Physical Science Vocabulary
SCIENTIFIC METHOD
PURPOSE – The question you have in the experiment
HYPOTHESIS --- Your educated guess
VARIABLE – The ONE thing in an experiment that is different; it is what you are testing
CONTROLS – The things in an experiment that are the SAME
TRIALS – When you do an experiment three times to make sure the results are valid.
Matter
MASS – the amount of matter an object has; measured in grams
MATTER – anything that has mass and takes up space
PHYSICAL PROPERTY – A characteristic of matter
PHYSICAL CHANGE – A change in the appearance of matter without changing the matter itself
TEXTURE – How something feels
ODOR – How something smells
VOLUME – The amount of space taken up by matter
DISPLACEMENT – when an object takes up the space that water used to be in; it is how you find volume
GRAVITY – the force that brings objects down on Earth and other planets
DENSITY – the amount of mass an object has in a certain volume.
BUOYANCY – the ability of an object to float
WEIGHT – the measure of the amount of gravity acting on an object’s mass
THREE STATES OF MATTER:
(1) SOLID – A state of matter that has a fixed shape and volume.
(2) LIQUID – A state of matter that has a fixed volume, but its shape changes to match the shape of its container
(3) GAS – A state of matter that does NOT have a fixed shape or volume
FREEZING/MELTING POINT OF WATER -- 0 Degrees Celsius
BOILING POINT OF WATER – 100 Degrees Celsius
Mixtures & Solutions
MIXTURE – A combination of two or more substances that do not join together to form a new substance; each substance maintains its own physical properties can sometimes be easily separated; usually a solid
SOLUTION – A mixture in which the substances are spread out evenly between one another and the physical properties change of the matter that dissolves; usually difficult to separate
DISSOLVE – To form a solution with another substance – it looks like it disappears. Salt, sugar and baking soda are examples in water
SOLUBILITY/SOLUBLE – The ability of a substance to dissolve
CRYSTALS – What is left behind/what forms in water.. sugar and salt have crystals
Light
LIGHT – A form of energy that travels in waves and can move through empty spaces – travels in a straight line
REFLECTION – The BOUNCING back of light waves off of a surface. Examples: Mirrors, Tinted Windows
REFRACTION – The BENDING of light waves as they travel from one surface to another. Light goes through the substance. Examples: Glass, Lenses in Eyeglasses, Cameras, Telescopes, Hand Lens.
LENS – A curved piece of clear plastic or glass that bends (refracts) light rays
ABSORB -- The ability of a material to retain heat Darker materials absorb more light than lighter materials.
RETAIN – holds in; keeps
TRANSPARENT – A material you CAN see through
OPAQUE – A material that you CANNOT see through
Force and Motion
Force – a push or a pull
Motion – movement
Friction – a force that works against motion
Gravity – the force that pulls objects towards one another
Displacement -- happens when one object pushes away or takes the place of another object
Work – happens when a force moves an object over a distance
Energy
SOURCE – Where the energy originally comes from
CONDUCTOR – A material that heat, sound and electricity travels through very quickly… Metals are the best conductors.
INSULATOR – A material that heat, sound and electricity DO NOT travel through very quickly.. Rubber, plastic, foam and wood are good insulators.
Forms Energy
1. Mechanical Energy – energy of motion
2. Light Energy – radiant energy that our eyes can see from the visible part of the electromagnetic spectrum.
3. Thermal Energy -- energy which involves heat and temperature
4. Electrical Energy – energy produced by the movement of electrons
5. Sound Energy – produced by vibrating objects
6. Solar Energy – light/thermal energy from the Sun
Electricity
Electric Circuit - A flow of electricity in a circular path
Current/Pathway - the movement of electricity
Electromagnet - a temporary magnet made from a battery, metal wire, and an iron nail
PURPOSE – The question you have in the experiment
HYPOTHESIS --- Your educated guess
VARIABLE – The ONE thing in an experiment that is different; it is what you are testing
CONTROLS – The things in an experiment that are the SAME
TRIALS – When you do an experiment three times to make sure the results are valid.
Matter
MASS – the amount of matter an object has; measured in grams
MATTER – anything that has mass and takes up space
PHYSICAL PROPERTY – A characteristic of matter
PHYSICAL CHANGE – A change in the appearance of matter without changing the matter itself
TEXTURE – How something feels
ODOR – How something smells
VOLUME – The amount of space taken up by matter
DISPLACEMENT – when an object takes up the space that water used to be in; it is how you find volume
GRAVITY – the force that brings objects down on Earth and other planets
DENSITY – the amount of mass an object has in a certain volume.
BUOYANCY – the ability of an object to float
WEIGHT – the measure of the amount of gravity acting on an object’s mass
THREE STATES OF MATTER:
(1) SOLID – A state of matter that has a fixed shape and volume.
(2) LIQUID – A state of matter that has a fixed volume, but its shape changes to match the shape of its container
(3) GAS – A state of matter that does NOT have a fixed shape or volume
FREEZING/MELTING POINT OF WATER -- 0 Degrees Celsius
BOILING POINT OF WATER – 100 Degrees Celsius
Mixtures & Solutions
MIXTURE – A combination of two or more substances that do not join together to form a new substance; each substance maintains its own physical properties can sometimes be easily separated; usually a solid
SOLUTION – A mixture in which the substances are spread out evenly between one another and the physical properties change of the matter that dissolves; usually difficult to separate
DISSOLVE – To form a solution with another substance – it looks like it disappears. Salt, sugar and baking soda are examples in water
SOLUBILITY/SOLUBLE – The ability of a substance to dissolve
CRYSTALS – What is left behind/what forms in water.. sugar and salt have crystals
Light
LIGHT – A form of energy that travels in waves and can move through empty spaces – travels in a straight line
REFLECTION – The BOUNCING back of light waves off of a surface. Examples: Mirrors, Tinted Windows
REFRACTION – The BENDING of light waves as they travel from one surface to another. Light goes through the substance. Examples: Glass, Lenses in Eyeglasses, Cameras, Telescopes, Hand Lens.
LENS – A curved piece of clear plastic or glass that bends (refracts) light rays
ABSORB -- The ability of a material to retain heat Darker materials absorb more light than lighter materials.
RETAIN – holds in; keeps
TRANSPARENT – A material you CAN see through
OPAQUE – A material that you CANNOT see through
Force and Motion
Force – a push or a pull
Motion – movement
Friction – a force that works against motion
Gravity – the force that pulls objects towards one another
Displacement -- happens when one object pushes away or takes the place of another object
Work – happens when a force moves an object over a distance
Energy
SOURCE – Where the energy originally comes from
CONDUCTOR – A material that heat, sound and electricity travels through very quickly… Metals are the best conductors.
INSULATOR – A material that heat, sound and electricity DO NOT travel through very quickly.. Rubber, plastic, foam and wood are good insulators.
Forms Energy
1. Mechanical Energy – energy of motion
2. Light Energy – radiant energy that our eyes can see from the visible part of the electromagnetic spectrum.
3. Thermal Energy -- energy which involves heat and temperature
4. Electrical Energy – energy produced by the movement of electrons
5. Sound Energy – produced by vibrating objects
6. Solar Energy – light/thermal energy from the Sun
Electricity
Electric Circuit - A flow of electricity in a circular path
Current/Pathway - the movement of electricity
Electromagnet - a temporary magnet made from a battery, metal wire, and an iron nail