California Science Content Standards . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

466
Science Handbook
Units of Measurement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .468
Measure Time . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .470
Measure Length. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4 7 1
Measure Mass . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 472
Measure Volume . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 473
Measure Weight/Force . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .474
Measure Temperature . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .475
Use a Hand Lens . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .476
Use a Microscope . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 477
Use Calculators . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .478
Use Computers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .480
Make Graphs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .482
Make Tables . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .484
Make Charts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .485
Make Maps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .486
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .487
Glossary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4 9 1
Index. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .511

▶ A magnifying glass, or
hand lens, makes the
small details of this
azalea flower easier
to observe.

465
Plate Tectonics and Earth’s Structure
1. Plate tectonics accounts for important features
of Earth’s surface and major geologic events.
As a basis for understanding this concept:
a. Students know evidence of plate tectonics
is derived from the fit of the continents; the
location of earthquakes, volcanoes, and
midocean ridges; and the distribution of
fossils, rock types, and ancient climatic zones.
b. Students know Earth is composed of several
layers: a cold, brittle lithosphere; a hot,
convecting mantle; and a dense, metallic core.
c. Students know lithospheric plates the size
of continents and oceans move at rates
of centimeters per year in response to
movements in the mantle.
d. Students know that earthquakes are sudden
motions along breaks in the crust called faults
and that volcanoes and fissures are locations
where magma reaches the surface.
e. Students know major geologic events, such
as earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, and
mountain building, result from plate motions.
f. Students know how to explain major features
of California geology (including mountains,
faults, volcanoes) in terms of plate tectonics.
g. Students know how to determine the
epicenter of an earthquake and know that the
effects of an earthquake on any region vary,
depending on the size of the earthquake, the
distance of the region from the epicenter, the
local geology, and the type of construction in
the region.
Shaping Earth’s Surface
2. Topography is reshaped by the weathering
of rock and soil and by the transportation
and deposition of sediment. As a basis for
understanding this concept:
a. Students know water running downhill is the
dominant process in shaping the landscape,
including California’s landscape.
b. Students know rivers and streams are
dynamic systems that erode, transport
466
sediment, change course, and flood their
banks in natural and recurring patterns.
c. Students know beaches are dynamic systems
in which the sand is supplied by rivers and
moved along the coast by the action of
waves.
d. Students know earthquakes, volcanic
eruptions, landslides, and floods change
human and wildlife habitats.
Heat (Thermal Energy)
3. Heat moves in a predictable flow from warmer
objects to cooler objects until all the objects
are at the same temperature. As a basis for
understanding this concept:
a. Students know energy can be carried from
one place to another by heat flow or by
waves, including water, light and sound
waves, or by moving objects.
b. Students know that when fuel is consumed,
most of the energy released becomes heat
energy.
c. Students know heat flows in solids by
conduction (which involves no flow of matter)
and in fluids by conduction and by convection
(which involves flow of matter).
d. Students know heat energy is also transferred
between objects by radiation (radiation can
travel through space).
Energy in the Earth System
4. Many phenomena on Earth’s surface are
affected by the transfer of energy through
radiation and convection currents. As a basis
for understanding this concept:
a. Students know the sun is the major source of
energy for phenomena on Earth’s surface; it
powers winds, ocean currents, and the water
cycle.
b. Students know solar energy reaches Earth
through radiation, mostly in the form of
visible light.
 c. Students know heat from Earth’s interior
reaches the surface primarily through
convection.
d. Students know convection currents distribute
heat in the atmosphere and oceans.
e. Students know differences in pressure, heat,
air movement, and humidity result in changes
of weather.
Ecology (Life Sciences)
5. Organisms in ecosystems exchange energy
and nutrients among themselves and with the
environment. As a basis for understanding this
concept:
a. Students know energy entering ecosystems
as sunlight is transferred by producers into
chemical energy through photosynthesis and
then from organism to organism through food
webs.
b. Students know matter is transferred over
time from one organism to others in the food
web and between organisms and the physical
environment.
c. Students know populations of organisms can
be categorized by the functions they serve in
an ecosystem.
d. Students know different kinds of organisms
may play similar ecological roles in similar
biomes.
e. Students know the number and types
of organisms an ecosystem can support
depends on the resources available and on
abiotic factors, such as quantities of light
and water, a range of temperatures, and soil
composition.
Resources
6. Sources of energy and materials differ in
amounts, distribution, usefulness, and the time
required for their formation. As a basis for
understanding this concept:
a. Students know the utility of energy sources
is determined by factors that are involved in
converting these sources to useful forms and
the consequences of the conversion process.
b. Students know different natural energy and
material resources, including air, soil, rocks,
minerals, petroleum, fresh water, wildlife, and
forests, and know how to classify them as
renewable or nonrenewable.
c. Students know the natural origin of the
materials used to make common objects.
Investigation and Experimentation
7. Scientific progress is made by asking
meaningful questions and conducting careful
investigations. As a basis for understanding
this concept and addressing the content
in the other three strands, students should
develop their own questions and perform
investigations. Students will:
a. Develop a hypothesis.
b. Select and use appropriate tools and
technology (including calculators, computers,
balances, spring scales, microscopes, and
binoculars) to perform tests, collect data, and
display data.
c. Construct appropriate graphs from data and
develop qualitative statements about the
relationships between variables.
d. Communicate the steps and results from
an investigation in written reports and oral
presentations.
e. Recognize whether evidence is consistent
with a proposed explanation.
f. Read a topographic map and a geologic
map for evidence provided on the maps and
construct and interpret a simple scale map.
g. Interpret events by sequence and time from
natural phenomena (e.g., the relative ages of
rocks and intrusions).
h. Identify changes in natural phenomena over
time without manipulating the phenomena
(e.g., a tree limb, a grove of trees, a stream, a
hillslope).
467
Units of Measurement

Temperature Weight and Mass

▶ The temperature is ▶ This baseball bat weighs 32 ounces.

77 degrees Fahrenheit. 32 ounces is the same as 2 pounds.
That is the same as The mass of the bat is 907 grams.
25 degrees Celsius.

▶ Water boils at 212 degrees Fahrenheit.

Length and Area

▶ A classroom is 10 meters wide and

20 meters long. That means the area
is 200 square meters.
▶ Water freezes at 0 degrees Celsius.

468
 Science Handbook

Volume of Fluids Weight/Force

▶ This bottle of juice has ▶ A student weighs
a volume of 1 liter. 85 pounds. That
That is a little more is a force of 380.8
than 1 quart. newtons.

Table of Measurements
International System of Units (SI) English System of Units

Temperature
Water freezes at 0° C (degrees Celsius)
and boils at 100°C.
Length and Distance
1,000 meters (m) = 1 kilometer (km)
100 centimeters (cm) = 1 meter (m)
10 millimeters (mm) = 1 centimeter (cm)
Volume
1,000 milliliters (mL) = 1 liter (L)
1 cubic centimeter (cm3) = 1 milliliter (mL)
Mass
1,000 grams (g) = 1 kilogram (kg)
Temperature
Water freezes at 32°F (degrees Fahrenheit)
and boils at 212°F.
Length and Distance
5,280 feet (ft) = 1 mile (mi)
3 feet (ft) = 1 yard (yd)
12 inches (in.) = 1 foot (ft)
Volume of Fluids
4 quarts (qt) = 1 gallon (gal)
2 pints (pt) = 1 quart (qt)
2 cups (c) = 1 pint (pt)
8 fluid ounces (oz) = 1 cup (c)
Weight
2,000 pounds (lb) = 1 ton (T)
16 ounces (oz) = 1 pound (lb)

469
Measure Time
You use timing devices to measure how long something takes to
happen. Some timing devices you use in science are a clock with a
second hand and a stopwatch. Which one is more accurate?

Comparing a Clock and Stopwatch

0 minutes
Look at a clock with a second hand. 25 seconds
The second hand is the hand that you 75 hundredths
can see moving. It measures seconds. of a seconds
Get an egg timer with falling sand or
some device like a wind-up toy that
runs down after a certain length of
time. When the second hand of the
clock points to 12, tell your partner
to start the egg timer. Watch the
clock while the sand in the egg timer
is falling.
When the sand stops falling, count
how many seconds it took. Record
this measurement. Repeat the activity,
and compare the two measurements.
Switch roles with your partner.
Look at a stopwatch. Click the button
on the top right. This starts the time.
Click the button again. This stops the More About Time
time. Click the button on the top left. Use the stopwatch to time how long
This sets the stopwatch back to zero. it takes an ice cube to melt under
Notice that the stopwatch tells time in cold running water. How long does
minutes, seconds, and hundredths of an ice cube take to melt under warm
a second. running water?
Repeat the activity in steps 2–4, using Match each of these times with the
the stopwatch instead of a clock. action you think took that amount
Make sure the stopwatch is set to of time.
zero. Click the top right button to a. 00:14:55 1. Taking a shower
start timing the reading. Click it again
when the sand stops falling. b. 44:39:45 2. Saying the Pledge
of Allegiance
c. 10:23:00 3. Recess

470

Measure Length
Find Length with a Ruler
Look at the ruler below. Each
centimeter is divided into 10
millimeters. How long is the paper clip?
1 centimeter = 10 millimeters
The length of the paper clip is
3 centimeters plus 2 millimeters.
You can write this length as
3.2 centimeters.
Place a ruler on your desk. Lay a pencil
against the ruler so that one end of the
pencil lines up with the left edge of the
ruler. Record the length of the pencil.
Find Length with a Meterstick
Line up the meterstick with the left
edge of the chalkboard. Make a chalk
mark on the board at the right end of
the meterstick.
Move the meterstick so that the left
edge lines up with the chalk mark.
Keep the stick level. Make another
mark on the board at the right end of
the meterstick.
Science Handbook
Continue to move the meterstick and
make chalk marks until the meterstick
meets or overlaps the right edge of
the board.
Record the length of the chalkboard
in centimeters by adding all the
measurements you’ve made. Remember,
a meterstick has 100 centimeters.
Estimating Length
Try estimating the length of objects in the
room. Then measure the length, and compare
the estimation with the measurement.
Measuring Area
Area is the amount of surface something
covers. To find the area of a rectangle,
multiply the rectangle’s length by its
width. For example, the rectangle here
is 3 centimeters long and 2 centimeters
wide. Its area is 3 cm x 2 cm = 6 square
centimeters. You write the area as 6 cm2.
2 cm
3 cm
To find the area of a parallelogram
you multiply the base times the height.
Two triangles can fit together to form a
parallelogram. You can use the formula
for finding the area of a parallelogram to
find the area of a triangle. You multiply the
base of the triangle times the height of the
triangle and then multiply it by 1/2.
471
Measure Mass
Mass is the amount of matter an object has. You use a balance to
measure mass. To find the mass of an object, you balance it by using
objects with masses you know. Let’s find the mass of a box of crayons.

Measure the Mass of a Box of Crayons More About Mass

Place the balance on a flat, level The mass of your crayons was probably
surface. Check that the two pans are less than 100 g. You may not have enough
empty and clean. masses to balance a pineapple. It has a
Make sure the empty pans are mass of about 1,000 g. That’s the same as
balanced with each other. The pointer 1 kg, because kilo means “1,000.”
should point to the middle mark. If it Estimating Mass
does not, move the slider a little to the Once you become familiar with the mass of
right or left to balance the pans. objects, you can try estimating the masses
Gently place a box of crayons on the of objects. Then you can compare the
left pan. This pan will drop lower. estimation with the actual mass.
Add masses to the right pan
until the pans are balanced.
Add the numbers on the
masses that are in the
right pan. The total is
the mass of the box
of crayons in grams.
Record this number.
After the number
write a g for “grams.”

How many kilograms do

all these masses add up
to?
Estimate which of these
objects has a mass
greater than 1 kilogram.
Then use the balance to
check your estimate.
▶ Your science textbook
▶ A box of tissues

472
 Science Handbook

Measure Volume
Volume is the amount of space something takes up. In science
you usually measure the volume of liquids by using beakers and
graduated cylinders. These containers are marked in milliliters (mL).

Measure the Volume of a Liquid Find the Volume of a Solid

Look at the beaker and at the
graduated cylinder. The beaker has
marks for each 25 mL up to 300 mL.
The graduated cylinder has marks for
each 1 mL up to 100 mL.
The surface of the water in the
graduated cylinder curves up at the
sides. You measure the volume by
reading the height of the water at the
flat part. What is the volume of water
in the graduated cylinder? How much
water is in the beaker? They both
contain 75 mL of water.
Pour 50 mL of water from a pitcher
into a beaker.
Start with 50 mL of water in a
graduated cylinder.
Place a small rock in the water.
The water level rises.
Measure the new water level. Subtract
50 mL from the new reading. The
difference is the volume of the rock.
Record the volume in cm3.
Estimating Volume
Once you become familiar with the
volumes of liquids and solids, you can
estimate volumes. Estimate the amount
of liquid in a glass or can. Estimate the
volume of an eraser.

Now pour the 50 mL of water into

a graduated cylinder.

473
Measure Weight/Force
You use a spring scale to measure weight. An object has weight
because the force of gravity pulls down on the object. Therefore,
weight is a force. Weight is measured in newtons (N) like all forces.

Measure the Weight of an Object

Look at a spring scale like the one the students are
holding. See how many newtons it measures. See how the
measurements are divided. The spring scale shown here
measures up to 5 N. It has a mark for every 0.1 N.
Hold the spring scale by the top loop. Put the object to be
measured on the bottom hook. If the object will not stay on the
hook, place it in a net bag. Then hang the bag from the hook.
Let go of the object slowly. It will pull down on a spring inside
the scale. The spring is connected to a pointer. The pointer on
the spring scale shown here is a small bar.
Wait for the pointer to stop moving. Read the number of
newtons next to the pointer. This is the object’s weight. The
mug in the picture weighs 4 N.
More About Spring Scales
You probably weigh yourself by standing on a bathroom scale. This
is a spring scale too. The force of your body stretches a spring inside
the scale. The dial on the scale is probably marked in pounds—the
English unit of weight. One pound is equal to about 4.5 newtons.

◀ A bathroom scale,
a grocery scale,
and a kitchen scale
are some spring
scales you may
have seen.

474
 Science Handbook

Measure Temperature
You use a thermometer to measure temperature—how hot or cold
something is. A thermometer is made of a thin tube with colored liquid
inside. When the liquid gets warmer, it expands and moves up the tube.
When the liquid gets cooler, it contracts and moves down the tube. You
may have seen most temperatures measured in degrees Fahrenheit
(°F). Scientists measure temperature in degrees Celsius (°C).

°F °C
220 10 0 Read a Thermometer Carefully place the beaker on a hot
20 0 90 Water
Look at the plate. A hot plate is a small electric
18 0 80 boils
thermometer stove. Plug in the hot plate, and turn
16 0 70
shown here. It the control knob to a middle setting.
60
14 0
has two scales—
120
50 After 1 minute measure the
a Fahrenheit
40 temperature of water near the
10 0
30 Water scale and a
bottom of the beaker. At the same
80
20
freezes Celsius scale.
60
time, a classmate should measure the
10
What is the temperature of water near the top of
40 0
temperature the beaker. Record these temperatures.
20
shown on the Is water near the bottom of the beaker
0
thermometer? heating up faster than near the top?
At what
As the water heats up, notice what
temperature
happens to the fish food. How do
Room does water
you know that warmer water at the
temperature freeze?
bottom of the beaker rises and cooler
What Is Convection? water at the top sinks?

