HOST Midterm Vocab

The vocab for the History of science and technology, semester 1

What are the three ingredients in chocolate?

Cocoa Solids, Sugar, Cocoa Butter

Aristocrat

Someone who inherits their money, title, and power. Usually a member of the upper class society.

Astrolabe

An instrument used by sailors to determine their location by observing the position of the stars and planets

Astrology

The study of the position of stars used to tell someone’s future or personality

Astronomy

The study of things in space such as the moon or stars.

Autumnal Equinox

The day of the year that marks the beginning of fall in the Northern hemisphere. On this day, the day and night are of equal length.

Concave

Hollow or dent-shaped

Contaminant

An impure substance

Convex

Bump-shaped

Equator

An imaginary line at 0 degrees latitude, with equal distances from the North and South hemispheres.

Eratosthenes

Greek mathematician and astronomer who estimated the circumference of the earth based on solstice data and the distances to the moon and sun (276-194 BC)

Gross

An overall total (without deductions)

Latitude

How far north or south you are measured in degrees (parallel to the Equator)

Longitude

How far east or west you are, measured in degrees (parallel to the Prime Meridian)

Lens

A clear piece of curved glass or plastic that bends passing light to focus or to spread the light rays. It can make things appear closer or larger.

Metric System

A system of measurement invented by the French and easy to convert. Used everywhere except U.S.A, Liberia, and Burma

Metrology

The study/science of measurement.

Neolithic

New Stone Age

Net

Amount remaining after unessacery values have been subtracted

Optics

The science of light or the technology of seeing things.

Paleolithic

Old Stone Age

Periscope

An optical instrument that allows you to view an otherwise obstructable area

Physical map

A map that shows physical features of an area, like mountains.

Political Map

A map that shows the names and borders of places

Primary Effect

The first and immediate effect from a cause on the world.

Prime Meridian

An imaginary line that runs form the north to the south pole, designated at 0° longitude. This line passes through the Royal Observatory at Greenwich, England.

Prism

A piece of glass that separates white light into more colors.

Rectilinear Propagation of Light

Light always travels in straight lines.

Resource

Objects/Talents to use for need or for practical purposes.

Secondary Effect

The following sets of effects that branch off of the primary effects.

Sextant

A device used to tell your location that needs two of three values to find the third one; time, location, and the position of stars.

Smoot

A measuring unit, the height of Oliver R. Smoot

Stonehenge

A ancient stone structure found by scientist in England is believed to have been built in the Neolithic Age and Bronze Age

Sub Saharan

African regions south of the Sahara desert.

Summer Solstice

Day with the most hours of sunlight and the fewest hours of darkness, longest day of the year. This is also the first day of summer, called “Midsummer”

Tare

Subtraction of unneeded values.

Technology

developing tools to solve problems

Tertiary Effect

The smallest sets of effects that branch off of the secondary effects.

Vernal Equinox

The day of the year that marks the beginning of spring in the northern hemisphere, day and night are of equal length.

Winter Solstice

Day with the fewest hours of sunlight and the most hours of darkness, shortest day of the year. This is the first day of winter called “Yule”

Astronomy vs. Astrology

Astronomy is the study of the universe and its contents outside of Earth's atmosphere. Astronomers examine the positions, motions, and properties of celestial objects. Astrology attempts to study how those positions, motions, and properties affect people and events on Earth.

What was the primary effect of the steam boat?

People could go up the rivers. It made for easier transportation.

What was a secondary effect of the steam boat?

Because people could travel up and down rivers, it opened up trade routes.

What was a tertiary effect of the steam boat?

It increased the economy in the U.S, and farmers grew wealthier because of more customers. This created more demand for items and more slaves were also needed.