WGU C165 Integrated Physical Sciences - Import From Quizlet

Credit to "rhoov12" on quizlet for making the set.

4 eons

Hadean, Archean, Proterozoic, and Phanerozoic

Acceleration

Term for any change in an object's speed and/or direction

Air mass

Large body of air with the same temperature, humidity, and pressure

amplitude

The distance between a wave's equilibrium and crest/trough in a transverse wave, or how compressed/expanded the medium becomes in a longitudinal wave

asteroids

Very small, rocky bodies that orbit the sun

Atom

The basic building block of matter

atomic number

The number of protons in the nucleus of an atom

balanced forces

Term for forces that combine to produce a net force of 0

Cenozoic era

Current era, the age of mammals

Chemical

Any substance that has a definite, fixed composition

chemical bonds

the attractive forces that hold atoms together

chemical change

When matter changes in chemical composition

chemical potential energy

Energy that is stored in the chemical bonds in a substance

chemical reaction

When chemical bonds are formed/broken in a chemical change

chemical weathering

Weathering resulting from chemical processes

Chemistry

The study of atoms and molecules, their structures, and their interactions to form substances

coefficient

Number used to indicate the ratio of chemicals in a reaction, written before chemical formula

cold front

A front where cold air moves in under a warm air mass.

comets

Relatively small, icy, dusty bodies that travel around the sun in very elliptical orbits

Compound

a chemical combination of two or more different elements in a fixed ratio

compression

Region of longitudinal wave where particles are close together

computer model

A detailed, complex model calculated by a computer

conceptual model

A model used to visualize things that cannot be seen, such as atoms

continental to continental boundary

A convergent boundary between two continental plates with no subduction, causing tall mountain ranges with no volcanoes but large earthquakes

control variable

The variable(s) you don't want to study, need to be either eliminated or kept constant

Convection

The transfer of thermal energy by the circulation or movement of a liquid or gas

convection cell

A circular pattern of rising warm air and sinking cool air

convergent boundary

A tectonic plate boundary where the plates push into each other, causing large quakes

covalent bond

Bond formed between atoms that share valence electrons

crest

The highest point in a wave above equilibrium

crust

Thin, outermost rocky shell at the surface of the earth

dependent variable

The variable that changes because of an independent variable

deposition

The process in which soil, sediment, or rocks are added to a landform

Derived units

What is produced when the base units/quantities are combined

direct relationship

A relationship between two variables where increasing one increases the other, and vice versa

divergent boundary

A tectonic plate boundary where the plates are separating, with volcanoes and few, weak quakes

ductility

The ability to be stretched into wire

Earth science

The study of the Earth's structure and composition, and processes that change Earth

Elastic collision

A collision in which the total kinetic energy is conserved

elastic potential energy

Energy stored in stretched springs, rubber bands, etc.

elasticity

The amount of bounce an object has after a collision

electromagnetic energy

Energy carried by electromagnetic waves. Light energy.

electromagnetic waves

Waves with both an electric and magnetic component. Can only be transverse waves and can travel through a vaccuum

Element

A pure substance made of only one kind of atom, defined by its proton count

Energy

The capacity to do work or cause change

equilibrium

A position or state to which an oscillating object eventually returns to

erosion

The mechanism responsible for the transportation or removal of material

essential attributes of science

Studies the natural world
Uses testable ideas
Relies on data from observations/experiments
Presented for evaluation by other scientists
Leads to further questions/research

Exosphere

The last layer of the atmosphere, beyond which exists a vacuum

Exosphere

The outer layer of the atmosphere

expansion

Region of longitudinal wave where particles are far apart (aka rarefaction)

family

Name for elements in the same group of the periodic table that have the same number of valence electrons

Fluid resistance

Friction when an object moves through a gas or liquid

Force

Term for a push or a pull with direction and magnitude. You may not feel it.

Formula for work

work = force x displacement

frequency

Number of wave oscillations in a given period of time

friction

The force that opposes the motion of an object on which it acts

Front

A boundary between two or more air masses

galaxy

A collection of hundreds of billions of stars that are clustered together by gravity

glacier

A slowly moving mass of ice formed by the accumulation and compaction of snow that flows slowly over time

gravitational potential energy

Energy an object has due to its height above the ground. Increases with mass and height.

Gravity

Attractive force between objects directly proportional to their masses and inversely proportional to the square of their distance

Groundwater

water that is in the ground

group

Name for a column in the periodic table

heterogeneous mixture

A mixture in which pure substances are unevenly distributed throughout the mixture

high pressure system (anticyclone)

An area of dense air that sinks and warms, develops in cold areas, and removes clouds (hot day/cold night)

homogeneous mixture

A mixture in which substances are evenly distributed throughout the mixture

hypothesis

A testable statement about how something in nature works

igneous rocks

Rocks formed by lava or magma

independent variable

What you change in an experiment on purpose

Inelastic collision

A collision in which the total kinetic energy is not conserved

inertia

The tenancy to keep the same motion/velocity or remain at rest. Newton's first law

Infiltration

Flow of water from the land surface into the subsurface

inner core

Inner half of the Earth's core. Made of solid nickel-iron

Inorganic compounds

Compounds that are not organic compounds

inverse relationship

A relationship between two variables where increasing one decreases the other, and vice versa

Ion

An atom with a net electric charge (i.e., not neutral)

ionic bond

Chemical bond formed between a positively charged atom and a negatively charged atom, where a valence electron is given from one to the other

ionic compound

Compounds formed via ionic bonds, usually a combination of a metal and one or more non-metals

kelvin

Base unit of temperature

kilogram

Base unit of mass

Kinetic energy

The energy objects have because they are moving. Increases with mass and velocity

Kinetic friction

Friction between two objects moving against each other

law

A concise statement that is supported by scientific evidence and repeated experiments, describes a widespread pattern in nature (what)

Law of conservation of energy

Term for the fact that energy cannot be created/destroyed, only transferred/converted

law of conservation of matter

Term for the fact that matter cannot be created/destroyed, but can be converted between forms through physical or chemical changes

Law of conservation of momentum

Term for the fact that momentum is conserved when two or more objects collide

Linear momentum

Name for the mass of an object times its velocity

Liquid displacement

Method of determining the volume of an object by measuring the amount of liquid it displaces

longitudinal wave

Wave where the oscillation occurs along the direction the wave is traveling

low pressure system (depression)

An area of less dense air that rises and cools, develops in warm areas, and creates clouds (mild day/night)

macroscopic properties

The properties observed when a large number of particles interact

malleability

The ability to be shaped by pounding without breaking apart

mantle

Thickest layer of the Earth made of hot, solid rock, 84% of volume of the planet

mathematical model

A model that treats physical objects/phenomena using mathematical methods

Matter

Anything that takes up space and has mass

meanders

Curves in a river formed by eroding the outer bank and depositing sediment on the inner bank

mechanical waves

Type of waves that require a medium (air, water, etc.) to travel through, cannot travel through a vaccuum

Mesosphere

The layer of Earth's atmosphere immediately above the stratosphere, where meteors burn up

Mesosphere

The layer of Earth's atmosphere immediately above the stratosphere, where meteors burn up