unit time per unit area
Z
Zygote- a fertilized egg, the fusion of a male and female gamete.
