Physical science

Earth Science

The study of Earth's physical environment and processes

Geology

The study of Earth's solid materials and the processes that shape them

Meteorology

The study of the atmosphere weather and climate

Oceanography

The study of the ocean and its physical and biological properties

Astronomy

The study of celestial bodies and the universe beyond Earth

Biosphere

The sphere containing all living things on Earth

Hydrosphere

The sphere containing all of Earth's water in any form

Atmosphere

The gaseous layer surrounding Earth that supports life and weather

Geosphere

The solid part of Earth including the crust mantle and core

Earth System Science

The study of interactions among Earth's spheres

Metric System

A decimal-based measurement system used worldwide

Meter

The base unit of length in the metric system

Liter

The base unit of volume in the metric system

Gram

The base unit of mass in the metric system

Kilo

A prefix meaning one thousand times the base unit

Centi

A prefix meaning one hundredth of the base unit

Milli

A prefix meaning one thousandth of the base unit

Conversion Factor

A number used to change from one unit to another

Celsius

The temperature scale used by scientists and most countries

Fahrenheit

The temperature scale commonly used in the United States

Temperature Conversion

The process of converting between Celsius and Fahrenheit

Scientific Method

A logical process for testing hypotheses through experimentation

Hypothesis

A proposed explanation for an observation or question

Theory

A well-tested explanation supported by consistent evidence

Experiment

A procedure carried out to test a hypothesis

Data

Information collected through observation or measurement

Analysis

The process of examining data to draw conclusions

Variable

A factor that can change in an experiment

Independent Variable

The variable that is changed or controlled by the experimenter

Dependent Variable

The variable that responds to changes in the independent variable

Constant

A factor that stays the same throughout an experiment

Graph

A visual representation of data showing the relationship between variables

X-Axis

The horizontal axis representing the independent variable

Y-Axis

The vertical axis representing the dependent variable

Mineral

A naturally occurring inorganic solid with a definite chemical composition and structure

Crystal Structure

The orderly geometric arrangement of atoms in a mineral

Luster

The way light reflects from a mineral’s surface

Metallic Luster

A shiny light-reflecting surface like metal

Nonmetallic Luster

A dull or glassy light-reflecting surface

Hardness

A mineral’s resistance to scratching measured by the Mohs scale

Mohs Scale

A scale from 1 to 10 used to measure mineral hardness

Streak

The color of a mineral’s powdered form on a porcelain plate

Color

The visible hue of a mineral often caused by impurities

Cleavage

The tendency of a mineral to break along flat planes

Fracture

The irregular breakage of a mineral

Specific Gravity

The ratio of a mineral’s density compared to water

Magnetic Property

The ability of some minerals to attract iron

Reaction with Acid

The bubbling or fizzing when a mineral reacts with hydrochloric acid

Tenacity

The mineral’s ability to resist breaking or bending

Density

The mass of a substance divided by its volume

Rock

A naturally occurring solid made of one or more minerals

Rock Cycle

The process that forms and transforms rocks among three main types

Igneous Rock

Rock formed from the cooling and solidification of magma or lava

Sedimentary Rock

Rock formed from compacted and cemented sediment particles

Metamorphic Rock

Rock formed by heat pressure or chemical processes altering existing rock

Texture

The size and arrangement of crystals or grains in a rock

Composition

The minerals or materials that make up a rock

Coarse-Grained

Igneous texture with large visible crystals from slow cooling

Fine-Grained

Igneous texture with small crystals from rapid cooling

Porphyritic

Igneous texture with two different crystal sizes

Glassy

Igneous texture with no crystals due to very rapid cooling

Light-Colored Igneous Rock

Felsic rocks with high silica content and low iron or magnesium

Dark-Colored Igneous Rock

Mafic rocks rich in iron and magnesium

Detrital Sedimentary Rock

Rock formed from fragments of other rocks through weathering

Chemical Sedimentary Rock

Rock formed when minerals precipitate from a solution

Biochemical Sedimentary Rock

Rock formed from remains of living organisms

Fossil

The preserved remains or traces of ancient life found in sedimentary rocks

Grain Shape

The roundness or angularity of sediment particles

Rounded Grain

A sediment grain that has traveled far and been smoothed

Angular Grain

A sediment grain that has traveled little and retains sharp edges

Foliated Rock

Metamorphic rock with layered or banded appearance

Nonfoliated Rock

Metamorphic rock without distinct layers

Parent Rock

The original rock that was altered to form a metamorphic rock

Low-Grade Metamorphism

Slight changes to rock texture and minerals under low heat and pressure

High-Grade Metamorphism

Intense alteration forming coarse minerals under high heat and pressure

Slate

A fine-grained foliated metamorphic rock formed from shale

Gneiss

A coarse-grained foliated metamorphic rock with light and dark bands

Marble

A nonfoliated metamorphic rock formed from limestone

Quartzite

A hard nonfoliated metamorphic rock formed from sandstone

River Slope

The angle of the river channel

River Volume

The total quantity of water flowing in a river

Discharge

The volume of water that passes a specific point per unit time

Velocity

The speed at which water travels through a river channel

Slope vs Velocity

An experiment that studies how river angle affects flow speed

Volume vs Velocity

An experiment that studies how water volume affects flow speed

Constant Variable

A controlled factor kept the same in an experiment

Graph Title

The description showing Independent Variable vs Dependent Variable

Celsius → Fahrenheit

1.8*(°C) + 32

Fahrenheit → Celsius

(°F - 32) / 1.8

Hardness 7, no cleavage, glassy

Quartz

Greasy, metallic, marks paper

Graphite

Hardness 6, cleavage 2 directions

Feldspar

Reacts with acid, hardness 3

Calcite

Salty taste, cubic cleavage

Halite

intermediate/andesitic color

mixture of dark and light minerals (containing plagioclase feldspar)

Metallic, cubic cleavage, heavy

Galena

“Fool’s gold,” metallic

Pyrite

Red-brown streak

Hematite

Magnetic

Magnetite

Softest mineral (1), soapy feel (used in powder)

Talc