Fill a large beaker about two-

thirds full of cool water. Find the
temperature of the water by holding
a thermometer in the water. Do not
let the bulb at the bottom of the
thermometer touch the sides or
bottom of the beaker.
Keep the thermometer in the water
until the liquid in the tube stops
moving—about 1 minute. Read and
record the temperature in °C.
Sprinkle a little fish food on the
surface of the water in the beaker.
Do not knock the beaker, and most
of the food will stay on top.
475
Use a Hand Lens
You use a hand lens to magnify an object, or make the object look
larger. With a hand lens, you can see details that would be hard to
see without the hand lens.
Magnify a Coin
Place a coin on a flat surface. Look at
the coin carefully. Draw a picture of it.
Look at the coin through the large
lens of a hand lens. Move the lens
toward or away from the coin until
it looks larger and in focus. Draw
a picture of the coin as you see it
through the hand lens. Fill in details
that you did not see before.
Look at the coin through the smaller
lens, which will magnify the coin even
more. If you notice more details, add
them to your drawing.
Repeat this activity using objects you
are studying in science. It might be a
rock, some soil, or a seed.
476
Observe Seeds in a Petri Dish
Can you observe a seed as it sprouts? You
can if it’s in a petri dish. A petri dish is a
shallow, clear, round dish with a cover.
Line the sides and bottom of a petri
dish with a double layer of filter paper
or paper towel. You may have to cut
the paper to make it fit.
Sprinkle water on the paper to wet it.
Place three or four radish seeds on
the wet paper in different areas of the
dish. Put the lid on the dish, and keep
it in a warm place.
Observe the seeds every day for a
week. Use a hand lens to look for a
tiny root pushing through the seed.
Record how long it takes each seed
to sprout.
 Science Handbook

Use a Microscope
Hand lenses make objects look several times larger. A microscope,
however, can magnify an object to look hundreds of times larger.

Examine Salt Grains

Look at the photograph to learn the
different parts of your microscope. eyepiece

Place the microscope on a flat

surface. Always carry a microscope
with both hands. Hold the arm with focusing knob
one hand, and put your other hand
beneath the base.
Move the mirror so that it reflects
light up toward the stage. Never point
the mirror directly at the Sun or a
bright light. Bright light can cause stage clip
permanent eye damage.
Place a few grains of salt on a slide. arm
Put the slide under the stage clips.
Be sure that the salt grains you are
going to examine are over the hole in
the stage. stage
Look through the eyepiece. Turn the
focusing knob slowly until the salt
grains come into focus.
Draw what the grains look like
through the microscope.
mirror
Look at other objects through the
base
microscope. Try a piece of leaf, a
human hair, or a pencil mark.

477
Use Calculators
Sometimes after you make measurements, you have to analyze
your data to see what it means. This might involve doing
calculations with your data. A calculator helps you do time-
consuming calculations.
Find an Average
After you collect a set of measurements,
you may want to get an idea of a typical
measurement in that set. What if, for
example, you are doing a weather project?
As part of the project, you are studying
rainfall data of a nearby town. The table
below shows how much rain fell in that
town each week during the summer.
What if you want to get an idea of how
much rain fell during a typical week in the
summer? In other words, you want to find
the average for the set of data. There are
three kinds of averages—mean, median,
and mode. Does it matter which one you
use?
Rainfall Data
Week Rain (cm)
1 2.0
2 1.4
3 0.0
4 0.5
5 1.2
6 2.5
7 1.8
8 1.4
9 2.4
10 8.6
11 7.5
478
Find the Mean The mean is what most
people think of when they hear the word
average. You can use a calculator to find
the mean.
Make sure the calculator is on.
Add the numbers. To add a series
of numbers, enter the first number
and press + . Repeat until you enter
the last number. See the hints below.
After your last number, press = . Your
total should be 29.3.
HINTS If the only number to the right of
the decimal point is 0, you don’t have
to enter it into the calculator. To enter
2.0, just press 2. If the only number
to the left of the decimal point is 0,
you don’t have to enter it into the
calculator. To enter 0.5, just press
.5.
While entering so many numbers, it’s
easy to make a mistake and hit the
wrong key. If you make a mistake,
correct it by pressing the clear entry
key, .
CE . Then continue entering the
rest of the numbers.
Find the mean by dividing your total
by the number of weeks. If 29.3 is
displayed, press j 11= . Rounded
up to one decimal point, your mean
should be 2.7.

Find the Median The median is the
middle number when the numbers are
arranged in order of size. When the rainfall
measurements are arranged in order of
size, they look like this.
0.0
0.5
1.2
1.4
The median is 1.8. This is
1.4
in the middle; there are
1.8
five numbers above it and
2.0
five numbers below it.
2.4
2.5
7.5
8.6
Find the Mode The mode is the number
that occurs most frequently. From the
ranked set of data above, you can see that
the most frequent number is 1.4. It occurs
twice.
Here are your three different averages
from the same set of data.
Average Weekly Rainfall (cm)
Mean 2.7
Median 1.8
Mode 1.4
Why is the mean so much higher than the
median or mode? The mean is affected
greatly by the last two weeks when
it rained a lot. A typical week for that
summer was much drier than either of
those last two weeks. The median or mode
gives a better idea of rainfall for a typical
week.
Science Handbook
Find the Percent
Sometimes numbers are given as percents
(%). Percent literally means “per hundred.”
For example, 28% means 28 out of 100.
What if there are about 14,000 trees in
the forest and 28% are over 50 years old?
How many of them are over 50 years old?
Use your calculator. You want to find 28%
of 14,000. Press 1 4 0 0 0 h 2 8 %.
The answer should be 3,920.
Mathematical Operations
Addition and subtraction are reverse
operations, or inverses of each other. For
example:
2+3=5
5-3=2
5-2=3
Similarly, multiplication and division are
also inverses of each other. For example:
6 x 3 = 18
18 ÷ 6 = 3
18 ÷ 3 = 6
Mathematical Statements
Mathematical statements using symbols
may be true only when the symbols are
replaced by certain numbers. For example:
A<B
If A = 2 and B = 3, the statement is true.
If A = 3 and B = 2, the statement is false.
479
Use Computers
A computer has many uses. The Internet connects your computer
to many other computers around the world, so you can collect
all kinds of information. You can use a computer to access this
information and write reports. Best of all, you can use a computer
to explore, discover, and learn.
You can also get information from CD-ROMs. They are computer
disks that can hold large amounts of information. You can fit a
whole encyclopedia on one CD-ROM.

Use Computers for a Project

Here is how one group of students uses computers
as they work on a weather project.
The students use instruments to measure temperature,
wind speed, wind direction, and other weather variables.
They input this information, or data, into the computer. The
students keep the data in a table. This helps
them compare the data from one day to the next.

480
 Science Handbook

The teacher finds out that another

group of students in a town 200 km
to the west is also doing a weather
project. The two groups use the
Internet to talk and share data. When
a storm happens in the town to the
west, that group tells the other group
that it’s coming their way.
The students want to find out more.
They decide to stay on the Internet
and send questions to a local
television weather forecaster. She
has a Web site and answers questions
from students every day.

Meanwhile some students go to the

library to gather more information
from a CD-ROM. The CD-ROM has
an encyclopedia that includes movie
clips. The clips give examples of
different kinds of storms.
The students have kept all their
information in a folder called Weather
Project. Now they use that information
to write a report about the weather.
On the computer they can move
around paragraphs, add words, take
out words, put in diagrams, and draw
weather maps. Then they print the
report in color.

481
Make Graphs to Organize Data
When you do an experiment in science, you collect information.
To find out what your information means, you can organize it into
graphs. There are many kinds of graphs.

Bar Graphs Pictographs

A bar graph uses bars to show information.
For example, what if you do an experiment
by wrapping wire around a nail and
connecting the ends of the wire to a
battery? The nail then becomes a magnet
that can pick up paper clips. The graph
shows that the more you wrap the wire
around the nail, the more paper clips it
picks up. How many paper clips did the
nail with 20 coils pick up? With 50 coils?
A pictograph uses symbols, or pictures,
to show information. What if you collect
information about how much water your
family uses each day?
You can organize this information into a
pictograph like the one shown below. The
pictograph has to explain what the symbol
on the graph means. In this case each
bottle means 20 L of water. A half bottle
means half of 20, or 10 L of water.

10
Which activity uses the most water?
9 Which activity uses the least water?
8
Paper Clips

7
6
5
4
3
2
1
10 20 30 40 50 60
Coils of Wire

A Family’s Daily Use of Water

Drinking

Showering

Bathing

Brushing teeth

Washing dishes

Washing hands

Washing clothes

Flushing toilet

= 20 liters of water
482
 Science Handbook

Circle Graphs Electric Power

A circle graph is helpful to show how a 49%

complete set of data is divided into parts. Irrigation

The circle graph here shows how water 33%
is used in the United States. What is the Homes
8% Industry
single largest use of water? 10%

Line Graphs 16

A line graph shows information by

14
connecting dots plotted on the graph. It
shows change over time. For example, 12
what if you measure the temperature
Temperature (°C)
outside every hour starting at 6 A.M.? 10

The table shows what you find.

8

Time Temperature (°C) 6

6 A.M. 4
4
7 A.M. 6

8 A.M. 8 2

9 A.M. 10
0
10 A . M . 12 6 7 8 9 10 11
A .M. A .M. A .M. A .M. A .M. A .M.
11 A . M . 14
Time in Minutes
You can organize this information into a
line graph. Follow these steps.
Make a scale along the bottom and
side of the graph. The scales should 25
include all the numbers in the chart.
Label the scales. 20
Height (cm)

Plot points on the graph.

15
Connect the points with a line.
10
The line graph at right organizes
measurements of a plant’s growth.
5
Between which two weeks did the
plant grow most? 0
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
When did plant growth begin to level
off? Weeks

483
Make Tables to Organize Information
Tables help you organize data during experiments. Most tables
have columns that run up and down, and rows that run across. The
columns and rows have headings that tell you what kind of data
goes in each part of the table.

A Sample Table Make a Table

What if you are going to do an experiment
to find out how long different kinds of
seeds take to sprout? Before you begin the
experiment, you should set up your table.
Follow these steps.
In this experiment you will plant 20
radish seeds, 20 bean seeds, and 20
corn seeds. Your table must show how
many radish seeds, bean seeds, and
corn seeds sprouted on days 1, 2, 3, 4,
and 5.
What if you are going to do an experiment
to find out how temperature affects the
sprouting of seeds? You will plant 20 bean
seeds in each of two trays. You will keep
each tray at a different temperature, as
shown below, and observe the trays for
seven days. Make a table you can use for
this experiment.

Number of Seeds that Sprout

Day 1 Day 2 Day 3 Day 4 Day 5

Radish Seeds

Bean Seeds

Corn Seeds

Make your table with columns,

rows, and headings. You might use
a computer to make a table. Some
computer programs let you build a
table with just the click of a mouse.
You can delete or add columns and
rows if you need to.
Give your table a title. Your table
could look like the one shown above.

484
 Science Handbook

Make Charts to Organize Information

Charts can help you show information that is best shown by a
picture. A chart can be a table with pictures as well as words to
label the rows and columns. Charts do not always have rows and
columns. They can also be in other forms.

A Sample Chart guidance system developed by the Center

Suppose you need to collect information
about the food choices you are making.
You could make a chart like the one below
and record the kinds of foods you eat
during one day. Then you can compare the
results with the recommended amounts
in MyPyramid and see if you should make
changes to your diet. MyPyramid is a food
for Nutrition Policy and Promotion, that
gives people ideas on how to eat better.
Make a Chart
What if you want to find out if your food
choices during a whole week are close
to those recommended by MyPyramid?
Make a chart you can use to collect this
information.

MyPyramid Chart
Food MyPyramid recommends My food choices

Grains 6 ounces

Vegetables 2 1/2 cup

Fruits 2 1/2 cup

Milk 3 cups

Meat and Beans 5 ounces

485
Make Maps to Show Information
Locate Places Idea Maps
A map is a drawing that shows an area Idea maps show how ideas are connected
from above. Most maps have coordinates— to each other. Idea maps help you organize
numbers and letters along the top and information about a topic.
side. Coordinates help you find places. The idea map below connects ideas about
What if you wanted to find the library on rocks. This map shows that there are three
the map below? It is located at B4. Place major types of rock: igneous, sedimentary,
a finger on the letter B and another finger and metamorphic. Connections to each
on the number 4. Then move your fingers rock type provide further information.
straight across and down the map until For example, this map reminds you that
they meet. The library is located where the igneous rocks are classified into those that
coordinates B and 4 meet. form at Earth’s surface and far beneath it.
NORTH Make an idea map about a topic you
x

È
£

are learning in science. Your map can

include words, phrases, or even sentences.
TH!6%

TH!6%

13
TH!6%


Arrange your map in a way that makes

12
sense to you and helps you understand
11

the ideas.
10


9
WEST

EAST

TH34

7
6 Banded Surface
*
,

5 Nonbanded
4

Metamorphic Igneous
£

SOUTH
Beneath
ROCKS
What color building is located at F6? surface

The hospital is located three blocks

north and two blocks east of the
library. What are its coordinates?
Make a map of an area in your Sedimentary
community. Include coordinates. Use a
compass to find north, and mark north
on your map. Exchange maps with
Organic Cemented Precipitate
classmates, and answer each other’s pieces
questions.

486
 by Dinah Zike

Folding Instructions
So how do you make a Foldables study guide? The following
pages offer step-by-step instructions—where and when to fold,
where to cut—for making 11 basic Foldables study guides. The
instructions begin with the basic shapes, such as the hot dog fold.

Half-Book
Fold a sheet of paper (8 2_1 " x 11") in half.
1. This book can be folded vertically like
a hot dog or . . .
2. . . . it can be folded horizontally like a
hamburger.

Folded Book
1. Make a Half-Book.
2. Fold in half again like a hamburger.
This makes a ready-made cover
and two small pages inside for
recording information.

487
Trifold Book
1. Fold a sheet of paper (8 2_1 " x 11")
into thirds.
2. Use this book as is, or cut
into shapes.

Shutter Fold
1. Begin as if you were going to make a
hamburger, but instead of creasing the paper,
pinch it to show the midpoint.
2. Fold the outer edges of the paper to meet at
the pinch, or midpoint, forming a Shutter Fold.

Pocket Book
1. Fold a sheet of paper (8 2_1 " x 11") in half like
a hamburger.
2. Open the folded paper and fold one of the
long sides up two inches to form a pocket.
Refold along the hamburger fold so that the
newly formed pockets are on the inside.
3. Glue the outer edges of the two-inch fold
with a small amount of glue.

488
 Foldables™

Two-Tab Book
Take a Folded Book and cut up the valley of
the inside fold toward the mountain top. This
cut forms two large tabs that can be used on the
front and back for writing and illustrations.

Three-Tab Book
1. Fold a sheet of paper like a hot dog.
2. With the paper horizontal and the fold of the
hot dog up, fold the right side toward the
center, trying to cover one half of the paper.
3. Fold the left side over the right side to make
a book with three folds.
4. Open the folded book. Place one hand
between the two thicknesses of paper and
cut up the two valleys on one side only. This
will create three tabs.

Layered-Look Book
1. Stack two sheets of paper (8 2_1 " x 11") so that the
back sheet is one inch higher than the
front sheet.
2. Bring the bottoms of both sheets upward and
align the edges so that all of the layers or tabs
are the same distance apart.
3. When all the tabs are an equal distance apart,
fold the papers and crease well.
4. Open the papers and glue them together along
the valley, or inner center fold, or staple them
along the mountain.

