6th Grade Science Review part 1

energy

the ability to do work

kinetic energy

the energy an object has due to its motion

potential energy

stored energy

gravitational potential energy

potential energy that depends on the height of an object

elastic potential energy

the energy of stretched or compressed objects

chemical potential energy

potential energy stored in chemical bonds

mechanical energy

the energy associated with the motion and position of everyday objects

electrical energy

energy of electric charges

chemical energy

energy stored in chemical bonds

nuclear energy

energy stored in the nucleus of an atom

electromagnetic energy

a form of energy that travels through space as waves

thermal energy

heat energy

conduction

direct transfer of heat from one substance to another substance that it is touching.

convection

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

radiation

transfer of energy by electromagnetic waves

law of conservation of energy

energy cannot be created or destroyed

temperature

measure of how hot or cold something is

Celsius scale

temperature scale on which water freezes at 0 degrees and boils at 100 degrees

Fahrenheit scale

temperature scale on which water freezes at 32 degrees and boils at 212 degrees

conductor

material that conducts heat well

insulator

material that does not conduct heat well

organism

a living thing

climate

average weather conditions in an area over a long period of time

evaporation

liquid to gas

transpiration

loss of water from a plant through its leaves

condensation

gas to liquid

precipitation

rain, snow, sleet, or hail that falls to the ground

surface runoff

water that flows over land until it reaches lakes, rivers, or other areas

groundwater

water held underground in the soil or in pores and crevices in rock

cirrus

wispy, feathery clouds

cumulus

clouds that look like fluffy, rounded piles of cotton

stratus

clouds that form in flat layers

rain gauge

measures the amount of rain fall

anemometer

measures wind speed

barometer

measures air pressure

wind vane

measures wind direction

hygrometer

measures humidity

psychrometer

measures relative humidity

thermometer

measures temperature

local winds

winds that blow over short distances

global winds

winds that blow over long distances

sea breeze

movement of air from sea to land during the day

land breeze

movement of air from land to sea at night

Coriolis effect

the effect of Earth's rotation on the direction of winds and currents.

latitude

distance north or south of the equator

longitude

distance east or west of the prime meridian

hurricane

severe storm that forms over tropical oceans

tornado

a rapidly whirling, funnel-shaped cloud that reaches down to touch Earth's surface

lightning

electric discharge from cloud to cloud or from cloud to earth

warm front

the front of an advancing mass of warmer air

cold front

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

stationary front

when a warm air mass and a cold air mass meet and no movement occurs

occluded front

a front where a warm air mass is caught between two colder air masses and brings cool temperatures and large amounts of rain and snow

high pressure

a mass of sinking cool air that usually bring fair weather.

low pressure

a mass of rising warm air that usually bring wet, stormy weather