Physical Science Midterm Vocab

Life Science

Observing, studying, and experimenting to find the nature of things

Geology

Physical nature & history of earth

Precision

indicates the exactness of a measurement; how close measurements are to each other

Sl units

Standard unit of measure; allows consistency; includes all units+prefix

Meter

Length; m

Gram

Mass; g

Line Graph

used to show data over time

Bar Graph

compare values of items

Significant Figures

used by scientists to show the precision of a measurement

Natural Science

tries to understand “nature”, or the whole universe behaves

Physics

Science of force & energy

Earth Science

Geology, meteorology, 7 other areas

Physical Science

Chemistry, Physics

Density

Measurement of how much matter is contained in a certain volume of a substance

Element

A substance that cant be broken down into a simpler substance by simple chemical means

Compound

Substance that are made up of atoms of different elements

Molecule

The smallest unit of a substance that behaves like that substance

Mixture

Combination of substances that are not chemically combined

Chemical Property

Describes how a substance changes into a new substance either by combining with other elements or by breaking apart into a new substance

Boiling point

Temperature where liquid boils

Non Flammability

Inability to burn

Matter

anything that has mass and takes up space

Chemical Change

happens when 1 or more substances are changed into entirely new substances that have different properties/characteristics

Scientific Method

Make Observations, State the problem, Gather information, Form hypothesis, Test hypothesis, Draw conclusions, Report results

Accuracy

indicates how close a measurement is to the true value

Liter

Volume, L

Pie Graph

Shows all the parts of a whole

Scientific Notation

Method of reducing the number of zeros in a very big or very small number & expressing them as a power of 10

Chemistry

Study of Matter and its changes

Hypothesis

Possible explanation of an event or solution to a problem

Atom

Smallest part of an element that still has all properties of an element; Made up of various subatomic particles

Pure Substance

Matter that has a fixed composition and definite properties

Physical Property

Characteristics that can be observed without changing identity of the substance

Melting point

the temperature where a substance changes from a solid to a liquid

Volume

Length x Width x Height

Physical Change

Effects one or more physical properties of a substance without changing the identify of the substance

Miscible

Able to be mixed

Flammability

Ability to burn

Coefficients

In front of a chemical formula indicates how many molecules are present

Water Displacement

An object is largely immersed in a fluid, pushing it out of the way and taking its place

Homogeneous

parts are evenly distributed, the mixture is the same throughout

Math

Language of science

Metric System

the decimal measuring system based on the meter, liter, and gram

Kelvin

Measured in Kelvins (K), used by scientists

Meteorology

Study of atmosphere & weather

Sound

No matter

Periodic Table

A table of the chemical elements arranged in order of atomic number, usually in rows, so that elements with similar atomic structure

Subscripts

Used to indicate when there is more than one atom of an element present

Classification

The action or process of classifying something according to shared qualities or characteristics.

Heterogeneous

Meaning the parts of the mixtures are not evenly distributed

Conclusion

An opinion about the hypothesis, based on the data you have collected and analyzed

Data

facts and statistics collected together for reference or analysis

Control

Observation/Record data variable

Celsius

Measured in degrees (°c), designed for the metric system; Freezing point > 100°c, Boil Point > 100°c

Fahrenheit

Measured in degrees (°F), Freezing pt (H20) > 32°F, Boiling pt (H2O) > 212°F

Immiscible

Won’t remain mixed, you will be able to see 2 layers

Experiment

Experimental variable and control variable

Energy

Ability to change or move matter

Temperature

Measurement of how fast the particles in a substance are moving

Kinetic energy

Energy in motion

Pressure

The amount of force exert on a given area

Archimedes principle

The buoyant force on an object in a fluid is an upward force equal to the weight of the fluid that the object displaces

Buoyant force

Pushes things up from underwater

Solid

Particles vibrate in place

Liquid

Particles are closely packed but can slide past each other

Kinetic Theory of Matter

All matter is made up of atoms and molecules. These atoms and molecules act like tiny particles that are always in motion.

Sublimation

Changing of a solid directly to a gas without it ever being a liquid

Condensation

Changes from a gas to a liquid

Freezing

Changing from a liquid to a solid

Melting point

Temperature where a substance changes from a solid to a liquid

Boiling point

Temperature where a liquid boils

Condensation point

Temperature where gas becomes a liquid

Fluid

Possess unique characteristics that allow things like jets to fly and ships to float; liquids and gasses are classified

Law of conservation of energy

Energy can not be created or destroyed

Viscosity

A liquid’s resistance to flow; Depends on the particle attraction

Gas

particles in constant motion and far apart (don't usually stick together)

Evaporation

Changing a liquid to a gas

Thermal energy

The total kinetic energy of a substance

Law of conservation of mass

Mass is neither created nor destroyed

Plasma

Most common phase of matter in the universe; Similar to gasses, but gasses CANNOT conduct a current like plasma can

Melting

changing a solid to a liquid

Freezing point

Temperature where a liquid becomes a solid

Atomic Theory

Atoms are everywhere and they determine all the properties of the matter they compose

Experimental evidence

Dalton based his theory on \______ by using Law of Definite Proportions

Dalton

Revised the Atomic Theory in 1808; All atoms of a given element were exactly alike, the atoms of different elements could join to form compounds; Foundation for the modern atomic theory

Electrons

Negatively charged, outside of the nucleus orbiting

Spread throughout

Thomson’s Model of electrons in an atom (blueberries in a muffin)

Protons

Positively charged, inside nucleus

Neutrons

No charge, inside nucleus, neutral

Atomic number

Tells you how many protons are in an atom of an element

Mass number

Equals the total number of subatomic particles in the nucleus

Isotopes

Elements that vary in mass numbers because their number of neutrons differ

6.02 x 10^23

1 mole

Avogadro's number

6.02 x 10^23

Behave like waves

Electrons in the new model of an atom

Orbitals

Electron levels

Photon

Particle of light

Atom diagram

An illustration pf what the inside of an atom looks like

Positive charge at center

Atoms nucleus

Gain or lose energy

How electrons move to a higher/lower energy level