Vocabulary Words

1. Vocabulary Words 1.) Science: Ways to gather and organize information about the natural world. 2.) Quantitative Data: Numerical recorded data. 3.) Qualitative Data: Data collected by using your senses. 4.) Independent Variable: Variable that you control during the experiment. 5.) Dependent Variable: The measurement or data you take while doing the experiment.

2. Vocabulary Words 1.) Estimate: Make a guess on a measurement. 2.) Infer: When you try to explain something that you observe. 3.) Prediction: What you believe will happen. 4.) Hypothesis: Statement that is an educated guess that tries to explain what will happen and why. 5.) Scientific Method: Set of problem solving steps used by scientist to find out about the natural world around us.

3. Vocabulary Words 1.) Control Group: Group in a controlled experiment in which all factors stay the same. 2.) Experimental Group: Group in a controlled experiment in which all factors stay the same except for one, which is called the independent variable. 3.) Fact: Agreement made between scientists. 4.) Theory: Statement that explains why and how something happens. 5.) Law: When a theory has passed many tests.

4. Vocabulary Words 1.) Density: How much matter is in a given space (mass per unit of volume). 2.) Scientific Notation: Used by scientist to save time when writing very small or very large numbers. 3.) Chemistry: Study of matter and it’s changes. 4.) Physics: Study of energy and how it effects matter. 5.) Technology: The application of science to solve practical problems.

5. Vocabulary Words 1.) Temperature: Measures average motion of the molecules. 2.) Heat: Form of energy that speeds up the motion of the molecules. 3.) Cold: Absence of heat. 4.) Significant Figures: Digits that carry meaning contributing to its precision. 5.) Graphs: Pictures of recorded data.

6. Vocabulary Words 1.) Habitat: A place where an organism lives and that provides the things the organism needs. 2.) Biotic Factors: The living parts of an ecosystem. 3.) Abiotic Factors: The nonliving parts of an ecosystem. 4.) Species: Group of organisms that are physically similar and can reproduce with each other to produce fertile offspring. 5.) Population: All the members of one species in a particular area.

7. Vocabulary Words 1.) Community: When different populations live together in an area. 2.) Ecology: the study of how living things interact with each other and with their environment. 3.) Estimate: Approximation of a number based on reasonable assumptions. 4.) Immigration: Moving into a population. 5.) Emigration: Leaving a population.

8. Vocabulary Words 1.) Limiting Factors: Environment conditions that prevent a population from increasing. 2.) Carrying Capacity: Largest population that an environment can support. 3.) Adaptations: Process that results in behaviors and physical characteristics of species that allow them to live successfully in their environment. 4.) Niche: An organism’s particular role, how it makes its living, obtains food, what eats it, how it reproduces and physical conditions it needs. 5.) Competition: Struggle between organisms to survive in a habitat with limited resources.

9. Vocabulary Words 1.) Predation: Interaction in which one organism kills and eats another. 2.) Symbiosis: Close relationship between two species that benefits at least one species. 3.) Mutualism: Relationship in which both species benefit. 4.) Commensalism: One species benefits and the other is neither helped or harmed. 5.) Parasitism: One organism lives on or inside another, harming it.

10. Vocabulary Words 1.) Tropism: Plant’s growth response towards or away from stimulus. 2.) Producer: Organisms that can make it’s own food, the source of all the food in an ecosystem. 3.) Consumer: Organisms that can not make their own food, obtains energy by feeding on other organisms. 4.) Food Chain: Series of events in which one organism eats another and obtains energy. 5.) Food Web: Consists of many overlapping food chains in an ecosystem.

11. Vocabulary Words 1.) Motion: Occurs when an object changes it’s position when compared to a reference point. 2.) Reference Point: Fixed object that the motion is compared to. 3.) Speed: Distance an object travels per unit of time. 4.) Velocity: Speed and direction of a moving object. 5.) Acceleration: Change in the speed or direction of a moving object.

12. Vocabulary Words 1.) Force: Push or pull that causes an object to move. 2.) Net Force: Overall force acting on an object (all forces added together). 3.) Unbalanced Forces: Forces that change an object’s motion. 4.) Balanced Forces: Forces that do not change an object’s motion. 5.) Inertia: An objects resistance to a change in motion.