489
Four-Tab Book
1. Fold a sheet of paper (8 2_1 " x 11")
in half like a hot dog.
2. Fold this long rectangle in half like
a hamburger.
3. Fold both ends back to touch the
mountain top or fold it like an accordion.
4. On the side with two valleys and one
mountain top, make vertical cuts through
one thickness of paper, forming four tabs.

Four-Door Book
1. Make a Shutter Fold using 11" x 17"
or 12" x 18" paper.
2. Fold the Shutter Fold in half like
a hamburger. Crease well.
3. Open the project and cut along the two
inside valley folds. These cuts will form
four doors on the inside of the project.

Folded Table or Chart

1. Fold the number of vertical columns
needed to make the table or chart.
2. Fold the horizontal rows needed
to make the table or chart.
3. Label the rows and columns.

490
This glossary will help you pronounce and understand the meanings of
the Science Words introduced in this book. The page number at the end
of the definition tells where the word appears.

acid rain (asºid rānº) Precipitation that

abiotic factor (āºbī ot’ik fakºtær) Any
nonliving part of an ecosystem, such as
water, minerals, sunlight, air, or soil. (p. 27)
abrasion (æ brāºzhæn) The process that
occurs when sand, stones, and pebbles
move and scrape across Earth’s surface,
acting like sandpaper to pit and polish the
surface. (p. 359)
absorption (ab sôrpºshæn) The process of
taking in radiant energy. (p. 220)
abyssal zone (æ biºsæl zōnº) The part of
the oceanic zone that is found at depths
greater than 2,000 meters (6,562 feet),
where there is no sunlight, it is very cold,
and the water pressure is high. (p. 121)
acidity (æ sidºi tē) The amount of acid in
a substance. (p. 33)
contains acidic components as a result
of the burning of coal and other fossil
fuels; harms soils and water supplies and
weathers statues and buildings. (p. 422)
aerial roots (ârºē æl rüts) Roots that
reach out above the ground for water and
sunlight to nourish a plant. (p. 44)
air pressure (âr preºshær) The force
that air molecules exert on the objects
beneath them; has a major effect on the
weather. (p. 346)
alkalinity (alªkæ linºi tē) The amount of base
in a substance. (p. 33)
alluvial deposit (æ lüºvē æl di pozºit) A
fan-shaped land deposit at the mouth of a
stream. (p. 376)
amoeba (æ mēºbæ) A protist, found in
fresh water, salt water, and soil, that uses
pseudopods to move and take in food.
(p. 61)

Pronunciation Key
The following symbols are used throughout the Macmillan/McGraw-Hill Science Glossaries.

a at e end o hot u up hw white æ about

 ape Ê me Ô old Û use ng song taken
ä far i it ôr fork ü rule th thin pencil
â care Î ice oi oil ù pull th this lemon
ô law îr pierce ou out ûr turn zh measure circus

' = primary accent; shows which syllable takes the main stress, such as kil in kilogram (kil' e gram').
' = secondary accent; shows which syllables take lighter stresses, such as gram in kilogram.

491
amplitude — buoyancy
amplitude (amºpli tüdª) The distance from
the midpoint to the crest or trough of a
wave. (p. 176)
anticyclone (anªtīº sīklōn) An area of
high pressure that usually brings fair
weather. (p. 352)
arroyo (æ roiºō) A small, water-carved
channel with steep banks that is located in
a dry area. (p. 374)
asthenosphere (as theºnæ sfîrª) The layer of
semimolten mantle rock that lies directly
below the lithosphere. (p. 287)
bank (bangk) The rising ground that
borders a river or stream. (p. 371)
barrier island (barºē ær īºlænd) A sandbar
that is more than 100 meters (328
feet) wide. (p. 385)
bathyal zone (baºthē æl zōnª) The part
of the oceanic zone that is between 200
meters (656 feet) and about 2,000
meters (6,562 feet) deep. (p. 121)
beach drift (bēch drift) The pulling of
sand particles sideways along a beach.
(p. 383)
492
beach erosion (bēch i rōºzhæn) The
process by which waves pick up sand
particles and move them along the
shore. (p. 382)
benthos (benºthäs) Organisms that live on
or near the ocean floor, such as seaweed,
and tube worms. (p. 123)
biomass conversion (bīºō masª
kæn vûrºzhæn) A method for changing plant
and animal materials into high-quality
fuels. (p. 189)
biome (bīºōm) A region with a particular
climate that contains certain types of
plants and ecosystems. (p. 102)
biotic factor (bī otºik fakºtær) Any living
thing that is part of an ecosystem. (p. 27)
body wave (bodºē wāv) A seismic
wave that travels through the interior of
Earth; the two types are P waves and S
waves. (p. 283)
breaker (brāºkær) A wave that breaks into
foam against the shore and washes back
into the ocean at another angle. (p. 383)
buoyancy (boiºæn sē) An upward force on
an object or a substance that is in a liquid
or a gas. (p. 202)
 Glossary

California Current — ciliate

chaparral (shapºæ ralª) A dry region

with a thick growth of brush and small
trees found in the foothills of California’s
southern mountain ranges, in the Sierra
California Current (kalºæ fôrºnyæ kûrºænt)
Nevada, and along the California coast.
An ocean current that carries cold water
(p. 136)
toward the equator along the western
coast of the United States, keeping the chemical reaction (kemºi kæl rē akºshæ)
climate of the northwest cool. (p. 247) A change in matter that produces new
substances with properties different from
calorie (kalºæ rÊ) The amount of energy
those of the original substances. (p. 190)
needed to raise the temperature of 1 gram
of water by 1°C. (p. 167) chemical weathering (kemºi kæl
wethºær ing) The process that changes the
cambium (kamºbÊ æm) A layer of plant
composition of rock, forming new minerals
cells that sometimes separates the xylem
that have properties different from those
and the phloem. (p. 45)
of the original rock. (p. 359)
canopy (kanºæ pÊ) The second-tallest
chemosynthesis (kēºmō sinªthæ sæs)
layer of the rain forest; it shades the rain
A chemical reaction that bacteria living
forest with a thick blanket of foliage.
near hydrothermal vents use to produce
(p. 104)
food. (p. 122)
capillary action (kapºæ lerºÊ akºshæn)
chlorophyll (klôrºæ filª) A green substance
A force that pulls water up into plants by
in plants that absorbs energy from
water molecules’ sticking to one another
sunlight. (p. 43)
and to other substances. (p. 48)
chloroplast (klôrºæ plastª) A structure
carbon cycle (kärºbæn sīºkæl) The natural
that contains chlorophyll and is found
processes in which carbon is recycled
in the cells of leaves and stems of green
between the atmosphere and living
plants. (p. 43)
things. (p. 84)
cilia (silºē æ) Small, hairlike projections
carnivore (kärºnæ vôrª) A secondary or
extending from the outsides of some
tertiary consumer; an animal that eats
protists’ cells; used for movement and for
other animals. (p. 72)
capturing food. (p. 60)
Central Valley (senºtræl valºē) An area of
ciliate (silºē æt) Any protist that has small,
low land bordered by the Sierra Nevada
hairlike projections, or cilia, extending from
to the east and the Coast Ranges to the
the outside of its cell. (p. 60)
west. (p. 328)

493
cinder cone volcano — continental drift
cinder cone volcano (sinºdær kōnº
vol kāºnō) A volcanic landform made up of
small rock particles, or cinders, which pile
up around the vent to form a small cone
with steep sides. (p. 314)
climate (klīºmit) The average weather
pattern of a region. (p. 102)
coal (kōl) A hard, black substance formed
from plants that lived about 300 million
years ago. Coal is a fossil fuel (p. 417)
collection (kæ lekºshæn) A process in which
water soaks into the ground and is stored
as groundwater. (p. 83)
community (kæ mū’ni tē) All the
populations living in an area. (p. 35)
composite volcano (kæm pozºit
vol kāºnō) A landform made up of layers
of lava flows alternating with layers of
ash, cinders, and rocks; shaped like a
symmetrical cone with steep sides that are
concave, or curving inward.(p. 315)
composting (komºpōs ting) The process in
which decomposers break down organic
matter so it can be used as a natural
fertilizer for gardening or farming. (p. 88)
compound leaf (komºpound lēf) A leaf
with two or more blades. (p. 46)
compound light microscope (komºpound
līt mīºkræ skōpª) A microscope that uses
two or more lenses and a light source to
magnify objects. (p. 57)
494
compression wave (kæm preshºæn wāv)
A wave that moves back and forth in
the same direction as the molecules of
matter in the wave; sound waves are an
example. (p. 180)
concrete (konºkrēt) A mixture of sand,
gravel, and pebbles in a binding material
such as mortar. (p. 452)
condensation (konªden sāºshæn) The
process in which a gas changes into a
liquid. (p. 83)
conduction (kæn dukªshæn) The movement
of energy through direct contact. (p. 200)
conductor (kæn dukºtær) An object that
absorbs heat and distributes it evenly; one
example is metal. (p. 170)
conifer (konºæ fær) An evergreen that
produces seeds in special structures called
cones. (p. 140)
conservation (konªsær vāºshæn) Using
natural resources wisely by limiting their
use to times of need. (p. 438)
consumer (kæn süºmær) An organism
that gets energy by feeding directly on
producers or by eating animals that feed
on producers. (p. 69)
continental crust (konªtæ nenºtæl krust)
Crust that makes up Earth’s land; made
up mostly of a relatively lightweight rock
called granite. (p. 286)
continental drift (konªtæ nenºtæl drift)
The idea that a past supercontinent split
apart into pieces, which drifted over time
to their present locations. (p. 270)

convection (kæn vekºshæn) The transfer of
energy by the flow of a liquid or a gas.
(p. 202)
convection current (kæn vekºshæn kûrºænt)
The circulation of hot and cold fluids due
to differences in temperature and resultant
changes in density. (p. 243)
convective flow (kæn vekºtiv flō) The
continuous circular pattern of fluids as they
are heated and cooled. (p. 288)
convergent boundary (kæn vûrºjænt
bounºdæ rÊ) A boundary between plates
that are moving toward each other, or
colliding. (p. 291)
core (kôr) The central part of Earth that
lies beneath the mantle and is made up
of an outer, liquid part and an inner, solid
part. (p. 285)
Coriolis effect (kôrªē ōºlæs i fektº)
The shift in wind direction caused by
Earth’s rotation. (p. 350)
cost-effectiveness (kôstº i fekºtiv nes) A
measure determined by comparing the
costs and the consequences of different
ways of doing something. (p. 420)
crater (krāºtær) A bowl-shaped
depression. (p. 311)
crust (krust) The thin layer of solid rock
that makes up the outermost part of
Earth. (p. 284)
cuticle (kūºti kæl) A waxy coating secreted
by cells of a plant’s epidermis to prevent
water from leaving the plant. (p. 46)
Glossary
convection — deposition
cyanobacteria (sīºæ nōªbak tîrºē æ)
Prokaryotic producers that produced
oxygen as a waste gas that made Earth
inhabitable for other living things. (p. 58)
cycle (sīºkæl) A series of events that
happen in the same order, over and over
again. (p. 83)
cyclone (sκklÔn) A huge mass of spinning
air that forms when an area of low
pressure is surrounded by high pressure on
all sides. (p. 352)
dam (dam) A barrier constructed to
control a flow of water or to raise a water
level. (p. 423)
deciduous (di sijºü æs) Belonging to the
class of trees or forests that lose their
leaves when winter comes. (p. 110)
decomposer (dēªkæm pōºzær) An organism
that breaks down dead organisms into
simpler substances. (p. 69)
delta (delºtæ) The triangular-shaped
deposit of soil particles that forms where a
stream enters a larger body of water.
(p. 376)
density (denºsi tē) The measure of how
much material there is in a given amount of
space. (p. 284)
deposition (depªæ zishºæn) The process
by which eroded soil and rock are put
down in new places, reshaping the
landscape. (p. 360)
495
deuterium — energy conversion
deuterium (dü tîrºē æm) One of the two
forms of hydrogen used in the process of
nuclear fusion. (p. 435)
dew point (dü point) The temperature at
which condensation occurs. (p. 348)
diatom (dīºæ tomª) A very small,
photosynthetic protist that lives in either
salt water or fresh water. (p. 59)
dinoflagellate (dīªnō flaºjæ læt) A protist
that has characteristics of both plants and
animals. (p. 59)
divergent boundary (di vûrªjænt bounºd
æ rē) A boundary between plates that are
moving away from each other, or pulling
apart. (p. 290)
dormant (dôrºmænt) Less active or resting
condition. (p. 29)
earthquake (ûrthºkwākª) The shaking of the
ground that occurs when tectonic plates
shift and change positions. (p. 276)
ecology (ē kolºæ jē) The study of
organisms and how they interact in an
ecosystem. (p. 34)
ecosystem (ēºkō sisªtæm) The living and
nonliving things in an area that interact
with one another. (p. 26)
eddy (edºē) A small, spinning air current
that often develops when wind flows
over buildings, mountains, or other
obstructions. (p. 352)
496
efficiency (i fishºæn sē) The amount of
usable energy given off by an energy
conversion compared to the total amount
of energy used in the conversion. (p. 421)
electromagnetic spectrum
(i lekªtrō mag netºik spekºtræm)
The wide range of electromagnetic
radiation ordered by wavelength; consists
of radio waves, microwaves, infrared rays,
visible light, ultraviolet light, X rays, and
gamma rays. (p. 218)
electromagnetic wave
(i lekªtrō mag netºik wāv) A wave that
is made up of alternating electric and
magnetic fields created by vibrating
electric charges. (p. 182)
electron microscope (i lekºtron
mīºkræ skōpª) A powerful microscope that
uses a beam of electrons, rather than a
light source, to magnify samples being
observed. (p. 57)
emergent layer (i mûrºjænt lāºær) The
uppermost rain-forest layer, made up of
very tall trees that emerge from the forest
below into the sunlight above. (p. 104)
emission (i mishºæn) The process of giving
off absorbed electromagnetic waves.
(p. 221)
energy (enºær jē) The ability to bring about
changes or to do work. (p. 164)
energy conversion (enºær jē kæn vûrºzhæn)
The process in which energy changes from
one form into another. (p. 418)

energy pyramid (enºær jē pirºæ midª) A
model that shows how energy moves
through a food chain. (p. 76)
energy source (enºær jē sôrs) The origin of
the light, heat, or electrical energy people
use. (p. 416)
ENSO/El Niño/Southern Oscillation
(el nēnºyō suthºærn osªæ lāºshæn) The
disruption of the ocean-atmosphere
system in the Pacific Ocean and the
impact that it has on weather around the
globe. (p. 248)
epicenter (e’pi sen’tær) The point on
Earth’s surface directly above the focus
of an earthquake; the place where the
strongest shocks are felt and where the
greatest damage usually occurs. (p. 301)
epidermis (epºi dûrªmis) The outermost
layer of cells of a leaf or skin. (p. 46)
erosion (i rōºzhæn) The wearing away of
Earth’s surface by the breakdown of rocks
and transportation of rock and soil.
(p. 360)
estuary (esºchü erªē) The part of a river
where fresh water meets the sea and is
affected by tides. (p. 126)
ethanol (ethºæ nôlª) A manufactured fuel
that can be mixed with gasoline to run
cars. (p. 189)
eukaryote (yüºkerºē ōtª) An organism with
a nucleus in each cell. (p. 58)
evaporation (i vapªæ rāºshæn) The process
in which a liquid changes into a gas.
(p. 83)
Glossary
energy pyramid — flood plain
evergreen (evºær grēnª) A tree that usually
keeps its leaves all year. (p. 140)
extinct (ek stingktº) Describes a volcano
that has not erupted within recorded
history. (p. 317)
fault (fôlt) A break, or crack, in the rocks
of the lithosphere along which movements
take place; usually located along the
boundaries between tectonic plates.
(p. 299)
fault zone (fôlt zōn) An area where there
are many interconnected faults; usually
located along the boundaries between
tectonic plates. (p. 299)
feldspar (feldºspärª) The name of a group
of minerals that makes up almost 60% of
Earth’s crust. (p. 386)
fibrous roots (fīºbræs rüts) Roots that
branch out into a network of thin, hairy
roots; can form thick mats. (p. 44)
fission (fishºen) The splitting of atoms into
pieces. (p. 433)
flagella (flæ jelºæ) Long, hairlike structures
that whip and lash to help flagellates
swim. (p. 60)
flagellate (flajºæ lit) A protozoan that has
flagella, or long, hairlike structures that
whip and lash to help it swim. (p. 60)
flood plain (flæd plān) The flat area of
land on both sides of a river. (p. 371)
497
focus — guard cell

