ACT - Science extra vocabulary

acceleration

Change in velocity divided by the time it takes for the change to occur

acceleration due to gravity

9.8 meters per second squared

accuracy

A description of how close a measurement is to the true value of the quantity measured.

acid

A substance that increases the hydrogen ion concentration of a solution.

analysis

A detailed examination of the elements or structure of something.

aqueous solution

a solution in which water is the solvent

arteries

Blood vessels that carry blood away from the heart

astronomy

The study of the moon, stars, and other objects in space

atom

Basic unit of matter

atp

(adenosine triphosphate) main energy source that cells use for most of their work

atria

2 upper chambers of the heart

base

A substance that decreases the hydrogen ion concentration in a solution.

calibration

Any procedure used to evaluate the accuracy of a measurement system and, when sources of error are found, to use that information to correct or improve the measuring system

capillaries

Microscopic vessel through which exchanges take place between the blood and cells of the body

catalyst

SOMETHING CAUSING CHANGE

celestial equator

An imaginary circle created by extending Earth's equator into space

celestial poles

Projection of Earth's North and South Poles onto the celestial sphere. Creates North and South celestial pole.

celestial sphere

An imaginary sphere surrounding Earth to which the stars are attached

cell membrane

A cell structure that controls which substances can enter or leave the cell.

cell wall

A rigid layer of nonliving material that surrounds the cells of plants and some other organisms.

centripetal force

An attitude that tends to unify people and enhance support for a state

chemical change

A change in matter that produces one or more new substances

chromosome

A threadlike, gene-carrying structure found in the nucleus. Each chromosome consists of one very long DNA molecule and associated proteins.

component

A part or element of a larger whole.

compound

A substance made up of atoms of two or more different elements joined by chemical bonds

concentration

A measurement of how much solute exists within a certain volume of solvent

conclusion

A \_____ at the end of a DBQ essay is not required for points but it can be used to help reiterate your thesis or perhaps to get certain expanded core points.

constellation

A group of stars that form a pattern in the sky

continental rift

A linear belt along which continental lithosphere stretches and pulls apart

convergent boundary

A plate boundary where two plates move toward each other.

cosmology

STUDY OF THE UNIVERSE AS A TOTALITY;THEORY OF THE ORIGIN AND STRUCTURE OF THE UNIVERSE

crystal

An orderly, three-dimensional pattern of ions or atoms in a solid

current

A flow of electric charge.

cuticle

A waxy covering on the surface of stems and leaves that acts as an adaptation to prevent desiccation in terrestrial plants.

cytoplasm

A jellylike fluid inside the cell in which the organelles are suspended

cytoskeleton

A network of fibers that holds the cell together, helps the cell to keep its shape, and aids in movement

decibel

a logarithmic unit of sound intensity

declination

A measure of how far north or south an object is from the celestial equator

delta

A landform made of sediment that is deposited where a river flows into an ocean or lake

density

Mass / Volume

displacement

Distance and direction of an object's change in position from the starting point.

divergent boundary

A plate boundary where two plates move away from each other.

dna

A complex molecule containing the genetic information that makes up the chromosomes.

ecliptic

path of the sun and the planets

electric potential energy

Energy a charge has due to its location in an electric field

electromagnetic wave

A form of energy that can move through the vacuum of space.

electrostatic force

The force between electrically charged objects (like charges repel and opposite charges attract each other).

element

A pure substance made of only one kind of atom

ellipse

A regular oval shape, traced by a point moving in a plane so that the sum of its distances from two other points is constant, or resulting when a cone is cut by an oblique plane which does not intersect the base.

endoplasmic reticulum

A cell structure that forms a maze of passageways in which proteins and other materials are carried from one part of the cell to another.

energy

Ability to do work

epicycle

n. A circle that rolls upon the external or internal circumference of another circle.

equilibrium

A state of balance

focus length

The distance from the lens to the point where the refracted light rays converge at the focal point

force

A push or a pull

freefall

When the only force acting on an object is gravity

frequency

How many wave peaks pass a certain point per given time

frictional force

The force that acts parallel to surfaces in contact opposite the direction of motion or tendency of motion.

functional group

A specific configuration of atoms commonly attached to the carbon skeletons of organic molecules and involved in chemical reactions.

gel electrophoresis

Procedure used to separate and analyze DNA fragments by placing a mixture of DNA fragments at one end of a porous gel and applying an electrical voltage to the gel

geocentric model

A representation of the universe in which starts and planets revolve around Earth. Ptolemy proposed the model.

geology

science dealing with the earth's history as recorded in rocks

glacier

A large mass of moving ice and snow on land

golgi apparatus

A system of membranes that modifies and packages proteins for export by the cell

gravitational force

an attractive force that acts between any two objects

heliocentric model

A representation of the relationship between the Sun and planets in which the planets revolve around the Sun. Copernicus proposed the model.

heterogeneous

(adj.) composed of different kinds, diverse

homogeneous

of a similar kind

hydrate

A compound that has a specific number of water molecules bound to its atoms

hydrology

Study of water

hypothesis

A testable prediction, often implied by a theory

igneous rock

a type of rock that forms from the cooling of molten rock at or below the surface

image distance

The distance from the mirror to the image

inertia

(physics) the tendency of a body to maintain is state of rest or uniform motion unless acted upon by an external force

inorganic

Not formed from living things or the remains of living things

intensity

The brightness of a light.

ion

A charged atom

isomers

Same atoms but different arrangement.

isotopes

Atoms of the same element that have different numbers of neutrons.

jovian planet

Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune

kinetic energy

Energy of motion

land breeze

the flow of air from land to a body of water

latitude

Distance north or south of the equator

longitude

Distance east or west of the prime meridian, measured in degrees

longitudinal wave

A wave in which the vibration of the medium is parallel to the direction the wave travels

mass

A measure of the amount of matter in an object

meander

to wander aimlessly

meiosis

Cell division that produces reproductive cells in sexually reproducing organisms

meniscus

The curved upper surface of a liquid column that is concave when the containing walls are wetted by the liquid and convex when not.

metamorphic rock

A type of rock that forms from an existing rock that is changed by heat, pressure, or chemical reactions.

meteorology

the study of weather

mid-oceanic ridge

The longest mountain range in the world; all along the center of the Atlantic Ocean; formed by active volcanoes through sea floor spreading

mineral

Elements found in food that are used by the body

mitochondria

An organelle found in large numbers in most cells, in which the biochemical processes of respiration and energy production occur.

mitosis

A process of nuclear division in eukaryotic cells conventionally divided into five stages: prophase, prometaphase, metaphase, anaphase, and telophase. Mitosis conserves chromosome number by equally allocating replicated chromosomes to each of the daughter nuclei.

mixture

A combination of two or more substances that are not chemically combined

mole

6.022 x 10²³ particles of an element

molecular mass

The sum of the masses of all the atoms in a molecule

molecule

A group of atoms bonded together

net force

The combination of all forces acting on an object