Physical Sciences Grade 8 Skills Flashcards

This flashcard set covers essential Grade 8 Physical Sciences skills, including laboratory safety, apparatus identification, variable definitions, and the scientific method steps.

Wire Gauze

A tool that distributes heat evenly while heating substances and holds apparatus over a Bunsen burner when placed on a tripod.

Bunsen Burner

A piece of laboratory apparatus used to heat substances.

Beaker

A container used to hold liquids during experiments and to measure liquid volume, though it is not accurate.

Measuring Cylinder

An apparatus used to measure the volume of liquids accurately.

Trough

A container used to hold large volumes of liquids during experiments.

Test Tube

A small container used during experiments to hold liquids or as a vessel in which reactions can take place.

Retort Stand with Bosshead and Clamp

Equipment used to hold apparatus in an elevated position during experiments or while heating round-bottomed flasks.

Test Tube Rack / Stand

A stand used to keep test tubes upright during experiments.

Test Tube Holder

A tool used to hold test tubes while they are being heated over an open flame.

Tripod

A three-legged stand used to hold apparatus in an elevated position above a Bunsen burner during heating.

Evaporating Dish

An apparatus that provides a large surface area for evaporation to take place.

Watch Glass

A shallow glass dish used to hold solids or powders during an experiment.

Round-bottomed Flask

A flask used to heat liquids evenly due to its rounded shape.

Erlenmeyer / Conical Flask

A flask used to hold liquids that is easy to mix by swirling without spilling due to its shape.

Pipette

A tool used to accurately measure volumes of liquids using suction.

Burette

An apparatus used to accurately measure the volume of liquid added to a solution during experiments like titrations.

Glass Rod

A tool used to stir solutions, made of glass because it does not readily take part in reactions.

Triple Beam Balance

An instrument used to measure the mass of solids, though it is not very accurate.

Digital Scale / Balance

An instrument used to accurately measure small masses of solids.

Spatula

A tool used to scoop different amounts of powders out of a container; it is not an accurate measuring tool.

Separating Funnel

A piece of apparatus used to separate liquids that have different densities.

Funnel

A tool used to pour substances from a wide-mouthed container into a narrow-mouthed container or used with filter paper during filtration.

Filter Paper

A material used to separate mixtures based on particle size during the filtration process.

Beehive Shelf

An apparatus used to support a receiving holder, such as a gas jar, while a gas is being collected in water.

Syringe

A tool that uses suction to suck up and measure the volume of liquids accurately.

Gas Jar

A container used to store and collect gases.

Deflagrating Spoon

A spoon used to heat a sample which is then placed in a gas jar during combustion reactions.

Thermometer

An instrument used to measure the temperature of a substance.

Propette

A tool used to add drops of a liquid during an experiment; it is not accurate.

Volumetric flask

A flask used to make up a concentration of a solution with a fixed volume and hold it during experiments.

Meniscus

The curve seen at the top of a liquid in a container; volume should be read from the bottom of this curve at eye level.

Error of parallax

An error in reading a scale that occurs when the eye is not looking at the meniscus or scale at the correct eye level.

Independent Variable

The factor that the investigator determines or chooses to change during an experiment; it is the cause of a change.

Dependent Variable

The outcome of the experiment which is measured; it is the effect due to a change in the independent variable.

Controlled Variable

Any factor kept the same during a study to ensure it is fair and to isolate the effect of the independent variable.

Aim

A statement starting with "To" that identifies what you want to determine during an experiment, including both variables.

Hypothesis

An educated guess about the outcome of the experiment that specifically describes how one variable will affect the other.

Observations

Anything experienced with the senses (sight, hearing, smell) during the course of a scientific experiment.

Conclusion

The part of the scientific method that answers the research question by referring to results and the original hypothesis.

Review

The final step of the scientific method that evaluates the method and results, identifies deviations, and provides suggestions for improvement.