focus (fōºkæs) The point below the surface fusion (fūºzhen) The process of merging
of the ground where an earthquake nuclei with smaller masses to make a
begins. (p. 301) nucleus with a larger mass. (p. 434)

food chain (füd chān) An arrangement

that shows how energy flows from one
organism to another in an ecosystem.
(p. 70)
geologist (jē olºæ jist) A scientist who
food vacuole (füd vakºÛ Ôlª) A structure
studies Earth’s origin, history, structure,
inside certain cells where food is stored.
composition, and processes. (p. 271)
(p. 60)
geothermal energy (jēªō thûrºmæl
food web (füd web) An arrangement that
enºær jē) Heat energy produced inside
shows the food chains in an ecosystem and
Earth. (p. 417)
how they overlap; also shows the roles and
relationships among all the species in an geyser (gī’zær) A fountain of hot water and
ecosystem. (p. 72) steam that shoots into the air. (p. 320)
forest floor (fôrºist flôr) The bottom level glacier (glā’shær) A large mass of moving
of the rain forest, which receives little or no ice that forms over hundreds or thousands
sunlight. (p. 105) of years. (p. 364)
fossil (fosºæl) The remains of an ancient global winds (glōºbæl windz) Winds that
plant or animal. (p. 188) blow from a specific direction and typically
cover long distances. (p. 244)
fossil fuel (fosºæl fūºæl) A fuel that comes
from the remains of plants and animals greenhouse effect (grēnºhousª i fektº)
and is formed beneath the surface of Earth Rise in temperature resulting from a
over millions of years. (p. 188) buildup of gases such as carbon dioxide,
nitric oxide, and methane, which trap
frequency (frēºkwæn sē) The number of
heat that would otherwise escape from
vibrations a wave makes in a given period
Earth’s atmosphere; this leads to global
of time, usually 1 second. (p. 177)
warming. (p. 84)
friction (frikºshæn) The force that acts when
guard cell (gärd sel) One of two cells
two surfaces rub against each other.
surrounding each stomate of a leaf;
(p. 193)
regulates when the stomates open and
close. (p. 46)
fumarole (fyüºmæ rōlª) A hole in the ground
through which gases and hot vapors pass;
located in a volcanic region. (p. 320)

498

Gulf Stream (gulf strēm) An ocean
current that carries warm water from the
southern tip of Florida north along the
eastern coast of the United States.
(p. 246)
habitat (habºi tatª) The place in which a
population lives. (p. 36)
heat flow (hēt flō) The transfer of
energy from a warmer object to a cooler
object. (p. 168)
herbivore (hûrºbæ vôrª) A primary
consumer, or an animal that eats
producers. (p. 72)
hot spot (hot spot) A region of volcanic
activity in the middle of a tectonic
plate. (p. 319)
hot spring (hot spring) A stream of
hot, bubbling water that flows out of the
ground continuously. (p. 320)
humidity (hū midºi tē) The amount of
water vapor in the air. (p. 345)
humus (hūºmæs) The organic material in
soil formed by the breakdown of plant and
animal remains. (p. 32)
hurricane (hûrºi kānª) A tropical cyclone
that brings powerful winds and heavy rains
and can cause great destruction. (p. 352)
Glossary
Gulf Stream — intertidal zone
hydroelectric power (hīªdrō i lek’trik
pouºær) The result of energy that is
harnessed from the force of falling or
running water; can be converted into
electricity. (p. 435)
hydrothermal vent (hīªdræ thærºmæl vent)
A jet of hot water rich in minerals that
comes up through a crack in the ocean
floor. (p. 122)
insulation (inºsæ lāªshæn) A material used to
prevent heat from flowing into or out of a
substance. (p. 170)
insulator (inªsæ lāºtær) An object that
absorbs heat but does not distribute it
evenly; one example is wood. (p. 170)
intensity (in tenºsi tē) The strength of
an earthquake that can be felt at the
surface. (p. 303)
intermittent (inªtær mitºænt) Type of
volcano that erupts at fairly frequent
intervals. (p. 317)
intertidal zone (inªtær tīºdæl zōn) The
shallowest part of the ocean, lying
between the high-tide line and the low-tide
line. (p. 121)
499
jet stream — magnitude
jet stream (jet strēm) A current of fast-
moving air in the upper atmosphere; one
factor that determines weather in North
America. (p. 249)
keystone species (kēºstōnª spēºshēz) A
population that occupies a niche of such
importance that many other organisms
depend on it. (p. 139)
kinetic energy (ki netºik enºær jē) The
energy of any moving object. (p. 165)
lahar (läºhärª) A mudflow containing
volcanic ash and rock. (p. 393)
land breeze (land brēz) A breeze that
develops as wind blows from the land
toward the water. (p. 351)
landslide (landºslīdª) The rapid, downslope
movement of a mass of rock, soil, and
debris. (p. 362)
lava (läºvæ) Molten rock that flows out onto
the surface of Earth. (p. 287)
levee (levºē) A wall or a large mound of
earth built along a river to prevent it from
flooding. (p. 397)
500
light wave (līt wāv) A wave within
the visible part of the electromagnetic
spectrum. (p. 182)
lithosphere (lithºæ sfîrª) The rigid outer
part of Earth made up of rocks in the
crust attached to the upper part of the
mantle. (p. 286)
lithospheric plate (lithªæ sfîrºik plāt)
Plates of the lithosphere that move slowly
within Earth. (p. 286)
local winds (lōºkæl winds) Winds that can
blow from any direction and cover short
distances. (p. 244)
Los Angeles Basin (lôs anºjæ læs
bāºsin) A depression lying between the
Transverse and Peninsular ranges that is
filled with rock material that has washed
down from these mountains. (p. 328)
magma (magºmæ) Molten, or melted,
rock deep below the surface of Earth;
reaches temperatures between 650°C
and 1,200°C (between 1,202°F and
2,192°F). (p. 287)
magma chamber (magºmæ chāmºbær) A
reservoir from which volcanic materials
erupt. (p. 311)
magnetite (magºni tītª) A black mineral
with magnetic properties. (p. 386)
magnitude (magºni tüdª) The measure
of the energy released during an
earthquake. (p. 302)

mantle (manºtæl) The thick layer of rock
and molten rock that lies beneath Earth’s
crust. (p. 285)
marine terrace (mæ rēnº terºis) A flat step
of rock formed in an exposed, windy area
where the waves pound hard against the
shore. (p. 383)
meander (mē anºdær) A broad curve of
a stream, often developed in its mature
stage (p. 373)
mechanical weathering (mi kanºi kæl
weth’vr ing) The process that breaks
a rock apart into smaller and smaller
pieces that retain the characteristics of
the original rock; also known as physical
weathering. (p. 359)
Mercalli scale (mer käºlē skāl) A scale that
tells what people actually feel and observe
when an earthquake occurs; based on
observed effects, not on mathematics.
(p. 303)
methane gas (methºān gas) A gas made
up of carbon and hydrogen; the main
ingredient in natural gas. (p. 189)
microscope (mīºkræ skōpª) An instrument
that produces an enlarged image of an
object. (p. 57)
mid-ocean ridge (midºōºshæn rijº) A vast,
underwater mountain chain that has been
built up by the addition of new rock from
below two tectonic plates moving apart
under the oceans. (p. 274)
migrate (mīºgrāt) To travel to a different
place. (p. 29)
Glossary
mantle — nitrate
mineral (minºæ ræl) A naturally occurring
solid material of Earth’s crust; minerals
include clay, sand, and silt. (p. 32)
mountain belt (mounºtæn belt) Several
mountain ranges that lie parallel to one
another. (p. 318)
mountain breeze (mounºtæn brēz) A
breeze that occurs when cool air circulates
from mountain peaks into surrounding
valleys. (p. 245)
natural gas (nachºær æl gas) A mixture of
gaseous hydrocarbons formed originally
from dead organisms.
(p. 417)
natural resource (nachºær æl rēºsôrsª) A
useful material people take from Earth. (p.
430)
nekton (nekºton) Animals such as flounder,
tuna, and squid that swim through the
water; can be found in any ocean zone. (p.
123)
neritic zone (næ riºtik zōnº) The ocean
zone from the low-tide line to the point
where the ocean floor drops off. (p. 121)
niche (nich) The role of an organism in an
ecosystem. (p. 36)
nitrate (nīºtrātª) One usable form of
nitrogen absorbed by plants and used to
make proteins. (p. 87)
501
nitrite — omnivore

nitrite (nīºtrītª) Another usable form of

nitrogen absorbed by plants and used to
make proteins. (p. 87)

nitrogen cycle (nīºtræ jæn sīºkæl) The objective lens (æb jekºtiv lenz) The lens
continuous trapping of nitrogen gas in on the bottom of a microscope’s body
compounds in the soil and the returning of tube. (p. 57)
nitrogen gas to the air. (p. 86)
ocean current (ōºshæn kûrºænt) A
nitrogen-fixing bacteria continuous flow of ocean water along a
(nīºtræ jæn fikªsing bak tîrºē æ) Certain definite path. (p. 246)
bacteria that live in the roots of beans,
ocean trench (ō’shæn trench) A long,
peas, and peanuts and can extract
narrow, deep valley on the ocean floor;
nitrogen from the air. (p. 86)
trenches are the deepest parts of the
nonmonetary cost (nonºmoºni terªē kôst) ocean. (p. 275)
The environmental consequences
oceanic crust (ōªshē anºik krust) Crust that
of energy use; examples include the
lies below the oceans; made up mostly of
generation of pollution and long-term
basalt. (p. 286)
health problems caused for people.
(p. 424)
oceanic zone (ōªshē anºik zōn) The ocean
zone that lies beneath the neritic zone and
nonrenewable resource
is divided into two areas based on depth:
(nonªri nüºæ bæl rēºsôrsª) A material that
the bathyal zone and the abyssal zone.
people take from Earth and that cannot be
(p. 121)
replaced within a short period of time or at
all; examples include coal, oil, and natural
ocular lens (okºyæ lær lenz) The lens at the
gas. (p. 189)
top of a microscope’s body tube, nearest
the observer’s eye. (p. 57)
North American Plate (nôrth æ merºi k
æn plāt) Lithospheric plate that includes
oil (oil) A thick, black substance that
almost all of North America and part of the
forms underground, over millions of years,
Atlantic Ocean. (p. 326)
from decaying organisms; also called
petroleum.(p. 417)
nuclear fuel (nüºklē ær fūºæl) A material,
such as uranium, that can be used in
old-growth forest (ōldº grōthº fôr’ist)
nuclear reactors as a source of energy.
An ecosystem in which trees have grown
(p. 433)
undisturbed for a long time. (p. 141)
nuclear power plant (nüºklē ær pouºær
omnivore (omºnæ vôrª) An animal that eats
plant) A facility that generates electricity
both producers and consumers. (p. 73)
through nuclear reactions. (p. 423)

502

oscillate (osºæ lātª) To swing back and
forth. (p. 248)
oxbow lake (oksºbōª lāk) A portion of a
stream channel that is cut off from the rest
of the stream by erosion. (p. 375)
Pacific Plate (pæ sifºik plāt) Lithospheric
plate that consists of the Pacific Ocean and
a narrow piece of California west of the
North American Plate. (p. 326)
pampas (pamºpæs) The grasslands of
Argentina; home to pampas deer. (p. 108)
Pangaea (pan jēºæ) Earth’s single
landmass, or “supercontinent,” that is
thought to have existed about 200 million
years ago. (p. 271)
parasite (parºæ sītª) An organism that feeds
off and harms other organisms. (p. 60)
parent rock (pârºænt rok) The rock from
which soil is formed. (p. 32)
permafrost (pûrºmæ frôstª) The
permanently frozen soil layer in the tundra
biome. (p. 113)
petrochemical (petªrō kemºi kæl) A
chemical that comes from petroleum or
natural gas; examples include ingredients
in paints, fertilizers, pesticides, plastics,
and medicines. (p. 432)
Glossary
oscillate — pollution
phloem (flōºem) Tubes within a plant stem
that move food from the leaves to other
parts of the plant. (p. 45)
photosynthesis (fōªtæ sinºthæ sis) The
process of making food by using
sunlight; used by plants and some other
organisms. (p. 43)
pH scale (pēºāchº skāl) Scale used to
measure the acidity or alkalinity of a
substance. (p. 33)
physical weathering (fizºi kæl wethºær ing)
The process that breaks a rock apart into
smaller and smaller pieces that retain the
characteristics of the original rock; also
known as mechanical weathering. (p. 359)
phytoplankton (fīªtō plangkºtæn)
Microscopic organisms that, like plants,
use the Sun’s energy to make food through
photosynthesis. (p. 122)
plankton (plangkºtæn) Microorganisms
that live near the surface of the ocean;
the two types are phytoplankton and
zooplankton. (p. 122)
plastic (plasºtik) A synthetic substance
derived from petroleum, a fossil fuel.
(p. 448)
plate tectonics (plāt tek tonºiks) The
theory that Earth’s surface is made up of
separate, rigid plates that move slowly
across the mantle. (p. 290)
pollution (pæ lüºshæn) A harmful change in
the natural environment; usually the result
of human activities. (p. 422)
503
polymer — raw material
polymer (polºæ mær) A chemical compound
that is made of repeating parts; plastic is
an example. (p. 448)
polymerization (pæ liªmæ ræ zāºshæn) The
process of chemically linking many smaller
molecules to form a larger molecule that
has different physical properties. (p. 448)
population (popº yæ l shæn) All
the organisms of one species in an
ecosystem. (p. 34)
potential energy (pæ tenºshæl enºær jē)
The energy stored in an object by
changing its location. (p. 165)
precipitation (pri sipªi tāºshæn) Any form of
water—rain, snow, sleet, or hail—that falls
to Earth. (p. 83)
predator (predºæ tær) A living thing that
hunts and kills other living things for
food. (p. 73)
prey (prā) The animals that predators hunt
for food. (p. 73)
primary consumer (prīºmer ē kæn süºmær)
An organism that eats producers and
is the second link in a food chain after
producers. (p. 71)
producer (præ dü sær) An organism, such
as a plant or type of algae, that uses
energy from the Sun to make its own
food. (p. 69)
product (prodºækt) A new substance
formed from a chemical reaction. (p. 190)
504
prokaryote (prōºka’rē ōtª) An organism
that has a simple cell structure without a
nucleus in each cell. (p. 58)
protist (prōºtist) A single-celled, eukaryotic
organism that cannot be clearly classified
as animal or plant. (p. 59)
protozoan (prōªtæ zōºæn) A protist that
has no cell walls and can find and eat
food; examples include flagellates and
ciliates. (p. 60)
pseudopod (süºdæ podª) A cell extension
used by protists to move about and
capture food; means “false foot.” (p. 61)
P wave (pēº wāvº) The fastest seismic
wave, which travels through gases, liquids,
and solids; also called primary wave.
(p. 283)
quartz (kwôrts) The second most common
mineral found in Earth’s crust. (p. 386)
radiant energy (rāºdē ænt enºær jē) The
energy given off by the Sun. (p. 220)
radiation (rāªdē āºshæn) The transfer of
energy by electromagnetic waves. (p. 220)
raw material (rô mæ tîrºē æl) A building
block of products. (p. 446)
 Glossary

