abiotic

nonliving
acceleration
the rate at which velocity changes
anemometer
an instrument used to measure wind speed
Animalia
kingdom consisting of multicellular, eukaryotic
heterotrophs
Examples include snakes, insects, and birds.
Archaebacteria
kingdom consisting of unicellular prokaryotic bacteria
that can be found living in extreme conditions
asteroid
a celestial body bigger than 10 m orbiting the Sun, mainly
between Mars and Jupiter
asthenosphere
the soft layer of the mantle on which pieces of the
lithosphere float
autotroph
an organism that is able to capture energy from sunlight
or chemicals and use it to produce its own food from
inorganic compounds
average speed
the total distance traveled by an object divided by the
total time traveled
balanced force
equal forces acting on an object in opposite directions
bar graph
a type of graph that shows a quantitative comparison
between ordered pairs, using a series of columns to
display data
barometer
an instrument used to measure air pressure
biome
large region with typical plants and animals that includes
several ecosystems
biosphere
the region on, below, and above the Earth's surface where
life exists
biotic
 living
boiling point
the temperature at which a liquid turns to vapor
causal relationship
a relationship where one variable causes another variable
to change
chemical change
a change that results in the formation of a new substance
with different properties than the original substance
chemical formula
a representation of a substance using the symbols of the
elements that make up that compound
chemical property
a characteristic of matter that requires altering the
substance before it can be observed
chemical symbol
a one, two, or three letter representation of an element
circle graph
a type of graph that shows how portions make up a whole
such as percentages with the entire circle representing
100%
class
in classification, a group of closely related orders
comet
a celestial body mainly composed of ice and dust
community
all the populations of different species living and
interacting together in a distinct area
comparative investigation
type of investigation that involves collecting data on
different populations/organisms, or under different
conditions (e.g., times of year, locations) to make a
comparison
compound
a pure substance whose smallest unit is made up of
atoms of two or more elements joined by chemical bonds
conceptual model
a model that makes comparisons with familiar things to
help illustrate or explain an idea
conduction
the transfer of heat through a material by direct contact
conductivity
the ability of a substance to allow the flow of energy or
electricity
conductors
materials, such as metal, that increase heat transfer
constants
all factors in the experiment that are not allowed to
change throughout the entire experiment or investigation
constant speed
speed of an object that does not change
control group
a standard of comparison for checking or verifying the
results of an experiment where all variables must be held
constant
convection
the transfer of heat in a fluid (gas or liquid) as a result of
the movement of the fluid itself
convergent boundary
the boundary between two colliding tectonic plates
core
the center part of Earth below the mantle
crust
the thin outmost layer of Earth; the upper part of the
lithosphere
data table
type of graphic organizer used to display data in rows and
columns
density
the mass of a substance divided by its volume D =
Mass/Volume
dependent variable
the variable that acts in response to the manipulation of
the independent variable
The dependent variable can be thought of as the results
of the experiment.
descriptive investigation
type of investigation that involves describing and/or
quantifying parts of a natural system
displacement
the increase in volume of water when an object is
emerged in water
divergent boundary
the boundary between two tectonic plates that are
moving away from each other
domain
larger, more inclusive taxonomic category than Kingdom
ecology
the study of the relationships between biotic and abiotic
factors in environments
ecosystem
all of the living (biotic) and all of the physical nonliving
factors (abiotic) in an area
electrons
subatomic particles located outside the nucleus, with a
negative charge and little or no mass
element
a pure substance made entirely of one type of atom
ellipse
an object that is egg of oval-shaped
emergency shower
safety equipment used if a toxic or corrosive chemical is
spilled on the skin or clothing
Contaminated clothing should be removed.
empirical evidence
evidence relating to or based on experience or
observation
energy
the ability of a system to do work
Eubacteria
kingdom consisting of unicellular prokaryotic organisms
eukaryote
an organism whose cells contain complex structures
enclosed within membranes
experimental group
the group(s) being tested with the independent variable
Each experimental group has only one factor different
from each other, everything else must remain constant.
