ALL 8th grade FCAT Science Vocab

8th grade FCAT vocabulary words. Helpful when taking the Florida State Standard Science Assessment..

Acceleration

The rate at which velocity is changing. The change may involve an increase or decrease in speed and/or a change in direction. The change may be positive or negative.

Allele

Any of two or more alternate forms of a gene that an organism may have for a particular trait.

Amplitude

The maximum absolute variation of any periodic function.

Astronomical unit

A unit used to measure distances in the solar system equal to the average distance between the Sun and Earth, approximately 150 million kilometers, and abbreviated AU.

Autotroph

An organism that can produce food from inorganic materials. (carbon dioxide, sunlight, water)

Binary fission

An asexual reproductive process in which a single cell divides into two cells.

Binomial nomenclature

A system used to name organisms using two words: the genus name and the species name.

Boiling Point

The temperature at which a liquid changes to a gas. The boiling point of water at sea level is 100 Degrees Celsius (212 Degrees Fahrenheit).

Budding

An asexual reproductive process in which an outgrowth of a parent organism detaches and forms a new individual of the same species.

Chemical properties

Characteristics of substances that describe their composition, re-activity, and how the substance changes into different substances.

Controlled variable

A factor or condition in a scientific experiment that is purposefully kept the same.

Dominant

The form of a trait that is expressed or shown when the combination of alleles for this trait is heterozygous.

Dwarf planet

A celestial body similar to a planet but orbiting in a zone that has many other objects. (Ceres, Pluto)

Empirical evidence

Evidence based on observations or experiments rather than theory.

Eurkaryote

An organism whose cells contain a nucleus surrounded by a membrane.

Evolution - Theory of

A cumulative change in the characteristics of organisms or populations over time from generation to generation.

F1 Generation

The first generation of offspring from the mating of parental organisms (P generation).

Fault

A crack in Earth's crust along which movement has occurred.

Fold

A bend in a layer or several layers of rock.

Heterogeneous

A type of mixture in which different parts can be easily distinguished.

Heterotroph

An organism that cannot produce its own food.

Heterozygous

A cell or organism that has two different alleles for a particular trait.

Homeostasis

The tendency of a cell, organism, or population to maintain internal stability.

Homogeneous

A type of mixture in which the different parts are blended evenly so that the mixture is the same throughout.

Homozygous

A type of cell or organism that has identical rather than different alleles for a particular trait.

Hypothesis

A statement that can be tested scientifically through experiments and/or other scientific investigations.

Infiltration

A process in which water soaks into the soil.

Kingdom

The highest Linnaean classification into which organism are grouped; above phylum.

Law (Scientific law)

A scientific principle based on many observations of naturally occurring events that demonstrate it to be without exception under certain stated conditions.

Light-year

The distance a ray of light travels in a vacuum in one year.

Melting Point

The temperature at which a solid changes to a liquid. The melting point of ice at sea level 0 Degrees Celsius ( 32 Degrees Farenheit).

Model (scientific model)

A replica or description designed to show the workings or structure of an object or system.

Molecule

the smallest unit of matter of a substance that retains all the physical and chemical properties of that substance consists of a single atom or a group of atoms bonded together.

Nebula

A large cloudlike mass of gas and dust in space that may lead to the formation of a star.

Net force

The sum of all the forces acting on an object. When forces are balanced, the net force is zero and the object's motion will remain the same. when forces are unbalanced, the net force is nonzero and the objects' motion will change.

Niche

The unique position occupied by a particular species in terms of the area it inhabits and the function it performs within the community.

Nucleus

1. The center region of an atom where protons and neutrons are located;

2. The cell structure that contains a cell's genetic material.

Opaque

A term used to describe a material that absorbs and/or reflects light and does not allow light to pass through.

Outcome Variable (dependent variable)

A factor, usually being measured or observed, that responds to, or depends on , another factor ( test variable)

P generation

The parental generation in a genetic cross.

Percolation

The movement of water through rock or soil.

pH

A measure of the acidity or alkalinity of solution based on a scale from zero to fourteen.

