Final Exam Flashcards
(194 cards)
1
Q
inferring
A
The process of making an inference, an interpretation based on observations and prior knowledge
2
Q
observing
A
The process of using one or more of your senses to gather information
3
Q
qualitative observation
A
An observation that deals with characteristics that are not expressed in numbers
4
Q
quantitative observation
A
An observation that deals with a number or amount
5
Q
science
A
A way of learning about the natural world through observations and logical reasoning; leads to a body of knowledge
6
Q
chemistry
A
The study of the properties of matter and how matter changes
7
Q
physics
A
The study of matter and energy and how they interact
8
Q
predicting
A
The process of forecasting what will happen in the future based on past experience or evidence
9
Q
scientific inquiry
A
The ongoing process of discovery in science
10
Q
hypothesis
A
A possible explanation for a set of observations or answer to a scientific question
11
Q
controlled experiment
A
An experiment in which only one variable is manipulated at a time
12
Q
manipulated variable
A
The one factor that a scientist changes during an experiment
13
Q
responding variable
A
The factor that changes as a result of changes to the manipulated or independent variable in an experiment
14
Q
variable
A
A factor that can change in an experiment
15
Q
data
A
Facts, figures, and other evidence gathered through observations
16
Q
communicating
A
The process of sharing ideas with others through writing and speaking
17
Q
scientific law
A
A statement that describes what scientists expect to happen every time under a particular set of conditions
18
Q
scientific theory
A
A well-tested explanation for a wide range of observations or experimental results
19
Q
engineer
A
A person who is trained to use both technological and scientific knowledge to solve practical problems
20
Q
brainstorming
A
A process in which group members freely suggest any creative solutions that come to mind
21
Q
constraint
A
Any factor that limits or restricts a design
22
Q
Trade-off
A
An exchange in which one benefit is given up in order to obtain another
23
Q
prototype
A
A working model used to test a design
24
Q
troubleshooting
A
The process of analyzing a design problem and finding a way to fix it
25
system
A group of related parts that work together
26
matter
Anything that has mass and occupies space
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substance
A single kind of matter that is pure and has a specific set of properties
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physical property
A characteristic of a pure substance that can be observed without changing it into another substance
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chemical property
A characteristic of a pure substance that describes its ability to change into a different substance
30
element
A pure substance that cannot be broken down into other substances by chemical or physical means
31
atom
The basic particle from which all elements are made
32
chemical bond
The force that holds atoms together
33
molecule
A neutral particle made of two or more atoms joined by covalent bonds
34
chemical formula
A combination of symbols that represents the elements in a compound and their proportions
35
compound
A pure substance made of two or more elements chemically combined
36
heterogeneous mixture
A mixture in which pure substances are unevenly distributed throughout the mixture
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homogeneous mixture
A mixture in which substance are evenly distributed throughout the mixture
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mixture
Two or more substances that are mixed together but not chemically combined
39
solution
A well-mixed mixture containing a solvent and at least one solute that has the same properties throughout
40
International System of Units (SI)
The system of units (SI) used by scientists to measure the properties of matter
41
mass
A measure of how much matter is in an object
42
density
The ratio of the mass of a substance to its volume
43
physical change
A change in a substance that does not change its identity
44
Chemical change
A change in which one or more substances combine or break apart to form new substances
45
law of conservation of mass
The principle that the total amount of matter is neither created nor destroyed during any chemical or physical change
46
endothermic change
A change in which energy is taken in
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energy
The ability to do work or cause change
48
exothermic change
A change in which energy is given off
49
kinetic energy
Energy that an object has due to its motion
50
potential energy
Stored energy that results from the position or shape of an object
51
chemical energy
A form of potential energy that is stored in chemical bonds between atoms
52
electrical energy
The energy of moving electrical charges
53
electrode
A metal strip that conducts electricity.
54
electromagnetic energy
A form of energy that travels through space as waves
55
amorphous solid
A solid made up of particles that are not arranged in a regular pattern
56
crystalline solid
A solid that is made up of crystals in which particles are arranged in a regular repeating patter
57
fluid
A substance that can easily flow
58
liquid
A state of matter that has no definie shape but has a definite volume
59
gas
A state of matter with no definite shape or volume
60
melting
The change from the solid to the liquid state of matter
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melting point
The temperature at which a substance changes from a solid to a liquid
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evaporation
The process that occurs when vaporization takes place only on the surface of a liquid
63
freezing
The change from the liquid to the solid state of matter
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boiling
The process that occurs when vaporization takes place inside a liquid as well as on the surface.