experimental investigation
a type of investigation involving a process in which a "fair
test" is designed in which variables are actively
manipulated, controlled, and measured in an effort to
gather evidence to support or refute a causal relationship
eye wash station
safety equipment used if a chemical splashes in
someone's eyes
Eyes should be flushed for 15 minutes and the teacher
should be notified immediately.
family
in classification, a group of closely related genera (plural
for genus)
fire blanket
large non-flammable cloth used to smother fires on
people
fire extinguisher
active fire protection device used to extinguish or control
small fires
force
a push or pull on an object
Fungi
kingdom consisting of heterotrophic, eukaryotic
organisms
Examples include mushroom and yeast.
genus
group of closely related species, the first part of the
scientific name in binomial nomenclature
graduated cylinder
an instrument used to measure the volume of a liquid
graph
a pictorial representation of quantative information
recorded in a data table
gravity
the natural force of attraction between any two bodies
heat
thermal energy that is transferred from matter at a
higher temperature to matter at a lower temperature
heat resistant gloves
protective clothing used to protect hands when handling
hot objects
heterotroph
an organism that contains its food by consuming other
living things
hypothesis
 a proposed explanation, based on observation and
research, for a scientific question
inclined plane
a simple machine that has a flat surface and one raised
end
independent variable
the variable that is changed on purpose for the
experiment
This may refer to several levels or conditions of an
independent variable.
inference
an interpretation of an observation based upon evidence
and prior knowledge
inner core
the solid, dense center of our planet that extends from
the bottom of the outer core to the center of the Earth
insulators
materials, such as wood, that slow down heat transfer
kinetic energy
energy in motion
kingdom
largest and most inclusive group in the Linnaean
classification system
lab apron
protective clothing worn to protect clothing and skin
against chemical spills
Lab aprons are usually made of plastic and do not cover
the arms.
lab coat
protective clothing worn to protect clothing and skin
against chemical spills
Lab coats are usually made of cloth.
latex gloves
protective clothing used to protect hands against
chemicals
law of conservation of energy
law that states that energy cannot be created or
destroyed, only transformed from one form to another
law of universal gravitation
 law developed by Newton that states the force of gravity
depends on the product of the masses of the objects
divided by the square of the distances between them
line graph
a type of graph that shows a continuous relationship
(trend) between two variables
lithosphere
the outermost rigid layer of Earth that consists of the
crust and the rigid upper mantle
luster
the way a substance reflects light
malleability
capable of being shaped or formed, as by hammering or
pressure
mantle
the layer of Earth between the crust and the core
mathematical model
a model made up of a mathematical equations and data
Computer software is often used to create mathematical
models.
matter
anything that has mass and takes up space
melting point
the temperature at which a solid becomes a liquid
meniscus
a concave surface of a liquid resulting from surface
tension
The bottom of the meniscus is used to measure the
volume of a liquid in apparatus such as a graduated
cylinder.
