The study of energy and forces of matter
Physics
The study of the properties of matter and how matter changes; atoms, molecules and their
... [Show More] interactions to form substances
Chemistry
the study of the moon, stars, and other objects in space
astronomy
The scientific study of earth and the universe around it including structure, materials and processes
Earth Science
The experimental factor that is manipulated; the variable whose effect is being studied.
independent variable
The measurable effect, outcome, or response in which the research is interested.
dependent variable
Structures that scientists build to represent something else.
Physical Model
a verbal or graphical explanation for how a system works or is organized
conceptual model
A description of a system using mathematical concepts and language like an equation.
mathematical model
a computer program that models an event or object
computer model
Only falsifiable statements can be subject to scientific inquiry
principle of falsification
a statement that is worded so that it is falsifiable, or disprovable, by experimental results
falsifiable statement
Concise statement that summarizes the results of many observations and experiments
Law
A well-tested explanation for a wide range of observations or experimental results.
scientific theory
The theory that the universe originated in a huge explosion that released all matter and energy.
Big Bang Theory
Sections of the Earth's crust that move due to convection currents.
tectonic plates
The hypothesis that the continents slowly move across Earth's surface.
continental drift
International System of units based on the metric system and units derived from the metric system
SI system
kilogram (kg)
SI unit for mass
meter (m)
SI unit for length
seconds (s)
SI unit for time
Kelvin (K)
SI unit for temperature
prefix used in the International System to indicate a power of 10
SI prefix
centi (c)
SI prefix meaning 0.01
milli (m)
SI prefix meaning 0.001
kilo (k)
SI prefix meaning 1,000
Micro
SI prefix meaning .000001
Nano (n)
SI prefix meaning .000000001
Mega (M)
SI prefix meaning 1,000,000
The distance an object travels per unit of time
Speed
Amount of space occupied by an object
Volume
Mass per unit volume
Density
Mass divided by volume D=m/v
Density formula
a relationship in which one variable increases with an increase in another variable or vice versa
direct relationship
a relationship in which one variable decreases when another variable increases and vice versa
inverse relationship
defined in terms of standards
base quantity
a physical aspect described by a combination of base quantities
derived quantity
The speed of an object in a particular direction
Velocity
Change in velocity divided by the time it takes for the change to occur
Acceleration
Speeds up
Slows down
And/or
Changes direction
Acceleration occurs when an object
A push or pull exerted on an object
Force
Newton (N)
SI unit for force
The combination of all forces acting on an object
net force
forces acting on an object that combine and form a net force of zero
balanced forces
Forces that produce a nonzero net force, which changes an object's motion
unbalanced forces
(An object continues in uniform motion in a straight line/ at rest unless a resultant force acts.)
The net force on an object is the cause of its acceleration
Newton's First Law
The tendency to keep the same motion- remaining at rest or maintaining the same velocity
Inertia
The acceleration of an object depends on the mass of the object and the amount of force applied.
F=ma
Newton's Second Law
For every action there is an equal and opposite reaction
Newton's Third Law
The force that two surfaces exert on each other when they rub against each other
Friction
The force of friction between two objects that are moving against each other
kinetic friction
frictional force that prevents two surfaces from sliding past each other
static friction
A force of attraction between objects that is due to their masses.
Gravity
mass times velocity
linear momentum
Momentum is conserved when two or more objects collide. Momentum may transfer but total momentum within the group stays the same
Law of conservation of momentum
The ability of a material to bounce back after being disturbed
Elasticity
Force exerted on an object that causes it to move
Work
The ability to do work or cause change
Energy
energy of motion
kinetic energy
Energy that is stored and held in readiness
potential energy
Force x distance
Work formula
Joule (J)
SI unit for work and energy
Energy stored by objects due to their position above Earth's surface. Increases with mass.
gravitational potential energy
the energy stored in the chemical bonds of a substance
chemical potential energy
Energy stored by something that can stretch or compress
elastic potential energy
Energy carried by electromagnetic waves
Electromagnetic energy (light energy)
The total energy of motion in the particles of a substance
thermal energy
The rule that energy cannot be created or destroyed only transferred or converted
Law of Conservation of Energy
the act or state of swinging back and forth with a steady, uninterrupted rhythm
Oscillation
A state of balance to which an oscillating object eventually returns to after a disturbances is gone
Equilibrium
waves that require a medium through which to travel
mechanical waves
A wave that can transfer electric and magnetic energy through the vacuum of space
Electromagnetic waves
A space where no particles of matter exist
Vacuum
the oscillation is parallel to the direction the wave is traveling.
longitudinal wave
Highest point of a wave
Crest
Lowest point of a wave
Trough
the maximum extent of a vibration or oscillation, measured from the position of equilibrium. The height of the wave.