65
boiling point
The temperature at which a substance changes from a liquid to a gas
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condensation
The change from the gaseous to the liquid state of matter
67
Boyle's law
A principle that describes the relationship between the pressure and volume of a gas at constant temperature
q
68
Charles's law
A principle that describes the relationship between the temperature and volume of a gas at constant pressure
69
graph
A diagram that shows how two variables are related
70
directly proportional
A term used to describe the relationship between two variables whose graph is a straight line passing throug the point (0, 0)
71
origin
The (0, 0) point on a line graph
72
electron
A negatively charged particle that is found outside the nucleus of an atom
73
energy level
The specific amount of energy an electron has
74
nucleus
The central core of the atom
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neutron
A small particle in the nucleus of the atom, with no electrical charge.
76
atomic number
The number of protons in the nucleus of an atom
77
isotope
An atom with the same numbers of protons and a different number of neutrons from other atoms of the same element
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mass number
The sum of protons and neutrons in the nucleus of an atom
79
atomic mass
The average mass of all the isotopes of an element
80
periodic table
A chart of the elements showing the repeating pattern of their properties
81
group
Elements in the same vertical column of the periodic table; also called a family
82
period
A horizontal row of elements in the periodic table
83
chemical symbol
A one or two-letter representation of an element
84
nuclear fusion
The process in which two atomic nuclei combine to form a larger nucleus, forming a heavier element and releasing huge amounts of energy
85
plasma
A gas-like state of matter consisting of a mixture of free electrons and atoms that are stripped of their electrons
86
ductile
A term used to describe a material that can be pulled out into a long wire
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malleable
A term used to describe material that can be pounded into shapes
88
metal
A class of elements characterized by physical properties that include shininess, malleability, ductility, and conductivity.
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conductivity
The ability of an object to transfer heat or electricity to another object
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corrosion
The gradual wearing away of a metal element due to a chemical reaction
91
alkali metal
An element in Group 1 of the periodic table
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alkaline earth metal
An element in Group 2 of the periodic table
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alloy
A mixture of two or more elements, one of which is a metal
94
particle accelerator
A machine that moves atomic nuclei at higher and higher speeds until they crash into on another, sometimes forming heavier elements
95
nonmetal
An element that lacks most of the properties of a metal
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diatomic molecule
A molecule consisting of two atoms
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halogen
An element found in Group 17 of the periodic table
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noble gas
An element in Group 18 of the periodic table
99
metalloid
An element that has some characteristics of both metals and nonmetals
100
electron dot diagram
A representation of the valence electrons in an atom, using dots
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ion
An atom or group of atoms that has become electrically charged
102
polyatomic ion
An ion that is made of more than one atom
103
ionic bond
The attraction between oppositely charged ions
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ionic compound
A compound that consists of positive and negative ions
105
crystal
An orderly, three-dimensional patter of ions or atoms in a solid
106
covalent bond
A chemical bond formed when two atoms share electrons
107
double bond
A chemical bond formed when atoms share two pairs of electrons
108
molecular compound
A compound that is composed of molecules
109
nonpolar bond
A covalent bond in which electrons are shared equally
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polar bond
A covalent bond in which electrons are shared unequally
111
metallic bond
An attraction between a positive metal ion and the electrons surrounding it
112
chemical reaction
The process in which substances undergo chemical changes that result in the formation of new substances
113
endothermic reaction
A reaction that absorbs energy in the form of heat
114
exothermic reaction
A reaction that releases energy in the form of heat
115
chemical equation
A short, easy way to show a chemical reaction, using symbols
116
conservation of mass
The principle stating that matter is not created or destroyed during a chemical reaction
117
closed system
A system in which no matter is allowed to enter or leave
118
open system
A system in which matter can enter from or escape to the surroundings
119
coefficient
A number in front of a chemical formula in an equation that indicates how many molecules or atoms of each reactant and product are involved in a reaction
120
decomposition
A chemical reaction that breaks down compounds into simpler products
121
activation energy
The minimum amount of energy needed to get a chemical reaction started
122
concentration
The amount of one material in a certain volume of another material
123
catalyst
A material that increases the rate of a reaction by lowering the activation energy
124
enzyme
A biological catalyst that lowers the activation energy of reactions in cells
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inhibitor
A material that decreases the rate of a reaction
126
combustion
A rapid reaction between oxygen and fuel that results in fire
127
fuel
A material that releases energy when it burns
128
motion
The state in which one object's distance from another is changing
129
meter
The basic SI unit of length
130
average speed
The overall rate of speed at which an object moves; calculated by dividing the total distance an object travels by the total time.