13. Vocabulary Words 1.) Momentum: Product of an object’s mass and velocity (mom. = m x v). 2.) Newton: Unit used to measure force (one N is equal to the force needed to accelerate 1 Kg of mass 1 m / sec.). 3.) Friction: Force that one surface exerts on another when two objects rub against each other. 4.) Projectile Motion: Path of an object that is thrown. 5.) Terminal Velocity: Greatest speed reached by a falling object (air resistance = gravity’s pull).

14. Vocabulary Words 1.) Density: Mass per unit of volume (determines if an object will sink or float). 2.) Buoyant Force: The force that works in an upward direction to oppose gravity. 3.) Energy: The ability to do work or cause a change. 4.) Kinetic Energy: Energy an object has because of motion. 5.) Potential Energy: Energy an object stores and hold in readiness.

15. Vocabulary Words 1.) Atom: Basic building block of all matter (building block of the universe). 2.) Nucleus: Positive charged center core of the atom. 3.) Protons: Positive charged subatomic particle found inside the nucleus. 4.) Neutron: Neutral subatomic particle that found inside the nucleus. 5.) Electron: Negative charged subatomic particle outside the nucleus in energy levels

16. Vocabulary Words 1.) Atomic Mass: Average mass of an atom (also shows the number of protons and neutrons in the nucleus). 2.) Periodic Table: Shows regular and repeating patterns of elements. 3.) Atomic Number: Shows the number of protons in the nucleus. 4.) Period: Horizontal rows on the periodic chart that shows the number of energy levels around the nucleus. 5.) Group: Vertical columns on the periodic chart made up of elements with similar properties (also known as chemical families).

17. Vocabulary Words 1.) Valence Electrons: Found in the outermost energy level. (2-8-8-*8*). 2.) Metals: Found left of the zigzag line on the chart. Have luster, malleability, ductility and good conductors. 3.) Reactivity: The ease and speed elements react to form compounds. 4.) Alloy: Mixture of metals. 5.) Alkali Metals: Group that has one electron over the stable number.

18. Vocabulary Words 1.) Alkaline Earth Metals: Group of elements that have two electrons over the stable number. 2.) Nonmetals: Found right of the zigzag line and lack properties of metals. 3.) Diatomic Molecule: When two identical atoms (nonmetals) form a chemical bond. 4.) Halogens: Group of elements that have one electron below the stable number. 5.) Metalloids: Elements found touching the zigzag line that have properties of both metal and nonmetals.

19. Vocabulary Words Matter: Anything that has mass and takes up space. Chemistry: The study of matter and how matter changes. Element: Substance that cannot be broken down into any other substances by chemical or physical changes. Compounds: Substance that is made up of two or more substances that chemically combine. Mixture: Two or more substances that are in the same place but do not chemically combine.

20. Vocabulary Words Ionic Bond: Forms because of an attraction between oppositely charged particles (forms between metals and nonmetals). Polyatomic Ions: When atoms form a compound and then become ions. Covalent Bond: Forms when both atoms attract the two shared electrons at the same time (forms between nonmetals). Negative Ion: Occurs when an atom gains an electron. Positive Ion: Occurs when an atoms losses an electron.

21. Vocabulary Words Electron Dot Diagram: Shows how valance electrons are shared in covalant bonds. Polar Molecule: When certain ends of the molecule become positive and negatively charged. Non-polar Molecule: When valance electrons are shared equally in the molecule. Physical Change: Occurs when a change in size, shape or phase takes place but no new substance forms. Chemical Change: occurs when a change in matter takes place when one or more new substance forms.

22. Vocabulary Words Chemical formulas: Combination of symbols and subscripts used to represent a compound. Subscripts: Number found behind and below a chemical symbol that shows the number of atoms in a molecule or compound (H2O). Coefficient: Number found in front of a chemical symbol that shows the number of molecules or compounds in a reaction (2H2O). Synthesis: Chemical reaction when two or more substances combine to make a more complex substance. Example: 2H2 + O2  2H2O Decomposition: Chemical reaction that breaks down compounds into simpler products. Example: 2H2O2  2H2O + O2

23. Vocabulary Words Single Replacement: Chemical reaction when one element replaces another in a compound. Example: 2CuO + C  2 Cu + CO2 Exothermic Reaction: Chemical reaction that releases energy in the form of heat or light. Endothermic Reaction: Chemical reaction that absorbs energy in the form of heat or light. Catalyst: Material that increases the reaction rate by lowering the amount of activation energy that is needed. Inhibitor: Used to decrease the rate of a chemical reaction.

