Science Vocab Part 2

Question 1

acceleration

Answer 1

the rate that velocity changes per unit time and the direction it changes in

Question 2

calibration

Answer 2

the examination of the performance of an instrument in an experiment whose outcomes are known, for the purpose of accounting for the inaccuracies inherent in the instrument in future experiments whose outcomes are not known

Question 3

centripetal force

Answer 3

the net force that acts to result in the centripetal acceleration. It is not an individual force, but the sum of the forces in the radial direction. It is directed toward the center of the circular motion.

Question 4

chemical change

Answer 4

a process that involves the formation or breaking of chemical bonds

Question 5

density

Answer 5

the mass of a substance for a given unit volume

Question 6

displacement

Answer 6

the change in position of an object. Computed from the final position minus the initial position.

Question 7

equilibrium

Answer 7

a state at which the forward and reverse reaction proceed at the same rate.

Question 8

force

Answer 8

that which acts on an object to change its motion; a push or pull exerted on one object by another.

Question 9

frequency

Answer 9

the number of cycles or repetitions per second

Question 10

heterogeneous

Answer 10

a mixture that is not uniform in composition

Question 11

homogeneous

Answer 11

a mixture in which the components are uniformly distributed

Question 12

inertia

Answer 12

the tendency of an object to follow Newton’s First Law, the law of inertia. That is the tendency of an object to remain at rest or in motion with constant velocity unless acted on by a force.

Question 13

isotope

Answer 13

atoms of the same element, with different numbers of neutrons, and hence a different atomic mass

Question 14

latitude

Answer 14

the coordinate used to measure positions on the Earth north or south of the Earth’s equator

Question 15

longitude

Answer 15

the coordinate used to measure positions on the Earth east or west of the prime meridian, which goes through Greenwich, England

Question 16

meiosis

Answer 16

a process of cellular reproduction where the daughter cells have half the amount of chromosomes.

Question 17

oxidation

Answer 17

the loss of electrons by a substance in a chemical reaction

Question 18

qualitative observation

Answer 18

an observation that includes characteristics other than amounts or measurements; may include shapes, colors, actions, and odors.

Question 19

quantitative observation

Answer 19

an observation that includes characteristics of measurements or amounts

Question 20

solubility

Answer 20

the amount of solute that can be dissolved completely in a solvent at a given temperature

Question 21

states of matter

Answer 21

solid, liquid, and gas. In solids, atoms or molecules are held in place. The shape and volume of a solid usually do not vary much. In liquids atoms or molecules can move, but their motion is constrained by other molecules. Liquids assume the shape of their container. In gasses the motion of atoms or molecules is unrestricted. Gases assume both the volume and the shape of their containers and they are easily compressible.

Question 22

topography

Answer 22

the study of the surface features of the planet primarily through mapping

Question 23

velocity

Answer 23

the rate that a position changes per unit time and the direction it changes in.

Question 24

voltage

Answer 24

another name for potential difference

Question 25

voltmeter

Answer 25

a device to measure voltage in a circuit