Amplitude
Horizontal distance between the crests or between the troughs of two adjacent waves
Wavelength
The amount of time it takes one wavelength to pass a point
Period
the number of complete wavelengths that pass a point in a given time
Frequency
Hertz (Hz)
SI unit for frequency
electromagnetic waves that are visible to the human eye
visible light
Red
Color with longest wavelength and lowest energy
Violet
Color with shortest wavelength and highest energy
Electromagnetic waves with the longest wavelengths and lowest frequencies and energy
radio waves
Electromagnetic waves that have shorter wavelengths and higher frequencies and energy than radio waves.
Microwaves
Third on the electromagnetic spectrum going from lowest to highest frequency. can be felt as heat
infrared waves
Just shorter than visible violet light but longer than X-rays. Size of molecules
ultraviolet
Wavelengths shorter than UV but longer than gamma
X-ray
Electromagnetic waves with the shortest wavelengths and highest frequencies and energy
gamma rays
The part of a longitudinal wave where the particles of the medium are close together.
Compression
Particles pulled apart from each other
expansion
How high or low a sound is
Pitch
The greater the every of a wave the louder the sound
Loudness
Longitudinal
Type of wave sound is
Transverse
Type of wave electromagnetic is
the oscillation is perpendicular to the direction the wave is traveling
transverse wave
Anything that has mass and takes up space
Matter
Positive, nucleus
Proton charge and location
neutral and nucleus
neutron charge and location
Negative and outside nucleous
Electron charge and location
electrons in the outermost energy level
valence electrons
A pure substance made of only one kind of atom
Element
the number of protons in the nucleus of an atom
atomic number
A substance made up of atoms of two or more different elements joined by chemical bonds
Compound
the attractive forces that hold atoms together
chemical bonds
Compounds that contain carbon and hydrogen
organic compound
A material that is composed of only one type of element or compound
pure substance
Combination of two or more pure substances
Mixture
Any substance that has a definite composition
Chemical
visible to the naked eye
macroscopic
A group of atoms bonded together
Molecule
a change of matter from one form to another without a change in chemical properties
physical change
A change in the chemical composition that produces one or more new substances
chemical change
When a chemical change occurs, atoms are rearranged and chemical bonds are broken or formed.
chemical reaction
a substance that takes part in and undergoes change during a reaction.
Reactants
produced by an excess or shortage of electrons
net electric charge
An atom or group of atoms that has a positive or negative charge.
Ion
Formed when one or more electrons are transferred from one atom to another
ionic bond
oppositely charged ions, usually a metal and a nonmetal
An ionic bond is the attraction between
A chemical bond that involves sharing a pair of electrons between atoms in a molecule
covalent bond
a bond formed by the attraction between positively charged metal ions and the electrons around them
metallic bond
A horizontal row of elements in the periodic table
Period
Vertical column in the periodic table
Group
Elements in the same vertical column of the periodic table; also called a group. They react in a similar way.
Family
Metals, nonmetals and metalloids
Categories of Elements
Elements that are good conductors of electric current and heat. Tend to lose electrons.
Metals
Elements that are poor conductors of heat and electric current. Have electrons that are very tightly associated with the nucleus.
Nonmetals
Elements that have properties of both metals and nonmetals. Semiconductors.
Metalloids
Measure of kinetic energy in an object.
Tempature
The total energy of motion in the particles of a substance
thermal energy
The change of a substance from a liquid to a gas
Evaporation
How spread out the water is
The rate of evaporation depends partly on ___
The change of state from a gas to a liquid
Condensation
The change in state from a solid to a liquid
Melting
The change of state from a liquid to a solid
Freezing
The temperature at which a solid becomes a liquid
melting point
Absorbed
Thermal energy is _____ to change to a solid to a liquid to a gas
Released
Thermal energy is ______ when changing from a gas to a liquid to a solid
Igneous, sedimentary, metamorphic
Three types of rocks
Troposphere, stratosphere, mesosphere, thermosphere, exosphere
Five layers of the atmosphere
The process by which two or more small nuclei fuse to make a bigger nucleus
nuclear fusion
A ball of hot gas, primarily hydrogen and helium, that undergoes nuclear fusion. It's held together by its own gravity.
Star
A huge group of single stars, star systems, star clusters, dust, and gas bound together by gravity
galaxy
The path of an object as it revolves around another object in space
Orbit
sun, planets, and all the other objects that revolve around a star (the sun)
solar system
A large body in space that orbits a star and does not produce light of its own
Planet
a small rocky body orbiting the sun
Asteroids
the planets closest to the Sun: Mercury, Venus, Earth, and Mars.
Dense and rocky
inner planets
The planets farthest from the sun; Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune.
Made primarily of gases. Much larger but less dense.
outer planets [Show Less]