24. Vocabulary Words 1.) Solution: A well mixed mixture whose particles are to small to see and can not be separated by filtering. 2.) Solvent: Part of a solution that does the dissolving, or is the part that has the largest amount. 3.) Solute: Part of a solution that is dissolved, or the part that has the smaller amount. 4.) Dilute: A solution that contains very little solute in the solvent. 5.) Concentrated: A solution that contains a large amount of solute in the solvent.

25. Vocabulary Words 1.) Solubility: Measure of how well a solute can dissolve in a solvent at a certain temperature. 2.) Saturated: A solution that contains all the solute the solvent can hold. 3.) Unsaturated: A solution that can continue to dissolve more solute. 4.) Acid: Compound that produces hydrogen (H+) in water, have a pH below 7. 5.) Base: Compound that produces hydroxide ions (OH-) in water, have a pH above 7.

26. Vocabulary Words 1.) Indicator: Compound that changes color when it comes in contact with an acid or a base. 2.) Hydrogen Ion: Ion that is found in acids, created when an atom loses an electron and becomes a positive charged ion. 3.) Hydroxide Ion: Ion that is found in bases, created when atoms form a compound and then become a negative charged ion. 4.) pH Scale: A range of numbers used to express is a substance is an acid, base or neutral solution. 5.) Neutralization: The reaction between an acid and a base.

27. Vocabulary Words 1.) Genes: Factors that control traits. 2.) Alleles: Different forms of a gene. 3.) Dominant Allele: Trait that always shows up in an organism when present. 4.) Recessive Allele: Trait that is masked or covered up when a dominant allele is present. 5.) Hybrids: An organism that has two different alleles for a trait.

28. Vocabulary Words 1.) Organism: Any living thing (plant or animal). 2.) Genetics: The science of heredity. 3.) Traits: Physical characteristics that an organism can pass on to its offspring through genes. 4.) Heredity: The passing of traits from parents to offspring. 5.) Purebred: Organism that always produces offspring with the same form of a trait as the parent.

29. Vocabulary Words 1.) Punnett Square: Chart that shows all the possible combinations of alleles that can result from a genetic cross. 2.) Phenotype: An organism’s physical appearance. 3.) Genotype: An organism’s genetic makeup. 4.) Homozygous: Organism that has two identical alleles for a trait. 5.) Heterozygous: Organism that has two different alleles for a trait.

30. Vocabulary Words 1.) Meiosis: Occurs in sex cells and is the process in which the number of chromosomes is reduced by half to form four new cells. 2.) Mitosis: Occurs in body cells and is the process in which the cell’s nucleus divides into two new nuclei. 3.) Chromosome: Part of the cell found in the nucleus that carries genetic information. 4.) DNA: Genetic material that carries information about the organism. 5.) RNA: Messenger that carries the genetic code from the DNA inside the nucleus into the cytoplasm outside the nucleus.

31. Vocabulary Words 1.) Mutations: Change in a gene or chromosome. 2.) Carrier: Person who does not have the trait but can pass the trait on to offspring. 3.) Pedigree: Used by geneticists to trace the inheritance of traits in humans. 4.) Amniocentesis: Used by doctors to look for genetic disorders by studying the fluid surrounding a developing baby. 5.) Karyotype: Picture of all the chromosomes in a cell.

32. Vocabulary Words • Nuclear Fusion- Hydrogen molecule join together to form Helium. Only occurs under extreme heat and pressure. • Radiation Zone- Region of sun where tightly packed gas is transferred as electromagnetic radiation. • Convection Zone- Outer layer of sun’s interior. Hot gas rises from bottom and cools as it get to the top. • Photosphere- Inner layer of sun’s atmosphere. It gives off the visible light. • Chromosphere- Middle layer of sun’s atmosphere. Can only be seen when there is an eclipse. Reddish glow.