131
instantaneous speed
The speed of an object at one instant of time
132
acceleration
The rate at which velocity changes
133
force
A push or pull exerted on an object
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net force
The overall force on an object when all the individual forces acting on it are added together.
135
newton
A unit of measure that equals the force required to accelerate 1 kilogram of mass at 1 meter per second per second
136
balanced forces
equal forces acting on an object in opposite directions
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friction
The force that one surface exerts on another when the two surfaces rub against each other
138
fluid friction
Friction that occurs as an object moves through a fluid
139
gravity
The force that pulls objects toward each other
140
free fall
The motion of a falling object when the only force acting on it is gravity
141
air resistance
The fluid friction experienced by objects falling through the air
142
inertia
The tendency of an object to resist any change in its motion
143
momentum
The product of an object's mass and velocity
144
law of conservation of momentum
The rule that in the absence of outside forces the total momentum of objects that interact does not change
145
centripetal force
A force that causes an object to move in a circle
146
joule
A unit of work equal to one newton-meter
147
input force
The force exerted on a machine
148
input work
The work done on a machine as the input force acts through the input distance
149
machine
A device that changes the amount of force exerted, the distance over which a force is exerted, or the direction in which force is exerted
150
output force
The force exterted on an object by a machine
151
output work
The work done by a machine as the output force acts through the output distance
152
mechanical advantage
The number of times a machine increases a force exerted on it
153
efficiency
The percentage of the input work that is converted to output work
154
inclined place
A simple machine that is a flat, sloped surface
155
fulcrum
The fixed point around which a lever pivots
156
lever
A simple machine that consists of a rigid bar that pivots about a fixed point
157
compound machine
A device that combines two or more simple machines
158
gravitational potential energy
Potential energy that depends on the height of an object
159
elastic potential energy
The energy of stretched or compressed objects
160
mechanical energy
Kinetic or potential energy associated with the motion or position of an object
161
nuclear energy
The potential energy stored in the nucleus of an atom
162
energy transformation
The process of changing one form of energy to another
163
law of conservation of energy
The rule that energy cannot be created or destroyed
164
fossil fuel
A material such as coal that forms over millions of years from the remains of ancient plants and animals
165
absolute zero
the temperature at which no more energy can be removed from matter
166
Celsius scale
The temperature scale on which water freezes at 0 degrees and boils at 100 degrees
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Fahrenheit scale
The temperature scale on which water freezes at 32 degrees and boils at 212 degrees.
168
Kelvin scale
The temperature scale on which zero is the temperature at which no more energy can be removed from matter
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heat
Thermal energy that is transferred from matter at a higher temperature to matter at a lower temperature
170
conduction
The transfer of heat from one particle of matter to another
171
convection
The transfer of heat by the movement of currents within a fluid
172
convection current
A current caused by the rising of heated fluid and sinking of cooled fluid
173
conductor
A material that conducts heat well
174
insulator
A material that does not conduct heat well
175
change of state
The physical change of matter from one state to another
176
heat engine
A device that converts thermal energy into mechanical energy
177
external combustion engine
An engine powered by fuel burned outside the engine
178
internal combustion engine
An engine that burns fuel inside cylinders within the engine
179
mechanical wave
A wave that requires a medium through which to travel
180
medium
The material through which a wave travels
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crest
The highest part of a transverse wave
182
compression
The part of a longitudinal wave where the particles of the medium are close together
183
longitudinal wave
A wave that moves a medium in a direction parallel to the direction in which the wave travels
184
amplitude
The maximum distance the particles of a medium move away from their rest positions as a wave passes through the medium
185
frequency
The number of complete waves that pass a given point in a certain amount of time
186
hertz (Hz)
Unit of measurement for frequency
187
law of reflection
The rule that the angle of reflection equals the angle of incidence
188
constructive interference
The interference that occurs when waves combine to make a wave with a larger amplitude
189
diffraction
The bending of waves as they move around a barrier or pass through an opening
190
interference
The interaction between waves that meet
191
destructive interference
The interference that occurs when two waves combine to make a wave with smaller amplitude
192
antinode
A point of maximum amplitude on a standing wave.
193
node
A point of zero amplitude on a standing wave
194
P wave
A longitudinal seismic wave
