Science Vocabulary Flashcards

Vocabulary flashcards covering core topics in scientific method, chemistry, earth science, and physics from the lecture notes.

Scientific Method

The procedure scientists use to help explain why things happen the way they do (scientific problem solving).

Inference

A conclusion made based on observations and previous knowledge.

Hypothesis

TESTABLE explanation for your problem or question you are trying to solve.

Observation

Data you can gather using your 5 senses.

Qualitative Observation

Qualities you gather using your senses.

Quantitative Observation

Numbers you gather using measurement (quantities).

Experiment

A test with controlled conditions.

Variable

A factor that can change in an experiment.

Independent Variable

(Manipulated Variable) the variable we change.

Dependent Variable

(Responding Variable) the variable we measure.

Controlled Variable

The variable(s) that remain constant.

Data

Observations gathered during an experiment.

Conclusion

Based on your data collected from experiment; the answer the experiment gives.

Triple beam balance / Digital Scale

Tool used to measure MASS.

Graduated cylinder

Tool used to measure VOLUME.

Metric system

The system scientists use to take measurements.

Volume

The amount of space an object or fluid take up.

Mass

The amount of matter an object is made up of.

Matter

Makes up everything, has mass and volume.

Atom

Basic unit of all matter, made up of subatomic particles called protons, neutrons, and electrons.

Proton

Subatomic particle that has a positive charge and found in the nucleus of an atom. Protons also determine the ATOM's IDENTITY.

Neutron

Subatomic particle that has a neutral charge and found inside the nucleus of an atom.

Electron

Subatomic particle that has a negative charge and found outside the nucleus of an atom.

Nucleus

Center of an atom that contains the protons and neutrons.

Electron shell

Location outside the nucleus where electrons reside and where bonds between atoms are made.

Electron Cloud

Location outside the nucleus where electrons reside and where bonds between atoms are made.

Electron Orbital

Location outside the nucleus where electrons reside and where bonds between atoms are made.

Periodic Table

A list of all the elements listed in order by increasing atomic number (number of protons).

Compound

A type of molecule made of 2 or more different elements bonded together.

Property

A characteristic or trait that you can use to describe matter by observation, measurement, or combination.

Element

A pure substance that is made from a single type of atom. Elements are the building blocks for all the rest of the matter in the world.

Molecule

Made when any 2 or more atoms bond together.

Chemical Bond

An attraction between two atoms.

Solid

A type of matter that holds a definite shape and has atoms packed together tightly in a manner more dense than that of liquids and gases.

Liquid

A type of matter that takes the shape of its container and has its atoms less dense than that of a solid but more dense than that of a gas.

Gas

A type of matter that takes the shape of its container and is the least dense of all types of matter.

Chemical change

When chemical bonds have been broken or new bonds have been made.

Law of Conservation of Mass

Matter is never created or destroyed.

Physical Change

When a substance looks different but has not had any new bonds made or broken.

Density

How much matter is in a certain amount of space.

Temperature

A measurement of how fast molecules are moving.

Viscosity

A measure of a liquid's resistance to flow.

Surface tension

The attraction of the particles in the surface layer by the bulk of the liquid, which tends to minimize surface area.

Vapor

The gaseous state of a substance that is usually liquid or solid at room temperature.

Freeze

To change from liquid to solid.

Evaporate

To change from liquid to gas.

Melt

To change from solid to liquid.

Chemical equation

A chemical reaction written on paper where all atoms are accounted for before and after a change.

Coefficient

Large number written before a chemical symbol in a chemical equation. Represents how many molecules are in the reaction.

Radiation

Energy moving in the form of waves.

Convection

Energy moving because of differences in temperature or density.

Conduction

Energy moving because of close contact or touch.

Physics

The study of force and motion.