reactant — scanning electron microscope

reactant (rē akºtænt) An original substance root pressure (rüt preshºær) Force that
in a chemical reaction. (p. 190) moves water upward into the stem; in
small plants it can move water through the
recycling (rē sīºkling) The creation of new plant. (p. 48)
products by the reuse of materials that
would otherwise be treated as waste;
another way to decrease the demand on
Earth’s natural resources. (p. 438)

relative humidity (relºæ tiv hū midºi tē)

salinity (sæ linºi tē) The amount of salt in
A measurement of the amount of water
water. (p. 246)
vapor in the air compared to the amount
that would saturate the air. (p. 348) San Andreas Fault (sanª an drāºæs fôltº)
A deep crack in Earth’s crust in California,
renewable resource (ri nüºæ bæl
where the North American Plate and the
rēºsôrsª) A resource that can be replaced in
Pacific Plate slide past each other. (p. 326)
a relatively short time; examples are wood,
water, wind, and solar energy. (p. 189) sandbar (sandºbärª) A formation that is
formed when waves deposit sand and
respiration (resªpæ rāºshæn) The process
cause shallow water to be collected.
through which energy is released in plants
(p. 385)
and animals; occurs when sugars and
oxygen join to produce water, carbon sand dune (sand dün) Mounds formed in
dioxide, and energy. (p. 50) the desert or on beaches from particles
of sand that have been deposited by the
Richter scale (rikºtær skāl) A set of
wind. (p. 361)
numbers used to describe the magnitude
of an earthquake. (p. 302) Santa Ana winds (sanºtæ aºnæ windz)
Winds that begin with an area of high
Ring of Fire (ring æv fīrº) A zone
air pressure to the north and east of
of frequent earthquakes and volcanic
Southern California and flow down through
eruptions encircling the Pacific Basin.
the deserts toward low pressure areas
(p. 319)
offshore. (p. 137)
rock cycle (rok sīºkæl) A continuous cycle
scanning electron microscope (skanºi
in which rocks are continually changed
ng i lekºtron mīºkræ skōpª) The most
from one type to another. (p. 313)
commonly used electron microscope,
which can magnify as much as 300,000
root (rüts) The part of a plant that holds it
times; also called SEM. (p. 57)
in the soil and takes in water and minerals
to feed the plant. (p. 44)

505
scavenger — stem
scavenger (skavºæn jær) An animal that
seeks out and feeds off of the remains of
dead animals. (p. 73)
sea breeze (sē brēz) A breeze that
develops when cooler, high-pressure air
over the water moves in to replace the
rising warm air above the land. (p. 351)
seafloor spreading (sēºflôrª spredºing)
The addition of new rock to plates moving
apart under the oceans; rock moves
away from the space between the plates
in opposite directions, resulting in the
formation of the mid-ocean ridge. (p. 275)
secondary consumer (sekºæn derªē
kæn süºmær) An organism that gets its
energy by eating primary consumers.
(p. 71)
sediment (sedºæ mænt) Weathered rock
particles. (p. 361)
seismically safe (sīzºmi kæ lē sāf)
Designed to resist collapsing in the event
of an earthquake; buildings and highways
can be built in this way. (p. 304)
seismic wave (sīzºmik wāv) A vibration
that travels through Earth and is produced
by earthquakes and volcanic eruptions.
(p. 283)
seismograph (sīzºmæ grafª) An instrument
that detects, measures, and records the
energy of earthquake vibrations at a given
location. (p. 300)
semimolten (semªē mōlºtæn) Almost
melted; used to describe mantle rocks
below the lithosphere. (p. 287)
506
serpentine (sûrºpæn tēnª) An unusual rock,
found in parts of California’s soil layer,
containing minerals that are harmful to
many, but not all, plants. (p. 143)
shield volcano (shēld vol kāºnō) A
volcano with broad, gently sloping sides
formed by the buildup of layers of lava
rocks. (p. 314)
simple leaf (simºpæl lēf) A leaf with only
one blade. (p. 46)
smelting (smelºting) A process used to
melt metal, often for the purpose of
separating it into its components. (p. 446)
smog (smog) The result of pollutants in the
atmosphere. (p. 422)
solar energy (sōºlær enºær jē) Any form of
energy radiated by the Sun. (p. 417)
solar radiation (sōºlær rāªdē āºshæn) The
electromagnetic energy emitted by the
Sun, that shines on Earth’s surface. (p. 221)
sound wave (sound wāv) A wave
produced by the vibration of an object.
(p. 178)
source (sôrs) The point of origin of
a river or stream; often occurs in the
mountains. (p. 372)
stem (stem) The part of a plant that
supports leaves and flowers; also
transports water and other substances
between the roots and leaves. (p. 45)

steppes (steps) The grasslands of central
Russia; home to many different animals,
such as Siberian chipmunks and wild
boars. (p. 108)
stomata (stōºmæ tæ) Tiny pores in the
epidermis of a leaf through which gases
and water pass. (p. 46)
strip mining (strip mīºning) A process in
which layers of topsoil are peeled away,
exposing the coal underneath; causes
damage to the land.(p. 422)
subduction (sæbªdækºshæn) A process that
occurs when tectonic plates converge
and one plate sinks or slides under the
other. (p. 291)
subsoil (subºsoilª) The layer of soil below
the topsoil. (p. 32)
surface wave (sûrºfis wāv) A seismic
wave that is trapped near the surface of
Earth. (p. 283)
sustainability (sæ stāªnæ biºlæ tē) The
idea that people should fulfill present
needs without limiting the ability of future
generations to fulfill their needs as well.
(p. 431)
S wave (es wāv) A seismic wave that
travels only through solids, vibrating at a
right angle to its direction of travel; also
called secondary wave. (p. 283)
Glossary
steppes — textile
synthetic (sin thetºik) A material that is
artificially made. (p. 448)
system (sisºtæm) A group of things that
work together as a unified whole. (p. 26)
taiga (tīºgæ) A cool forest of cone-bearing
evergreen trees; also called a boreal
forest. (p. 112)
taproots (tapºrütsª) Thick, straight roots
with a few root hairs along the sides.
(p. 44)
tectonic plate (tek tä’nik plāt) A rigid
plate that is part of Earth’s surface and
moves slowly across the mantle. (p. 290)
temperature (temªpær æ chær) The average
kinetic energy of the molecules in a
substance. (p. 166)
tertiary consumer (tûrªshē erªē
kæn süªmær) An animal that eats secondary
consumers; usually the top predator in a
food chain. (p. 71)
textile (teksºtīl) Any type of fabric,
especially one made by weaving or knitting
fibers together. (p. 450)
507
thermal pollution — vibration

thermal pollution (thûrºmæl pæ lüºshæn) turbine (tûrºbīn) An engine that is

The release of excess heat from nuclear activated by moving water, steam, wind, or
power plants; can destroy habitats and kill air and used to generate electricity; similar
the animals that live in them. (p. 423) to a waterwheel. (p. 417)

topsoil (topºsoilª) The upper layer of soil;

composed mostly of humus, minerals,
water, and air. (p. 32)

trade winds (trād windz) Winds that blow

understory (ænºdær stôrªē) The rain-forest
almost continually toward the equator
layer that is beneath the canopy and is
from the northeast to the southwest.
made up of the trunks of the canopy
(p. 350)
trees as well as shrubs, vines, and small
tplants. (p. 105)
transform boundary (transºfôrm
bounºdæ rē) A boundary between plates
unifying theory (ūºnæ fīªing thēºæ rē) A
that are sliding past each other. (p. 291)
theory that ties other theories together to
give a more complete picture of natural
transpiration (tranªspæ rāºshæn) The loss of
occurrences, such as plate tectonics.
water from plant leaves. (p. 48)
(p. 292)
transportation (transªpær tāºshæn) The
movement of rock and soil as Earth’s
surface is eroded. (p. 360)

triangulation (trī angªgyæ lāªshæn) A way

of using information from at least three
seismograph stations to find the location
of the epicenter. (p. 301)
tritium (tritºē æm) One of the two forms of
hydrogen used in the process of nuclear
fusion. (p. 435)
tsunami (tsü näºmē) A series of huge
waves caused by an earthquake or
volcanic eruption beneath or near the
ocean. (p. 394)
tundra (tunºdræ) A very cold, dry biome
that includes a layer of permanently frozen
soil. (p. 113)
valley breeze (valºē brēz) A breeze that
occurs when cool air moves out of the
valleys to replace warm air that rises off
the slopes of mountains. (p. 245)
vein (vān) A narrow channel that runs
through a leaf blade, bringing the leaf
water and minerals. (p. 47)
Ventura Basin (ven tùrºæ bāºsen) A
depression in the Transverse Ranges
where thick layers of rock material have
accumulated. (p. 328)
vibration (vī brāºshæn) The back-and-forth
or up-and-down motion of a wave, which is
described by its frequency. (p. 177)

508
 Glossary

volcanic island arc — zooplankton

volcanic island arc (vol kanºik īºlænd
ärk) A long, curved chain of volcanic
islands. (p. 318)
volcano (vol kāºnō) A place where molten
rock, hot gases, and solid rocks erupt
through an opening in Earth’s crust;
also a mountain that formed from these
materials. (p. 276)
wetland (wetºlandª) An area in which water
is near the surface of the soil much of the
time; in California most wetlands are salt
marshes. (p. 125)
wind (wind) Air that moves horizontally
near Earth’s surface. (p. 244)
work (wûrk) The use of force to move an
object through a distance. (p. 192)

water cycle (wôºtær sīºkæl) The continuous

movement of water between Earth’s xylem (zīºlæm) Tubes within a plant stem
surface and the air. (p. 83) that take water and minerals up from the
roots to the leaves. (p. 45)
watershed (wôºtær shedª) The area from
which water is drained; also the region
that contributes water to a river or a river
system. (p. 374)

wave (wāv) A disturbance that carries zooplankton (zōªæ plangkºtæn) Microscopic

energy from one place to another without organisms that feed on phytoplankton.
a net movement of matter. (p. 176) (p. 122)
wavelength (wāvºlengkth) The distance
from the top of one crest to the top of the
next or from the bottom of one trough to
the bottom of the next. (p. 176)

weather (wethºær) The day-to-day

conditions in an area. (p. 344)

weathering (wethºær ing) The gradual

breakdown of rock into smaller pieces by
natural processes such as precipitation,
wind, plant growth, and temperature
change. (p. 358)

509
 in deserts, 106
of California, 138–139
in estuaries, 126
in grasslands, 108
Abiotic factors, 27, 28–33 nitrogen sources for, 86
soil, 32–33 nonnative, 146
sunlight, 28 in taigas, 112
temperature, 28–29 in temperate deciduous forests, 111
water, 30–31 textiles made from, 450
wildfires, 137 Antarctica, 114
Abrasion, 359, 371 Antarctic regions, 114
Absorption of radiant energy, 220–221 Anticyclones, 352
Abyssal zone, 121 Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, California, 138
Acidity, 33 Apples, 50
Acid rain, 422 Appliances, energy efficiency of, 421
Acids, 32–33 Aqua satellite, 239
Active volcanoes, 317 Archaeologists, 464
Aerial roots, 44 Arches National Park, Utah, 106
Africa, savannas in, 109 Arctic regions, 114
Agave, 106 Arroyos, 374–375
Air Arroyo Seco, 375
as abiotic factor, 27 Asparagus, 45
carbon in, 85 Asphalt, 452
expanding and contracting, 245* Asthenosphere, 287
meeting of cold and warm, 255* Atacama Desert, Chile, 107
recycling of, 82 Atmosphere
sound travel through, 181 ENSO and, 248–249
Air pollution, 422, 432 heat energy balance and, 236
Air pressure, 235, 244, 346–347 pollutants in, 422
definition of, 346 temperatures in, 233
high- and low-pressure systems, 347 Atoms, fission or splitting of, 433
precipitation and, 348 Automobiles. See Cars
winds and, 347 Avalanches, 362
Algae, 58
Alkalinity, 33
Alkalis (bases), 33
Alluvial deposits, 376
Alternative energy sources, 417
cost-effectiveness of, 420 Bacteria
Altitude biomass conversion by, 189
as abiotic factor, 27 image of, 57
air pressure and, 346 nitrogen-fixing, 86–87
climate and, 345 Bald eagle, 78, 79
Aluminum, 446 Baleen, 72
Amoebas, 60, 61 Banks, 371
Amplitude, 176, 177, 302 Barrel cactus, 31
Angora, 450 Barrier islands, 385
Animals Basalt, 286, 312, 386
in African savannas, 109 Bases (alkalis), 33
carbon cycle and, 85 Basins, 378
in chaparral ecosystems, 136 Bathyal zone, 121

* Indicates an activity related to this topic.