Pressure

The force exerted per unit area.

Prokaryote

An organism whose cells are characterized by the lack of a defined nucleus.

Recessive

The form of a trait that will be masked unless the organism is homozygous for this trait.

Regeneration

The growth of new tissues or organs to replace those lost or damaged by injury.

Repetition

Making multiple sets of measurements or observations in a scientific investigation.

Replication

The reproduction of a scientific investigation by another person to ensure accuracy.

Saturation

A condition of a solution whereby it has reached a maximum amount of solute under the given conditions.

Solute

A substance that is being dissolved by another substance.

Solvent

A substance that dissolves another substance.

Systematic observations

Observations obtained by following a preplanned method of observation.

Temperature

A measure of how hot or cold a substance is; a measure of the average kinetic energy of the particles of a substance.

Test variable (independent variable)

The variable manipulated by the experimenter in order to study changes in the outcome variable.

Theory (scientific theory)

An explanation for some naturally occurring event developed from extensive observations, experimentation, and reasoning. See also law.

Translucent

A term used to describe a material that cannot be clearly seen through but that allows some light to pass through it.

Transparent

A term used to describe a material that can be clearly seen through because it allows light waves to pass through in straight lines.

Mechanical Energy

A type of energy an object has due to its motion or position.

Pitch

The relative frequency (high or low) of a sound.

Asteroid

An object that is found in the solar system, orbits the Sun, and is much smaller than a planet.

Chemical Change

Process by which substances are changed into different substances with different properties.

Comet

An object made of rock, ice, dust, and gas that revolves around the Sun.

Climate

The average pattern of weather that occurs in a certain location over many years.

Humidity

A measure of the amount of water vapor in the air.

Oxidation

The process by which other chemicals combine with oxygen.

Chemical weathering

Both the composition and appearance of the rocks changes.

Deposition

Occurs when gravity's downward pull on sediment is greater than the push of flowing water or wind.

Erosion

Process by which sediment and other materials are moved from one place to another.

Weathering

The physical and chemical alteration of rock.

Delta

A deposit formed by sediment, that accumulates at the mouth of a river.

Geosphere

It is divided into three layers based on chemical composition, the crust, the mantle, and the core.

Hydrosphere

The part of the Earth that is liquid water.

Cryosphere

The part of the Earth that is frozen water.

Atmosphere

This surrounds the Earth and is a mixture of mostly invisible gases.

Biosphere

This is made up of living things and the areas on Earth where they are found.

Air Pressure

This is the measure of the force with which air molecules push on a surface.

Thermosphere

The uppermost layer of the atmosphere.

Mesosphere

This is a layer of the atmosphere that is between the thermosphere and the stratosphere.

Stratosphere

This is a layer of the atmosphere that is between the mesosphere and the troposphere.

Troposphere

This is the layer of earth that is closest to the Earth's surface.

Ozone layer

An area in the stratosphere that absorbs most of the solar radiation.

Thermal Energy

The total kinetic energy of particles.

Radiation

The transfer of energy as electromagnetic waves.

Convection

The transfer of energy due to movement of matter.

Conduction

The transfer of energy from one object to another object through direct contact.

Jet stream

Narrow belts of high-speed winds tht blow from west to east.

Ocean currents

They are streamlike movements of water.

Condensation

The change of state from gas to a liquid.

Weather

The condition of Earth's atmosphere at a certain time and place.

Ocean current

This is the movement of water in a certain direction.

Kinetic energy

This is the energy of motion.

Energy

This is the ability to cause change.

Potential energy

This is stored energy that an object has due to its position or chemical composition.

Law of conservation of energy

This states that energy can be neither created or destroyed.

Velocity

This is speed in a specific direction.

Inertia

This is the tendency of all objects to resist any change in motion.

Gravity

This is a force of attraction between objects due to their mass.

Cell

This is the smallest functional and structural unit of all living organisms.

Unicellular organisms

These are organisms made up of just one cell.

Cell Membrane

This is a protective layer that covers a cell's surface and acts as a barrier between the inside of a cell and the cell's environment.