Science SOL Vocab Review ALL STANDARDS Flashcards

A comprehensive set of vocabulary flashcards covering the scientific method, earth science, matter, energy, motion, electricity, sound, light, and resources.

Independent Variable

The thing in the experiment that I change.

Dependent Variable

The thing in the experiment that changes because of the independent variable; what is being measured.

Hypothesis

An educated guess about what you think will happen in your experiment.

Controlled Variable

The thing that stays the same in an experiment.

Scientific Method

The cycle that scientists use to create an experiment.

Testable Question

A question that is specific and measurable in an experiment.

Mantle

The layer of the earth made of molten rock and magma; has convection currents.

Inner Core

The innermost layer of the Earth made of metals; it is solid because of the pressure on it.

Outer Core

The layer of the Earth that has the magnetic field and is made up of metals.

Crust

The layer of the earth that we live on, made of rock.

Weathering

The part of the rock cycle where rock is broken down.

Erosion

The part of the rock cycle where broken down rock is moved somewhere new using wind, water, or ice.

Deposition

The part of the rock cycle where broken down rock is dropped somewhere new.

Sedimentary Rock

A type of rock that is formed from other rocks and has pressure on it to create a new rock.

Igneous Rock

A type of rock that is formed from cooling magma or lava.

Metamorphic Rock

A type of rock that is formed from heat and pressure of sediments.

Divergent Boundary

This is where plates pull apart causing things like the Mid Atlantic Ridge.

Convergent Boundary

This is where plates push together causing things like subduction zones and mountains.

Transform Boundary

This is where plates slide past one another and cause things like earthquakes.

Subduction Zone

This is where a plate slides underneath another plate causing the melting of a plate and volcanoes.

Delta

Sediments deposited in a river to create new land.

Solution

A mixture that has $2$ or more substances that have dissolved; cannot easily separate them.

Mixture

Something that has $2$ or more substances that we can easily see and easily separate.

Solvent

The part of a solution that is dissolving the solute.

Solute

The part of the solution that is being dissolved into the solvent.

Mass

How much matter is in an object; not weight!

Solid

The state of matter where atoms are closely and tightly packed together.

Liquid

The state of matter that has a definite volume, but not a definite shape; atoms are close together but not tightly packed.

Gas

The state of matter that has no definite volume or shape; atoms are very loosely packed and move very quickly.

Energy

The ability to do work or make change.

Electrical Energy

Energy that gives power to things that run on electricity.

Mechanical (Motion) Energy

The energy of motion; it moves things from place to place.

Radiant (Light) Energy

The form of energy that lets us see; travels in straight rays.

Thermal Energy

Heat energy; moves from warmer parts to cooler parts.

Sound Energy

Energy that lets us hear; it is caused by vibrations.

Law of Conservation

Energy cannot be created or destroyed.

MELTS

An acronym for Mechanical, Electrical, Light/Radiant, Thermal, and Sound energy.

Motion

Any movement on an object from one place to another.

Potential Energy

Energy that is stored.

Kinetic Energy

The energy of motion (moving).

Force

A push or pull applied to an object.

Friction

A force that opposes motion in the opposite direction.

Gravity

A force that pulls objects towards the center of the Earth.

Net Force

The sum of all the forces acting on an object.

Open Circuit

A circuit that has a break in the path; electricity cannot flow.

Parallel Circuit

A circuit with more than one path for electricity to flow.

Closed Circuit

A circuit that is connected and does not have a break in the path; electricity can flow.

Series Circuit

A circuit that has only one path for electricity to flow.

Conductor

An object that easily allows electrical, thermal, or sound energy to pass through it.

Insulator

An object that does not easily allow electrical, thermal, or sound energy to pass through it.

Current

The flow of charged particles (electrons) through a circuit.

Static Electricity

The buildup of charged particles (electrons) which gives the object an electric charge.

Magnetic Field

The magnetic influence of an object resulting in a push or pull; magnets have a north and south pole.

Electromagnet

A metal object that acts as a magnet when an electric current moves through it.

Load

The device that uses electricity, such as a light bulb.

Dry Cell

A type of battery that produces electricity through a chemical reaction.

Compression Wave

A longitudinal wave that sound travels in.

Wavelength

The measurement of one wave from one crest to another crest or one trough to another trough.

Rarefaction

The part of the sound wave where particles are the farthest apart.

Trough

The lowest part of the wave.

Crest

The highest point of the wave.

Amplitude

The height or strength of the wave.

Frequency

The amount of waves in a set amount of time.

Pitch

How high or low a sound is; determined by the frequency of a wave.

Transverse Wave

A wave that moves up and down like an ocean wave; it is a light wave.

Visible Spectrum

The part of the electromagnetic spectrum that we can see; represented by the acronym ROYGBIV.

Electromagnetic Spectrum

All types of energy waves that are seen and not seen.

Reflection

When light strikes an object and bounces back in the opposite direction.

Refraction

Bending of light as it passes through other materials.

Transmit

To send or carry from one object to another.

Opaque

An object that light cannot pass through; it creates a shadow.

Prism

A triangular piece of clear glass or plastic that can separate white light into different colors.

Translucent

Allows some light to get through but objects on the other side cannot be seen clearly.

Transparent

Allows light to travel through the object so that it is see through.

Renewable Resources

Resources that can be replenished (made again) and will not run out, such as wind, water/hydro, and sunlight.

Nonrenewable Resources

Resources that cannot be replenished (made again), such as coal, oil, natural gas, and fossil fuels.

Fossil Fuels

Nonrenewable energy sources made from plants and animals that lived millions of years ago.

Natural Resources

A resource found in nature that people can turn into products for use.