511
Batteries — Careers in Science

Batteries, energy conversions in, 418

Bauxite ore, 446
Beach drift, 383, 384
Beaches, 380–387
erosion of, 341, 366, 382–383 Cactuses, 31, 45
shorelines created by, 383 cardon, 139
sand on, 381*, 384, 386 spines on, 47
Bear, polar, 114 Calcium in carbonate sand, 386
Beavers, 36 California
Bedrock, 32 diversity of living things in, 24
Bees, visible range of, 260 earthquakes in, 298, 299, 304, 398
“Behind the Redwood Curtain,” ecosystems in, 132–147, 133*
by Natasha Wing, 23 chaparrals, 136–137
Benthos, 123 consumers in, 144–145
Bighorn sheep, 144 deserts, 138–139, 144
Biologists, 34, 128 forests, 140–141
Bioluminescence, 118 Mediterranean climate and, 134–135
Biomass conversion, 189, 435 nonnative plants and animals in, 146
Biomes, 101*. See also Land biomes producers in, 142–143
defined, 101 endangered species in, 145
desert, 103 ENSO’s effects on, 249
tundra, 103 estuaries in, 376
Biotic factors, 25, 26, 27, 34–35 food webs of, 143*
communities, 35 gasoline consumption in, 454
populations, 34–35 irrigation in, 31
roles of, 36 landslides in, 363
Bison, 108 plate tectonics and, 324–331, 325*
Blacksmith, 169 lithospheric plates under California, 326
Black-throated sparrow, 139 notable features, 330
Blood sugar, 155 San Andreas Fault, 282, 291, 326, 327, 333
Body valleys and mountains, 328–329
energy conversions in, 418 salt marshes in, 125
need for water, 30 wildfires in, 238–239, 245
temperature of, 30 California condor, 73, 145
Body waves, 283 California Current, 247
Boreal forests (taigas), 101*, 112 California poppy, 142
Bottle, vacuum, 170 California sea lion, 34
Brakes, 193 Calories, 167
Breakers, 383 Cambium, 45
Breeding, 34 Camels, 234
Breezes Cancer, skin, 224
land, 351 Candle lava, 319*
mountain, 245 Canopy, 104
sea, 247, 351 Capillary action, 48, 49
valley, 245 Carbon, 194
Building Carbonate sand(s), 386
natural resources used in, 452–453 Carbon cycle, 84–85, 90*–91*
seismically safe, 304 Carbon dioxide, 43, 84, 85, 190, 382
to withstand natural disasters, 400, 401 Cardon cactus, 139
Buoyancy, 202 Careers in Science
Burning of fuels, 190–191, 194 archaeologist, 464
Butterflies, 144 farmer, 464

512
 Index

Caribbean Sea — Continents

heating-and-air-conditioning technician, 262 Coastline, sea breezes along, 247

physics teacher, 262 Coast Ranges, 329
tree-core technician, 156 Cochlea, 179
wildlife biologist, 156 Coelacanth, 292
Caribbean Sea, sand on beaches in, 384 Cold deserts, 107
Caribou, 113 Coleus plant, 43
Carnivores, 72, 108 Collared lizard, 107
polar, 114 Collection, 83
Cars Colorado Desert, 138, 139
energy conversions in engines of, 419 Colorado River, 31
fuel efficiency of, 421 Colors of sand on beaches, 384, 386
hybrid, 197 Communication skills, 426–427
pollution from, 422 Communities, 35
solar-powered, 418 Comparison skills, 38–39
Cascade Range, 318, 329 Composite volcanoes, 315
Cashmere, 450 Composting, 88
Catalina Island, California, 135 Compound leaves, 46
Cell(s) Compound light microscopes, 56, 57
guard, 46 Compression waves, 180
of microscopic organisms, 58 Computer modeling of earthquakes, 333
nucleus of, 58 Conclusions, drawing, 278–279
plant, 31 Concrete, 452
water in, 30 Condensation, 83, 232, 348
Central Valley, 328 Condor, California, 73, 145
Challenger Deep, 275 Conduction, 200–201, 203, 206–207*
Chang Heng, 462 Conductivity, thermal, 204
Chaparrals, 136–137 Conductors, 170
Charts, 38 Cones, 140
Chemical reactions, 190 Conifers, 140
Chemical weathering, 359 Conservation, 438. See also Recycling
Chemosynthesis, 122 of soil, 32
Chlorophyll, 43, 47 of water, 124
Chloroplasts, 43, 46 Conservation biologists, 128
Cilia, 60 Construction materials, 447
Ciliates, 60, 61 Consumers, 69, 71
Cinder cone volcanoes, 314–315 in California ecosystems, 144–145
Climate(s), 236 definition of, 69
as abiotic factor, 27 in energy pyramid, 76
altitude and, 345 in land food webs, 72
definition of, 102–103, 344 microscopic, 56, 58, 60–61, 62
global variations in, 344–345 primary, 71, 72
Mediterranean, 134–135 secondary, 71, 72
solar radiation and, 103, 231, 234–235 tertiary, 71, 72
in tropical rain forests, 104 Continental crust, 286
weather vs., 344 Continental drift, 270–273. See also
Clothing, textiles for, 450, 451* Plate tectonics
Clouds, 83, 348 evidence for, 272–273
air pressure and, 347 from fossils, 272–273
formation of, 233 from ocean floor, 275
Coal, 189, 417, 419, 422 from rocks, 272
as evidence of continental drift, 272 from seafloor spreading, 274–275
Coastal deserts, 107 Continents, movement of, 269*

513
Contour lines — Divergent boundaries

Contour lines, 294

Convection, 202–203, 206–207*
Convection currents, 203, 240–251, 254–255*, 288
definition of, 243
El Niño/Southern Oscillation (ENSO), 248–249 Dams
in oceans, 246–248 consequences of, 423
underground, 250 definition of, 423
in water, 207* flooding caused by breaking, 396
wind and, 244–245, 248 for hydroelectric power, 436, 437
at work, 243 natural, 399
Convective flow, 288 Data analysis, 354–355
in mantle, 289 David, Leonard, “Plug In to the Moon” by, 413
Convergent boundaries, 291, 318 Death, carbon cycle and, 84
Cooper’s hawk, 79 Death Valley, 138, 324, 330, 360
Copper, uses of, 447 Decay, carbon cycle and, 84
Core of Earth, 250, 284, 285 Deciduous forests, 101*, 110–111, 140
Coriolis effect, 244, 247, 350–351 animals in, 111
Cost-effectiveness, 420 Decomposers, 56, 69, 71, 110
Crab, galatheid, 52 definition of, 69
“Cracked Plates,” by Nicola Jones, 267 microscopic, 62
Craters, volcanic, 311 nitrogen cycle and, 87
Creosote bush, 107, 139 plant recycling and, 88
Crickets, 144 Deepwater currents, 247
Criswell, David, 413 Deer, 111, 142
Crust of Earth, 250, 284, 285 Deltas, 373, 376
formation of, 291 Density
types of, 286 buoyancy and, 202
Current(s). See also Convection currents definition of, 284
ocean, 103, 246–248 measuring, 285*
deepwater, 247 ocean currents and, 246
sand deposited by, 384 Deposition, 360, 361, 364
sea breezes, 247, 351 by flowing water, 371, 373, 376
shorelines and, 383 at mouth of river, 376
surface, 246–247 in watershed, 374
solar radiation and, 231 Deserts, 29, 31, 100, 101, 103, 106–107
winds and, 235 arroyos in, 375
Cuticle, 46 in California, 138–139, 144
Cyanobacteria, 58 coastal deserts and cold deserts, 107
Cycle(s) hot and dry deserts, 106
defined, 83 semideserts, 107
for life, 80–91 Desert pupfish, 378
carbon cycle, 84–85, 90–91* Desert tortoise, 138–139
nitrogen cycle, 86–87, 90–91* Deuterium, 434
plants and, 88 Devastated Area, 393
water cycle, 82–83, 90–91*, 231, Dew point, 348
232–233, 436 Diamonds, 284–85
Cyclones, 352 Diatoms, 59
Cynognathus, 272, 273 Di Bonaventura, Maria Pia, 64–65
Dinoflagellates, 59
Disasters, natural. See Natural disasters
Distance, energy and, 223*
Divergent boundaries, 290–291

514
 Index

DNA of fungi — Energy

DNA of fungi, 65 Ecosystems, 24–37. See also Water ecosystems

Doors, natural resources used in, 453 abiotic factors in, 27, 28–33
Dormancy, 29 soil, 32–33
Dormant volcanoes, 317 sunlight, 28
Dry-steam fields, 441 temperature, 28–29
Dunes, sand, 361 water, 30–31
wildfires, 137
biotic factors (living things) in, 25*, 26, 27,
34–35
communities, 35
populations, 34–35
Eagles, 78, 79 roles of, 36
Ear, 179 in California, 132–147, 133*
Ear canal, 179 chaparrals, 136–137
Eardrum, 179 consumers in, 144–145
Earth. See also Plate tectonics deserts, 138–139, 144
structure of, 250, 280–287 forests, 140–141
core, 250, 284, 285 Mediterranean climate and, 134–135
crust, 250, 284, 285, 286, 291 nonnative plants and animals in, 146
mantle, 250, 284, 285, 287, 289 producers in, 142–143
model of, 281* definition of, 26–27
pressure and temperature of, 285 energy in, 42
scientific study of, 282–283 lake, 62
seismic waves and, 283 microscopic organisms in, 62
subdivisions of, 286–287 Eddies, 352
surface of Efficiency, 421
glaciers and, 364 of hydroelectric power plants, 423
natural disasters affecting, 390–403, 391*, Electricity, 413, 440. See also Energy sources
399* Electromagnetic radiation, 218–225
reshaping of, 360–361 harmful, 224
Earthquakes, 276, 296–305, 297*, 392, ionizing, 222, 223
398–399, 462–463 non-ionizing, 222
building structures to withstand, 400, 401 from Sun to Earth, 220, 221
in California, 298, 299, 304, 398 useful, 222–223
epicenter of, 300, 301 Electromagnetic spectrum, 182, 216–219
fault zones and, 299 Electromagnetic waves, 182, 218
focus of, 300, 301 Electron microscopes, 57
habitats and, 392, 393, 398–399 Elements, recycling of, 69
locations of, 298–299 Elephant seal, 34
measurement of, 302–303, 462–463 Elevations, high vs. low, 307
intensity, 303 El Niño/Southern Oscillation (ENSO), 248–249
magnitude, 302 Emergent layer, 104
myths and stories about, 462 Emission of radiant energy, 220–221
predicting, 332–333, 400–401 Emperor Seamounts, 267
preparing for, 304 Endangered species, 107*
safety measures, 301*, 304 in California, 145
scientific study of, 300–301 Energy, 85. See also Energy sources; Fuel(s)
tectonic plates and, 276 burning fuel for, 191
tsunamis caused by, 394–395 definition of, 164
Ecologists, 34 distance and, 223*
Ecology, 34 to do work, 192–193
Economy, dependence on fossil fuels, 432 in ecosystems, 42

515
Energy conversion — Flowing water

of flowing water, 370 Eukaryotes, 58

in food, 187* Evaporation, 48, 83, 120, 232, 235
food chains to trace paths of, 70, 71, 76 definition of, 348
importance of, 416 Evergreens, 140
insulation and use of, 443 Explanatory writing, 306
kinetic, 165, 166, 176, 194 Expository writing, 52–53, 148, 252
light, 191 Extinct volcanoes, 317
microwave, 222, 413 Extrusion blow-molding, 449
motion and, 164
potential, 165, 194
radiant, 220–221
thermal, 167, 206*. See also Heat
waves and, 176
Energy conversion, 418–419 Fabrics, 450–451
Energy efficiency, 421 False feet (pseudopods), 60, 61
of different types of light bulbs, 429* Farmers, 464
Energy pyramids, 76 Faults, 299
Energy sources, 414–425, 434–435. detecting movement along, 401
See also Fossil fuels Fault zones, 299
alternative, 417, 420 Feeding behavior, 34
consequences of using, 422–423 Feldspar, 386
cost-effectiveness of, 420 Ferns, 111
definition of, 416 Fertilizers, 87*
efficiency of, 421 Fibrous roots, 44
geothermal, 417, 420, 440–441 Fictional narrative, 456
Lunar Solar Power (LSP) system, 413 Filaments, 58
nonmonetary costs of using, 424 Filter feeders, 72
nonrenewable, 189, 430, 432–433 Fires
renewable, 189, 431, 434–437 caused by earthquakes, 398
solar, 40, 42, 230–231. See also Solar radiation natural, 109
types of, 417 wildfires, 135, 137, 238–239, 245
Engines, 192–193 Fish, in food chain, 122
Environment, energy use and, 424 Fission, 433
Epicenter, 300, 301 Fissures, 310
Epidermis, 44 Flagella, 60, 61
of leaf, 46 Flagellates, 60
Equator, 28 Fleece, synthetic, 451
solar radiation at, 350 Floaters, 123
Erosion Flooding, arroyos formed by, 374–375
of beaches, 341, 366, 382–383 Flood plain, 371, 373, 374, 396
shorelines created by, 383 Floods, 396–397
by flowing water, 371, 373 benefits of, 397
from glaciers, 364 causes of, 396, 399
rate of, 362 habitats and, 392, 393, 396–397
stream, 357* long-term effects of, 402
in watersheds, 374–375 predicting, 400
Eruptions, volcanic tsunamis and, 394
classification of, 316–317 Flowing water, 356, 368, 371. See also Floods;
modeling, 309* Rivers and streams
Estuaries, 126, 130–131*, 376 deposition by, 371, 373
Ethanol, 189, 435 effect on watersheds, 374–375
Euglena, 61

516
 Index

Fluids — Grasslands

erosion by, 371, 373 Fresh water, 124–125

speed of, factors influencing, 370, 389* wetlands, 36, 125
Fluids, heat transfer in, 198–205. See also Gas(es); Friction, 193, 193*
Liquid(s) Frogs, tree, 104
by conduction, 200–201, 203 “Frozen Frogs,” 154–155
by convection, 202–203 Fuel(s), 186–195. See also Energy sources;
rate of, 204, 204* Fossil fuels
Focus of earthquake, 300, 301 alternatives to oil, 454
Fog, 342 burning of, 190–191, 194
Folded mountains, 329* definition of, 188
Food, energy in, 187* efficiency of, 421
Food chains, 71*, 76, 231. See also Consumers; supply of, 433*
Decomposers; Producers Fumaroles, 320
in chaparral ecosystems, 136 Fungus/fungi, 64–65, 73, 88, 110, 111
definition of, 70 Fusion, 434–435
forest, 70
links in, 71
modeling, 67*
in ocean, 122–123
raptors in, 78–79
Food vacuoles, 60 Galatheid crab, 52
Food webs, 76 Gamma rays, 219, 224
California, 143* Gas(es)
definition of, 72 methane, 84, 189, 190
land, 72–73 molecules in, 164, 166
marine, 74–75 movement of heat in, 241*
in ocean, 123 natural, 417, 433*
Foraminifera, 384 sound travel through, 181
Forest(s) Gasoline, 454
boreal (taiga), 101*, 112 Geographers, 34
in California, 140–141 Geologic map, 294, 295
deciduous, 101, 110–111, 140 Geologists, 34, 271
animals in, 111 Geothermal energy, 417, 420, 440–441
floor of, 105 Geysers, 320, 417, 441
food chains of, 70 Giant kelp, 75
old-growth, 141 Giraffes, 231
redwood, 142 Glaciers, 240, 364
Foresters, 34 Glass, 453
Fort Tejon earthquake of 1857, 304 Glassmakers, 200
Fossil evidence of continental drift, 272–273 Global Positioning System (GPS) technology, 333
Fossil fuels, 84, 188–189, 432, 434 Global Seismic Network (GSN), 332
consequences of using, 422 Global warming, 84
cost-effectiveness of, 420 Global winds, 244
development of, 416 Glossopteris, 272, 273
nonmonetary costs of, 424 Glucose. See Blood sugar
as nonrenewable resource, 189, 430, 432 Golden eagle, 79
solar radiation and, 231 Gondwanaland, 271
types of, 417 Granite, 286, 312
uses of, 432, 454 Grasses unique to California, 142
Foundations of buildings, 452 Grasslands, 101*, 108–109
Foxes, 31, 145 savannas, 109
Frequency, 177, 178