33. Vocabulary Words • Gas Giant- Name often given to the outer planets. • Kuiper Belt- A doughnut shaped region that stretches from around Pluto to about 100 times earth’s distance from the sun. • Oort Cloud- A spherical of comets that surrounds the solar system. • Asteroid- Rocky objects revolving around the sun that are too small and numerous to be considered planets. • Meteoroid- A chunk of rock or dust in space.

34. Vocabulary Words • Spectrograph- An instrument that separates light into colors and make an image of the spectrum. • Apparent Brightness- The brightness of a star as seen from earth. • Absolute Brightness- The brightness a star would have if it were a standard distance from earth. • Parallax-The apparent change in position of an object when seen from different places. • Nebula-A large cloud of gas and dust in space spread out an immense volume.

35. Vocabulary Words • Protostar- A contracting cloud of gas and dust with enough mass to form a star. • Super Nova- The brilliant explosion of a dying supergiant star. • Neutron Star- The small dense remains of a high mass star after a supernova. • Main Sequence- Diagonal area on the H-R diagram that contains more than 90% of all stars. • Black Hole- An object whose gravity is so strong that nothing can escape.

36. Vocabulary Words • Galaxy- A large group of stars, star clusters, dust and gas held together by gravity • Spiral Galaxy- A galaxy with a bulge in the middle and arms that spiral outward in a pinwheel pattern. • Elliptical Galaxy- A galaxy shaped like a round or flat ball, generally only containing older stars. • Irregular Galaxy- A galaxy that does not have a regular shape. • Quasar- An enormously bright distant galaxy with a giant black hole at the center.

37. Vocabulary Words • Cosmic Background Radiation- Electromagnetic radiation leftover by the big bang. • Solar Nebula- A large cloud of gas and dust, such as the one that formed our solar system. • Planetesimals- One of the small asteroid-like bodies that formed the building blocks of the planets. • Dark Matter- Matter that does NOT give off electromagnetic radiation, but is quite abundant in the universe. • Dark Energy- A mysterious force that appears to be causing the expansion of the universe to accelerate.

38. Vocabulary Words 1.) Pathogens: Organisms that cause disease. 2.) Infectious Disease: A disease that can pass from one organism to another. 3.) Toxin: Bacterial pathogen that does not enter cells, but instead will produce a poison that damages the cell. 4.) Inflammatory Response: When fluid and certain types of white blood cells leak from blood vessels into nearby tissue. (cells will then fight the pathogen). 5.) Phagocyte: White blood cell that engulfs pathogen and destroys them by breaking them down.

39. Vocabulary Words 1.) Bacteria: One-celled microorganism that cause a wide variety of diseases (ear infection, food poisoning, strep throat). 2.) Viruses: Tiny particles much smaller than bacteria that cannot reproduce unless inside living cells (colds, flu, chicken pox, aids). 3.) T Cells: Identify pathogens and distinguish one kind of pathogen from another. 4.) Antigens: Molecules on cells that the immune system recognizes as part of your body or as something coming from outside your body. 5.) B Cells: Lymphocytes that produce chemicals that help destroy each kind of pathogen.

40. Vocabulary Words 1.) Antibodies: Lock onto pathogens and help destroy each kind of disease (each antibody has a different structure so it can bind with different antigens). 2.) Aids: Disease caused by a virus that attacks the immune system. 3.) Immunity: the body’s ability to destroy pathogens before they can cause disease. 4.) Vaccination: Process by which harmless antigens are introduced into a person’s body to produce active immunity. 5.) Vaccine: Substance that consists of pathogens that have been weakened or killed but can still trigger the immune system.

41. Vocabulary Words 1.) Active Immunity: When the immune system produces antibodies in response to the presence of a pathogen (can last for many years). 2.) Passive Immunity: When needed antibodies must come from a source outside the body (last for a few months). 3.) Noninfectious disease: Disease that cannot spread from person to person. 4.) Allergies: Occur when a persons immune system is overly sensitive to an allergen (pollen, molds, foods, medicines, pets, poison ivy). 5.) Histamine: Chemical responsible for symptoms of an allergy.

42. Vocabulary Words 1.) Antibiotics: Chemicals that kill bacteria or slows their growth. 2.) Tumor: Abnormal tissue masses that invade and destroy healthy tissue. 3.) Carcinogen: Substances or factors that can determine if cells become cancerous. 4.) Aging: Physical changes that occur throughout life. 5.) Death: The end of all vital functions.