mesosphere
the strong lower part of the mantle between the
asthenosphere and the outer core
metal
an element that is typically hard, shiny, malleable,
ductile, and good conductors of heat and electrical and
electricity
metalloid
an element that has some of the characteristics of metals
and some of the characteristics of nonmetals
meteor
 a meteoroid that enters Earth’s atmosphere and appears
as a streak of light due to friction
meteoroid
a piece of rock or dust in space that comes from comets
or asteroids
meteorite
part of a meteoroid that survives the passage through our
atmosphere and reaches the Earth's surface
metric ruler
the standard instrument for linear measurement in the
scientific laboratory
mixture
a combination of two or more pure substances that are
not chemically combined
molecule
two or more atoms joined together by a chemical bond
motion
a change in an object's position over a given period of
time
multicellular
made up of many cells
net force
the force that results from combining all the forces
exerted on an object
neutrons
subatomic particles located in the nucleus, with no
charge and a mass
nitrile gloves
protective clothing used to protect hands against
chemicals
nonmetal
an element that is typically, soft and dull and not a good
conductors of heat and electrical and electricity
observation
the process of using one or more of the senses to gather
information
orbit
the path (usually an ellipse) that a body takes as it travels
around another body in space
order
in classification, a group of closely related families
ordered pair
two pieces of data that are directly related to each other
organism
a group of organ systems working together that has a
distinct existence as a complex, self-reproducing unit
outer core
the liquid layer of Earth’s core that lies beneath the
mantle
Pangaea
the hypothetical landmass that existed when all
continents were joined, from about 300 to 200 million
years ago
Periodic Table of Contents
a table in which the chemical elements are arranged in
order of increasing atomic number, usually in rows, so
that elements with similar atomic structure (and hence
similar chemical properties) appear in vertical columns
phenomenon
a fact or situation that is observed to exist or happen,
especially one in which the cause is in question
phylum
in classification, a group of closely related classes
physical change
a change in the size, shape, or state that does not change
the chemical makeup of the substance
physical model
a model that you can see and touch that shows how parts
relate to one another
physical property
a characteristic of matter that can be seen through direct
observation
Plantae
kingdom consisting of multicellular, eukaryotic
autotrophs
plate boundary
the space between tectonic plates
population
a group of freely interacting and breeding individuals of
the same species
potential energy
stored energy
products
substances formed as a result of a chemical process;
located on the right side of the arrow
prokaryote
has no nucleus or organelles – bacteria only
Protista
kingdom consisting of eukaryotic organisms such as the
paramecium, amoeba, and euglena.
protons
subatomic particles located in the nucleus, with a positive
charge and a mass
psychrometer
an instrument used to measure relative humidity
pulley
a simple machine made of a wheel and cord that helps
you lift and lower objects
pure substance
a substance that cannot be separated into 2 or more
substances by physical means
qualitative data
data that describes characteristics such as colors, smells,
texture, etc.
quantitative data
numerical data which can be measured such as length,
time, temperature, etc.
radiation
the transfer of heat via electromagnetic waves through
space
rate
a ratio that compares, by division, two quantities having
different attributes
reactants
the starting material in a chemical process; located on the
left side of the arrow
revolution
the motion (often elliptical) of a body as it orbits another
body in space
rotation
the spinning motion of a body on its axis
safety glasses
 protective clothing worn to protect the eyes against flying
objects
Safety glasses do not provide adequate coverage for
chemical spashes.
safety goggles
protective clothing worn to protect eyes against chemical
splashes
satellite
a natural or artificial body that revolves around a planet
scientific explanation
a statement that helps make something comprehensible
(understandable)
semiconductor
a substance that conducts electricity only under some
conditions
scientific model
a representation of an object, system, or event used as a
tool for understanding the natural world
simple machine
device that changes a force’s direction or strength to
make work easier
size dependent property
a physical characteristic of matter that depends on the
size or amount of the substance
size independent property
a physical characteristic of matter that does not depend
on the size or amount of the substance
species
a group of similar organisms that can breed and produce
fertile offspring
speed
measure of the distance an object travels in a given unit
of time
spectroscope
an instrument used to measure properties of light over a
specific portion of the electromagnetic spectrum
spring scale
an instrument used to measure the force of a load
subatomic particles
 parts that make up the atom
Three main subatomic particles are protons, neutrons
and electrons.
taxonomy
the science of classifying living organisms
tectonic plates
pieces of the lithosphere that move around on top of the
asthenosphere
temperature
the average amount of energy of motion of each particle
of a substance
theory
a scientific conclusion that is used to explain many
different hypotheses about the same phenomenon or a
closely related class of phenomena
theory of continental drift
the theory that continents can drift apart and have done
so in the past
theory of plate tectonics
the theory that Earth's lithosphere is divided into tectonic
plates that move around on top of the asthenosphere
thermal energy
the total energy of motion in the particles of a substance
thermometer
an instrument used to measure temperature
transform boundary
the boundary between two tectonic plates that are sliding
past each other horizontally
trend
a general direction or pattern in which data changes
triple beam balance
an instrument used to measure mass
unbalanced force
a nonzero net force that changes an object's motion
unicellular
made up of one cell
velocity
measure of speed in a given direction
work
the transfer of energy