517
Gravity — Inquiry skills

Gravity Heating, solar, 253

air pressure and, 346 Heating-and-air-conditioning technicians, 262
landslides and, 363 Heat transfer, 198–205
stream development and, 372 by conduction, 200–201, 203
water power and, 437 by convection, 202–203
Gray hawk, 79 rate of, 204, 204*
Great blue heron, 379 Herbivores, 72, 108
Great horned owl, 111 Hermes copper butterfly, 144
Great Plains, 108 Herons, 125
Greenhouse effect, 84 Highways, seismically safe, 304
Greenhouse gases, beach erosion and, 341 History of Science
Green plants, 58, 69 infrared radiation, 184–185
Groundwater, 83 quake predictors, 332–333
Guard cells, 46 Hot-air balloons, 166, 242
Gulf Stream, 243, 246 Hot and dry deserts, 106
Gypsum, 453 Hot spots, 319
Hot springs, 320
Hot-water vents, 52
Houses
natural resources used to build, 452–453
underground, 252
Habitats, 36 Humidity, 345, 348
estuary, 126, 130–131*, 376 measuring, 349*
natural disasters and, 390–403, 391*, 399* relative, 348
earthquakes, 392, 393, 398–399 Humpback whale, 66, 247
floods, 392, 393, 396–397 Humus, 32
impact on people and wildlife, 392–393 Hurricanes, 352
landslides, 392, 393, 398–399 Hybrid vehicles, 197, 454
long-term effects of, 402 Hydroelectric plants, 417, 419
predicting, 400–401 Hydroelectric power, 423, 435
tsunamis, 394–395 advantages and disadvantages of, 437
volcanic eruptions, 392–393, 402 dependence on solar energy, 436–437
Salton Sea, 378–379, 396 efficiency of, 423
Hail, 349 Hydrothermal vents, 52–53, 122
Half Dome, Yosemite National Park, 358 Hypotheses, forming, 226–227
Hawaii, 267, 318–319
Hawaiian eruptions, 316
Hawaiian Islands, 250
Hawks, 79
Hearing sound, 179
Heat Icebergs, 240
from burning, 190 Ice sheets, 364
definition of, 167 Igneous rocks, 287, 312, 313
movement in liquids and gases, 241* Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami of 2004,
temperature vs., 166–167 306, 395
Heat energy, 206 Inferences, making, 378
Heat flow, 162–171. See also Energy Infrared radiation, 182, 184–185, 219, 222, 261
definition of, 168 Inquiry skills
direction of, 167, 168–169 communicating, 426–427
measuring, 163*, 168 comparison, 38–39
mechanism of, 169 data analysis, 354–355
from one material to another, 199* drawing conclusions, 278–279

518
 Index

Insects — Leaves

hypothesis formation, 226–227 Lake(s), 124

modeling, 294–295 as ecosystem, 62
sequencing, 116–117 oxbow, 375
Insects unique to California, 144 Salton Sea, 378–379
Insulation, 170 Land, absorption of heat energy by, 236
energy use and, 443* Land biomes, 100–115
Insulator(s), 170 defined, 102
plastic as, 449 deserts, 29, 31, 100, 101, 103, 106–107
Integer addition and subtraction, 307 arroyos in, 375
Intensity of earthquakes, 303 in California, 138–139, 144
Intermittent volcanoes, 317 coastal deserts and cold deserts, 107
International Space Station, 220 hot and dry deserts, 106
Intertidal zone, 74, 121 semideserts, 107
Ionizing radiation, 222, 223 grasslands, 101*, 108–109
Iron, uses of, 447 savannas, 109
Irrigation, 31 polar regions, 114
Island arcs, volcanic, 318–319 taigas, 101*, 112
Islands, barrier, 385 temperate deciduous forests, 101*, 110–111, 140
Isles of Scilly, 243 animals in, 111
tropical rain forests, 29, 101*, 104–105, 116
tundras, 101*, 103, 112, 113
Land breezes, 351
Land food webs, 72–73
carnivores, 72
Jerboa, 106 herbivores, 72
Jet Propulsion Laboratory, 333 omnivores, 73
Jet stream, 249 predators, 73
Jones, Nicola, “Cracked Plates” by, 267 scavengers, 73
Joshua Tree National Park, California, 100 Landforms, volcanic, 314
Joshua trees, 139, 142 Landscapes, floods and changing, 397
Landslides, 362–363, 398–399
damage from, 399
factors in, 363, 398–399
habitats and, 392, 393, 398–399
long-term effects of, 402
Kangaroo rat, 144 La Niña, 248, 249
Kelp, giant, 75 Laser light, 215
Kelso Dunes Jerusalem cricket, 144 Laser measuring systems for earthquake prediction,
Keystone species, 36, 139 400–401
Kinetic energy, 165, 166, 176, 194 “Lasers: A Scientific Breakthrough,” 215
Kit fox, 31, 139 Lassen Peak, 311, 392–393
Klamath Mountains, 329 Lassen Volcanic National Park, 330
Krill, 66 Laurasia, 271
Lava, 52–53
candle, 319*
impact on people and wildlife, 392–393
Lava flows, 316
Lava rocks, 311
La Conchita, California, 363 Leaves, 47*, 48
Laguna Beach, 362 compound, 46
Lahars, 393 functions of, 47

519
Leeuwenhoek, Anton van — Meet a Scientist

parts of, 46
photosynthesis and, 46–47
simple, 46
Leeuwenhoek, Anton van, 57
Legends (on maps), 294 Macaws, 104
Lenses on microscopes, 57 Magazine articles
Levees, 397, 400 “Cracked Plates,” 267
Life “Lasers: A Scientific Breakthrough,” 215
carbon and, 85 “Plug In to the Moon,” 413
cycles for, 80–91 “Sun-Powered Speed,” 161
carbon cycle, 84–85, 90–91* “Surf vs. Sand,” 341
nitrogen cycle, 86–87, 90–91* Magma, 52, 287, 310, 311, 313, 320
plants and, 88 Magma chambers, 311
water cycle, 82–83, 90*–91*, 231, Magnetite, 386
232–233, 436 Magnitude of earthquake, 302
Light. See also Sun/sunlight Manatees, 424
infrared, 222, 261 Maned wolf, 109
laser, 215 Mantle, 250, 284, 285, 287
plants and, 41* convective flow in, 289
ultraviolet, 219, 224, 260 Maple trees, 47
visible, 219, 222, 260 Maps, 294
colors of, 218 Marble, 312
wavelengths of, 221 Marine food webs, 74–75
Light bulbs, energy efficiency of, 429* intertidal zone, 74, 121
Light energy, 191 ocean zones, 75
Lightning, 86 Marine organisms, sand formed from remains of,
Light waves, 182 384, 386
Limestone, sand from eroded, 386 Marine terraces, 383
Lions, 70, 109, 136 Maser, 215
Liquids Masibay, Kim Y., “Surf vs. Sand” by, 341
molecules in, 164, 166 Materials
movement of heat in, 241* raw, 446–447
sound travel through, 181* synthetic, 448–449, 453
Literature Math in Science
magazine articles, 161, 215, 267, 341, 412–413 annual cost of solar heating, 253
poems, 23, 99 converting measurements, 149, 197
Lithosphere, 286, 318 integer addition and subtraction, 307
Lithospheric plates, 286, 287 mean, 404–405
Living things. See Biotic factors percent calculation, 457
Lizards, 107 ratios, 78–79
Local winds, 244 Matter, states of, 164
Long-eared owl, 79 Mauna Loa, 315
Los Angeles Basin, 328, 329 McCormack, Fiona, “Sun-Powered Speed” by, 161
Los Angeles earthquake of 1994, 398 Mean, calculating the, 404–405
Low-pressure system, 352 Meandering streams, 371, 372, 373
Lunar Solar Power (LSP) system, 413 Meanders, 373, 375
Lyretail anthias, 120 Measurements, converting, 149, 197
Lystrosaurus, 273 Mechanical (physical) weathering, 359
Mediterranean climate, 134–135
Meet a Scientist
Di Bonaventura, Maria Pia, 64–65
Sterling, Eleanor, 128–129

520
 Index

Mercalli scale — Nonrenewable resources

Mercalli scale, 303

Mesosaurus, 273
Metals, everyday materials made from, 447
Metamorphic rocks, 312, 313
Methane, 84, 189, 190 Natural disasters, 390–403, 391*, 399*
Microbiologists, 64 earthquakes. See Earthquakes
Microscopes, 55*, 57 floods, 392, 393, 394, 396–397, 399, 400, 402
compound, 56, 57 impact on people and wildlife, 392–393
electron, 57 landslides, 362–363, 392, 393, 398–399, 402
Microscopic organisms, 27, 54–63 long-term effects of, 402
classification of, 58 predicting, 400–401
consumers, 56, 60–61, 62 tsunamis, 306, 394–395
decomposers, 62 volcanic eruptions, 309*, 316–317, 392–393, 401,
definition of, 56 402
producers, 56, 58–59, 61, 62 Natural fires, 109
roles in ecosystems, 62 Natural gas, 417
studying, 57, 64–65 use of, 433*
Microwaves, 182, 218–219, 222, 413 Natural resources, 430–431
Midnight zone, 75 nonrenewable, 189, 430, 432–433
Mid-ocean ridge, 274–275 conservation of, 438
Migration, 29 fossil fuels as, 189, 430, 432
Milne, John, 332 nuclear fuels as, 433
Minerals, 32 renewable, 189, 431, 434–437
everyday materials made from, 447 classifying, 442*–443*
most common, 386 types of, 434–435
as nonrenewable resources, 430 sustainability of, 431
in sand, 386 uses of, 444–455
textiles made from, 450 fuels for transportation, 454
Mining, strip, 422 materials used in common objects, 444,
Model-making skills, 294–295 445*, 446–447
Mohair, 450 plastic, 448–449
“Mojave,” by Diane Siebert, 99 shelters, 452–453
Mojave Desert, 106, 138, 139, 142 textiles, 450–451*
Molecules, 243 Nekton, 123
motion of, 164, 165, 166 Nelson, Chad, 341
state of matter and, 164, 166 Neritic zone, 121
Monetary costs of energy use, 420, 421, 424 New Orleans floods of 2005, 397
Monkeys, 105 Niches, 36
Moon, Lunar Solar Power (LSP) system on, 413 Nitrates, 87
Mosses, 111 Nitric acid, 86
Motion, energy and, 164 Nitric oxide, 84
Mountain belts, 318 Nitrites, 87
Mountain breezes, 245 Nitrogen, uses of, 86–87
Mountain lion, 136 Nitrogen cycle, 86–87, 90*–91*
Mountain ranges, 307 Nitrogen-fixing bacteria, 86–87
formation of, 276, 291, 318 Noises, landslides triggered by, 363
Mountains, 103 Non-ionizing radiation, 222
folded, 329* Nonmonetary costs of energy use, 424
winds and, 245 Nonrenewable resources, 189, 430, 432–433
Mouth of river, 376 conservation of, 438
Mushrooms, 62, 69 fossil fuels, 189, 430, 432
nuclear fuels, 433

521
North American Plate — Physics teachers

North American Plate, 326, 327, 328 Organisms. See also Microscopic organisms
Northern spotted owl, 141 in ecosystems, 25*
North Pole, 28, 114 in ocean, 123
Nuclear energy, 433 in soil, 32–33
Nuclear fuels, 433 Ossicles, 179
Nuclear fusion, 434–435 Otters, 124
Nuclear power plants, 423 “Out of Sight!,” 260–261
Nucleus of cell, 58 Owls, 79, 111, 141
Nylon, 450 Oxbow lakes, 375
Oxygen, 43, 190
as plant waste product, 85

Objective lens, 57
Ocean(s), 83, 120–123
absorption of heat energy by, 236 Pacific Plate, 267, 291, 326, 327, 328
abyssal zone, 121 Paintings, protecting from fungi, 64–65
bathyal zone, 121 Paints, natural resources in, 453
energy pyramids for, 76 Palmyra Atoll, 128–129
food chains in, 122–123 Pampas, 108
food webs in, 123 Pangaea, 271
intertidal zone, 121 Paramecium, 54, 61
neritic zone, 121 Parasites, 60
oceanic zone, 121 Parent rock, 32
organisms in, 123 Paricutín, 314
salt levels in, 131* Parrots, 28
zones of, 75, 121 Pelée, Mount, 315, 317
Ocean currents, 103, 246–248 Peléean eruptions, 317
deepwater, 247 Penguins, 29, 114, 234
sand deposited by, 384 Peninsular Ranges, 328
sea breezes, 247, 351 Percent calculation, 457
shorelines and, 383 Permafrost, 113
surface, 246–247 Personal narrative, 366–367
Ocean floor, evidence of continental drift Persuasive writing, 196
from, 275 Petioles, 49
Oceanic crust, 286 Petrochemicals, 432
Oceanic plates, 318 Petroleum, 417
Oceanic zone, 121 plastic derived from, 448
Ocean trenches, 275, 275*, 291 Phloem, 44, 45
Ocean waves Photosynthesis, 40–51, 69
beach erosion by, 382–383 definition of, 43
effect on beaches, 385* importance of, 42–43
tsunami, 394–395 leaves and, 46–47
Ocular lens, 57 in microscopic producers, 58, 59
Oil, 417. See also Petroleum roots and, 44
use of, 433*, 454 solar radiation and, 231
Old Faithful geyser, 320 stems and, 45
Old-growth forests, 141 pH scale, 33
Olivine, 384 Physical (mechanical) weathering, 359
Omnivores, 73 Physical property, 204
Orchids, 104 Physics teachers, 262

522
 Index

Phytoplankton — Prokaryotes

Phytoplankton, 74, 122 “Plug In to the Moon,” by Leonard David, 413

Pigs, wild, 146 Plumbing in houses, 453
Pinatubo, Mount, 402 Poems
Pit vipers, 261 “Behind the Redwood Curtain,” 23
Plankton, 75, 122–123 “Mojave,” 99
Plant cells, 31 Poison oak, 142
Plants. See also Photosynthesis Polar bear, 114
in California, 138–139, 142 Polar regions, 114
Sierra Nevada foothills, 148 Pollution, 422
carbon cycle and, 84, 85 air, 422, 432
in chaparral ecosystems, 136 from burning fossil fuels, 422, 432, 454
in deserts, 106, 107, 138–139 energy sources and, 422–423
in estuaries, 126 thermal, 423
everyday materials made from, 447 water, 422
in grasslands, 108 Polyethylene, 453
green, 58, 69 Polymerization, 448
light and, 41* Polymers, 448
in Mediterranean climates, 135 Ponds, 124
movement of water through, 48–49 Poppies, 42, 142
need for water, 31 Population(s)
nitrogen sources for, 86 as biotic factor, 34–35
nonnative, 146 connection of, 76
recycling of, 88 habitat of, 36
respiration in, 50 keystone species, 36
soil’s importance to, 32 niches of, 36
subtropical, 243 Potential energy, 165, 194
sunlight and, 40–41 Power, from light energy, 229*
in taigas, 112 Prairie schooners, 108
textiles made from, 450 Precipitation, 83, 232, 233, 348
in tundras, 113 sources of, 343*
as water filters, 125* types of, 349
Plastic(s), 448–449, 456 as water source for hydroelectric power, 436
products made from, 448, 449, 451 Predators, 73
recycled, 451 Predicting natural disasters, 332–333, 400–401
Plate boundaries, 290–291 Pressure. See also Air pressure
fault zones along, 299 Earth’s layers and, 285
Plates, tectonic, 274, 290, 318 root, 48
lithospheric, 286, 287, 326 inside volcanoes, 323*
movement of, 286, 288–289 Prevailing winds, 350
Plate tectonics, 250, 290–291. Prey, 73
See also Continental drift Prickly pear, 106
California and, 324–331, 325* Primary consumers, 71, 72
lithospheric plates under, 326 Producers, 68–69
notable features, 330 in California ecosystems, 142–143
San Andreas Fault, 282, 291, 326, 327, 333 definition of, 69
valleys and mountains of, 328–329 in energy pyramids, 76
earthquakes and, 276 in marine food webs, 74
ocean trenches formed by, 275 microscopic, 56, 58–59, 61, 62
seafloor spreading, 274–275 primary, 74
subduction zones, 318 Products of reaction, 190
as unifying theory, 292 Prokaryotes, 58
volcanic activity and, 276

