SSA 8th grade Vocab 2

A part 2 of the vocab study guide for the Science Standard Assessment (SSA).

acceleration

the rate at which velocity is changing

allele

any or two or more alternate forms of a gene that an organism may have for a particular trait

Astronomical Unit (AU)

unit used to measure the distance in the Solar System, equals the distance from the Earth to the Sun

Autotroph

an organism that can produce its own food

boiling point

the temperature that a liquid turns into a gas

chemical properties

characteristics of substances that describes their composition, reactivity, and how the substance changes into different substances

controlled variable

a factor in a scientific experiment that is purposefully kept the same

dominant allele

the form of a trait that is expressed or shown when the combination is heterozgous

dwarf planet

a celestial body similar to a planet but orbiting in a zone that has many other objects

eukaryote

an organism whose cells contain a nucleus surrounded by a membrane

evolution

cumulative change in a population over time from generation to generation

fault

a crack in the Earth along which movement has occurred

fold

a bend in a layer or several layers of rock

heterogeneous

a type of mixture in which different parts can be easily distinguished

heterotroph

an organism that cannot produce its own food

heterozgous

a cell or organism that has two different alleles for a particular trait

homeostasis

the tendancy of a cell to remain the same

homogeneous

a type of mixture in which different parts are blended evenly so that the mixture is the same throughout

hypothesis

a state that can be tested through experiments

Law

a principle based on many observations of naturally occurring events

Light-year

the distance a ray of light travels in one year

melting point

the temperature that a solid changes to a liquid

molecule

the smallest unit of matter

nebula

a large cloudlike mass of gas and dust in space that may lead to the formation of a star

net force

the sum of all forces acting on an object

niche

the unique position occupied by a particular species in an ecosystem

nucleus

the center of an atom or cell

pH

measure of the amount of acidity in a substance

base

\#8-14 on the pH scale

acid

\#1-7 on the pH scale

recessive

the form of a trait that is masked unless the organism is homogeous for that trait

repetition

making multiple sets of measurements in an experiment

replication

the reproduction of a scientific investigation by another person to ensure accuracy

solute

a substance that is being dissolved by another substance

solvent

a substance that dissolves another substance

saturation

a condition of a solution that has the maximum amount of solute

temperature

the measure of average kinetic energy of the particles of a substance

test variable (indepenent)

variable manipulated by the experiment in order to study change in outcome variable

theory

an observation made after extensive testing

weathering

rocks and other surfaces are broken down

density

mass divided by volume

sinks

density greater than 1

floats

density less than 1

mass

stays the same not matter the location

weight

changes depending on the mass of the planet

consumer

eats other living things for energy

producer

creates its own energy through photosynthesis

predator

hunts prey

mutualistic relationship

both living things benefit

commensalism

one living thing benifits one is not affected

parasite

one living thing benifits one is harmed