523
Protists — Rock(s)

Protists, 60–61 Rat, kangaroo, 144

observing, 61* Ratios, finding, 78–79
Protozoans, 60, 61 Raw materials, 446–447
Pseudopods (false feet), 60, 61 Reactants, 190
Pupfish, 378 Reactions, chemical, 190
P waves, 283, 300 Recycling, 438. See also Cycle(s): for life
of air, 82
of elements, 69
of lithosphere, 318
by microscopic organisms, 62
of plants, 88
Quartz, 386 of plastics, 449
of textiles, 451
of water, 81*
Red-eyed tree frog, 104
Red knots, 74
Red Rock Canyon State Park, 361
Radiant energy, 220–221 Red salamander, 111
Radiation Redwood National Park, California, 140
electromagnetic, 218–225 Redwood trees, 22–23, 142
harmful, 224 Reeds, 124
ionizing, 222, 223 Relative humidity, 348
non-ionizing, 222 Reservoirs, 436
from Sun to Earth, 220, 221 Resources. See Natural resources
useful, 222–223 Respiration, 50
infrared, 182, 184–185, 219, 222, 261 Reuse. See also Recycling
solar, 221, 228–237 of plastics, 449
climate and, 231, 234–235 saving natural resources by, 438
definition of, 231 of textiles, 451
Earth’s gain and loss of energy, 236 Richter scale, 302
at equator, 350 Ring of Fire, 319
power from, 229* River otters, 124
Sun’s importance as energy source, 230–231 Rivers and streams, 124, 368–377
water cycle and, 231, 232–233 banks of, 371
weather and, 231, 235 dams and, 437
Radioactive waste, 423 flooding of, 396–397
Radiometers, 229 flow of, 368, 370–371
Radio waves, 182, 218, 219, 222 factors influencing, 370–371, 388–389*
Rain, 349 obstacles to, 371
acid, 422 rain and speed of, 370
causes of, 348 length of, 149
in deserts, 106 levees along, 397
floods caused by, 396 mouths of, characteristics of, 376
speed of flowing water and, 370 sand deposited by, 384
watersheds and, 374–375 sources of, 372
Rainbows, 216 stages of stream development, 372–373
Rain forests, tropical, 29, 101*, 104–105, 116 watersheds of
Ranger Rick, articles from changing land of, 369*, 374–375*
“Frozen Frogs,” 154–155 mapping, 369*
“Out of Sight!,” 260–261 Rock(s), 27, 250
“Understanding Earthquakes,” 462–463 age of, 272
Raptors, 78–79 everyday materials made from, 447

524
 Index

Rock cycle — Sierra Nevada

evidence of continental drift from, 272 Satellites

igneous, 287, 312, 313 earthquake and plate motion tracking by, 333
lava, 311 rocket launch of, 191
metamorphic, 312, 313 wildfire data from, 239
molten (magma), 52, 287, 310, 311, 313, 320 Savannas, 109
parent, 32 Scanning electron microscopes (SEM), 57
sand as weathered, 384 Scarlet macaw, 104
sedimentary, 312, 313 Scavengers, 73, 145
semimolten, 287 Science, Technology, and Society
serpentine, 143 changing Salton Sea, 378–379
silicate, 386 clean steam power, 440–441
weathered, 32, 358–361 wildfires, 238–239
Rock cycle, 313 Sea breezes, 247, 351
Roof shingles, 452 Seafloor spreading, 274–275, 291, 292
Root caps, 44 Sea level, distance above, 103
Root hairs, 44, 49 Sea lions, 34
Root pressure, 48 Sea otters, 75
Roots, 44, 48 Seasons
Rubber, recycling of, 451 changes in, 29
Russian River, California, 126 watersheds in different, 374
Sea turtles, 129, 292
Seawater, salt from, 232
Secondary consumers, 71, 72
Sediment, 361. See also Sand
layers of, 361*
St. Helens, Mount, 317, 401 on flood plain, 371, 374
St. Pierre, town of, 315 at mouth of river, 376
Salamanders, 111 movement along shore, 383
Salinity, 246 Sedimentary rocks, 312, 313
Salt from seawater, 232 Seismically safe construction, 304
Salt marshes, 125 Seismic data, 332–333
Salton Sea, 378–379, 396 Seismic waves (earthquake waves), 283, 299, 300
Saltwater inland sea, 378–379 Seismographs, 300, 301, 463
San Andreas Fault, 282, 291, 326, 327, 333 Seismologists, 302, 463
Sand, 381*, 384 Seismometers, 332
beach drift, 383, 384 Semideserts, 107
composition of, 384 Semimolten rocks, 287
definition of, 386 Sense of sight, 260–261
identifying weathered parts of, 386 Sequencing skills, 116–117
sandbars formed by, 385 Sequoias, 140, 142
types of, 386, 453 Serpentine rock, 143
Sandbars, 385 Serval, 109
Sand dunes, 361 Sharp-shinned hawk, 79
Sandstone, 312 Shasta, Mount, 324, 330
San Francisco Bay earthquake of 1989, 398 Sheep, bighorn, 144
San Francisco earthquake of 1906, 298 Shelters, natural resources used for, 452–453
San Joaquin kit fox, 145 Shield volcanoes, 314–315
Santa Ana River watershed, 374 Shorelines, 382–383
Santa Ana winds, 137, 238–239, 244 Siding of houses, 453
Santa Rosa geothermal plant, 441 Siebert, Diane, “Mojave” by, 99
Sierra Nevada, 138, 148, 329, 330

525
Sierra Nevada bighorn sheep — Sustainability

Sierra Nevada bighorn sheep, 144 traveling, 180–181, 181*

Sight, sense of, 260–261 vibrations to produce, 178–179
Silicates, 386, 453 Southeast Asia, tsunami in (2004), 395
Silk, 450 Southern California Integrated GPS Network
Simple leaves, 46 (SCIGN), 333
Skills. See Inquiry skills Southern Oscillation, 248–249
Skin, ultraviolet light’s effects on, 224 South Pole, 28, 114
Skin cancer, 224 Sparrow, black-throated, 139
Skyscrapers, earthquake-resistant, 400, 401 Species
Sleet, 349 endangered, 107*, 145
Slopes, steepness of, 363 keystone, 36, 139
Smelting, 446 Spotted owl, 141
Smog, 422 Springs, thermal, 274
Snow, 349 Squids, 118
Snowmelts, floods caused by, 396 Squirrel monkeys, 105
Soil(s) Starthistle, yellow, 146
as abiotic factor, 32–33 Steam, 164
conservation of, 32 geothermal energy from, 440–441
floods and landslides enriching, 402 Steam engines, energy conversions in, 419
of grasslands, 108 Steel, uses of, 447
layers, 32 Stems, plant, 45, 48
nitrogen in, 86–87 Steppes, 108
pH of, 33* Sterling, Eleanor, 128–129
as renewable resource, 431 Stomata, 46, 48, 49
Solar cells, 417, 418 Streams, 124. See also Rivers and streams
Solar collectors, 417 erosion by, 357*
Solar energy, 417, 431, 435 stages of development, 372–373
dependence of hydroelectric power on, Strip mining, 422
436–437 Strombolian eruptions, 316
Lunar Solar Power (LSP) system, 413 Subduction, 291, 318
Solar heating, 253 Subduction zones, 318
Solar panels, 414, 435 Subsoil, 32
Solar-powered cars, 161, 418 Sugar, 43
Solar radiation, 221, 228–237 Sugarcane, 45
climate and, 231, 234–235 Sulfur dioxide, 422
definition of, 231 Sunburns, 224
Earth’s gain and loss of energy, 236 Sunlight zone, 75
at equator, 350 “Sun-Powered Speed,” by Fiona McCormack, 161
power from, 229* Sun/sunlight, 25*, 27, 220. See also Photosynthesis
Sun’s importance as energy source, 230–231 as abiotic factor, 27, 28
water cycle and, 231, 232–233 climate and, 103
weather and, 231, 235 energy from, 40, 42
Solar still, 233* evaporation and, 120
Solids forms of energy originating with, 416, 417
heat transfer in, 198–205 plants and, 40, 41*
molecules in, 164, 166 water cycle and, 83
sound travel through, 180–181 wind and, 244
Sound of string, 175* Suntans, 224
Sound waves, 178–181 Surface currents, 246–247
hearing, 179 Surface waves, 283
materials that transmit, 181 “Surf vs. Sand,” by Kim Y. Masibay, 341
movement of, 178 Sustainability, 431

526
 Index

Swainson’s hawk — Vibrations

Swainson’s hawk, 79 Trade winds, 248, 350

S waves, 283, 300 Transform boundaries, 291
Synthetic materials, 448–451, 453 Transpiration, 48, 49
plastics, 448–449 Transportation, 454
textile fibers, 450–451 Transverse Ranges, 328–329
Systems, definition of, 26 Tree-core technician, 156
Tree frogs, 104
Trees
deciduous, 110
as renewable resource, 431, 435
Trenches, ocean, 275, 275*, 291
Taigas (boreal forests), 101*, 112 Triangulation, 301
Talapoin, 105 Tricolored heron, 125
Tapirs, 104 Tritium, 435
Taproots, 44 Tropical rain forests, 29, 101, 104–105, 116
Teachers, physics, 262 Tsunamis, 306, 394–395
Tectonic plates, 290 Tsunami-warning system, 395
Temperate deciduous forests, 101*, 110–111, 140 Tufa towers, 386
animals in, 111 Tundras, 101, 103, 112, 113
Temperature(s) Turbines, 417, 419, 423, 435, 437
as abiotic factor, 28–29 Turtles, sea, 129, 292
air pressure and, 346 Twilight zone, 75
atmospheric, 233
average, of Earth, 236
of body, 30
of different objects, 169*
Earth’s layers and, 285
global variations in, 344 Ultraviolet light, 219, 224, 260
heat vs., 166–167 Underground convection currents, 250
kinetic energy and, 166 Underground homes, 252
ocean currents and, 246 “Understanding Earthquakes,” 462–463
precipitation type and, 349 Understory, 105
volcanic eruptions and worldwide drops Unifying theory, 292
in, 402 U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 341
Terra satellite, 239 Uranium, 423, 433
Tertiary consumers, 71, 72 USDA Forest Service, 239
Test practices, 94–95, 152–153, 210–211,
258–259, 336–337, 408–409, 460–461
Textiles, 450–451*
Thailand, tsunami in (2004), 395
Theory, unifying, 292
Thermal conductivity, 204 Vacuoles, food, 60
Thermal energy, 167. See also Heat Vacuum bottle, 170
Thermal pollution, 423 Valley breezes, 245
Thermal springs, 274 Valleys, V-shaped, 372
Thermometers, 166, 169 arroyos, 374–375
Thorne’s hairstreak butterfly, 144 Vegetation, in tropical rain forests, 104
Tide-pool communities, 35 Veins of leaves, 47, 49
Topographic maps, 294, 295 Venn diagrams, 38, 39
Topsoil, 32 Ventura Basin, 328, 329
Tortoise, desert, 138–139 Vesuvius, Mount, 315, 317
Townes, Charles, 215 Vibrations, 177, 178–179

527
Vipers — Weather

Vipers, pit, 261 Water cycle, 82–83

Visible light, 219, 222, 260 factors affecting, 90*–91*
colors of, 218 hydroelectric power and, 436
wavelengths of, 221 solar energy and, 231, 232–233
Volcanic island arcs, 318–319 Water ecosystems, 118–127, 119*
Volcanic islands, color of sand on beaches of, 384 estuaries, 126, 130–131*, 376
Volcanic rock, characteristics of, 322–323* freshwater, 124–125
Volcanoes, 276, 308–321 wetlands, 36, 125
cinder cone, 314–315 oceans, 83, 120–123
composite, 314, 315 food chain in, 122–123
definition of, 310 food web in, 123
eruptions of intertidal zone, 121
classification of, 316–317 neritic zone, 121
impact on people and wildlife, 392–393 oceanic zone, 121
landforms resulting from, 315–316 organisms in, 123
long-term effects of, 402 salt levels in, 131*
modeling, 309* Waterfalls, 372
predicting, 401 Water filters, plants as, 125*
formation of, 310, 318 Watersheds, 374–375
forces in, 311 mapping, 369*
pressure changes inside, 323* Water vapor, 190
shield, 314–315 Wavelengths, 176, 177, 218
tectonic plates and, 276 of visible light, 221
V-shaped valleys, 372 Waves, 174–183
arroyos, 374–375 breakers, 383
Vulcanian eruptions, 316 compression, 180
definition of, 176
electromagnetic, 182, 218
energy and, 176
infrared, 182
light, 182
Water, 80, 85 measuring, 177
as abiotic factor, 27, 30–31 microwaves, 182
in cells, 30 ocean
conserving, 124 beach erosion by, 382–383
convection currents in, 207* effects on beaches, 385*
daily usage of, 457 tsunami, 394–395
energy from, 437 radio, 182, 218, 219, 222
hydroelectric power, 423, 435, 436–437 seismic (earthquake waves), 283, 299, 300
as renewable resource, 428, 431 sound, 177, 178–181
waterwheel, 417, 423* hearing, 179
flowing. See Flowing water; Rivers and streams materials that transmit, 181
heating, 217* movement of, 178
landslides and, 363 traveling, 180–181, 181*
movement through plants, 48–49 vibrations to produce, 178–179
physical weathering by, 359 X rays, 182
plants’ need for, 31 Weather, 236
pollution of, 422 air pressure and, 347
recycling of, 81* calculating highs and lows, 404–405
reshaping of Earth’s surface by, 360 climate vs., 344
shortages of, 431 definition of, 344
ENSO and, 248

528
 Index

Weathering — Zooplankton

factors affecting, 345 Windows, natural resources used in, 453

solar radiation and, 231, 235 Wing, Natasha, “Behind the Redwood Curtain” by,
wind and, 350–352 23
Weathering, 358–361 Wiring of houses, 453
reshaping of Earth’s surface by, Wolves, 109, 112
360–361 Wood, as insulator, 170
sand as weathered rock, 384 Wood-frame construction, 452
identifying weathered parts of sand, 386 Wood frogs, 154–155
types of, 359 Wool, 450
Weather maps, 347 Work, energy to do, 192–193
Wegener, Alfred, 270–271, 272, 292, 335 World Solar Challenge, 167
Wetlands, 36, 125 World-Wide Standardized Seismic Network
Whales, 66, 122, 181, 247 (WWSSN), 332
White-tailed hawk, 79 Writing in Science
White-water rapids, 372 explanatory, 306
Whitney, Mount, 330, 346 expository, 52–53, 148, 252
Wildfires, 135, 137, 238–239, 245 fictional narrative, 456
Wildlife biologist, 156 personal narrative, 366–367
Wildlife habitats, natural disasters and, 392–393 persuasive writing, 196
Wild pigs, 146
Wind(s), 244–245
air pressure and, 235, 347
Coriolis effect and, 350
currents and, 235
daytime and nighttime directions of, X rays, 219, 223, 224
351 Xylem, 44, 45, 49
definition of, 244
factors affecting, 244–245
global, 244
land breezes, 351
local, 244 Yellow starthistle, 146
ocean currents and, 246, 248 Yellowstone National Park, 250, 320, 360
patterns of, 103 Yuccas, 106
prevailing, 350
reshaping of Earth’s surface by, 361
Santa Ana, 137, 238–239, 244
sea breezes, 351
solar radiation and, 231
Sun and, 244 Zebras, 70
trade, 248, 350 Zoologists, 34
weather and, 350–352 Zooplankton, 122
Wind energy, 417, 418–419, 435

529