Virginia 5th Grade SOL Science Review

concave lens

a lens that is curved inward; bends light outward

convex lense

a lense that is curved outward; bends light inward

crest

the top of one wavelength

electromagnetic spectrum

the full range of electromagnetic waves from longest to shortest (radio waves (longest wavelength), microwaves, infrared waves, visible light, ultraviolet light, x-rays, and gamma rays (shortest wavelength) )

infrared light

invisible light felt as heat (the sun)

light

a form of energy that travels in straight lines from its source in waves (commonly called "rays")

light waves

are characterized by their wavelengths (red has the longest and violet has the shortest)

opaque

allows no light to pass through an object (shadows may be cast by opaque objects)

prism

refracts visible light so that the rays are bent and separated into the colors of the spectrum

reflected

light that bounces off an object or surface (such as a mirror)

refracted

light that is bent as its path is changed (such as when light passes through different objects like a lens or water)

ROYGBV

the colors of white light broken down by wavelengths in order from longest to shortest (red, orange, yellow, green, blue, violet)

translucent

allowing some light to pass through an object (the image will be distorted.)

transmitted

light passed through an object

transparent

allowing most light to pass through an object

trough

the bottom of one wavelength

ultraviolet light

invisible light to humans (causes sunburns and suntans)

visible spectrum

light that appears white because of different wavelengths traveling together (the light people can see)

wavelength

the distance from one crest to another crest, or the distance between one trough to another trough

crest

the highest point of a wave

compression

where a sound wave pushes matter together

decibel

how the loudness of a sound is measured

Doppler Effect

change in the apparent frequency of a wave, because either the source of the wave is moving toward or away from the observer, or the observer is moving toward or away from the source of the wave (car blowing its horn as it passes by a person on the street)

echo location

animals such as bats and dolphins use this by bouncing sound off objects to determine distance

frequency (sound)

the number of vibrations in a given unit of time; how fast an object vibrates (measured in Hertz, Hz)

pitch

how high or low a sound is determined by the frequency of a vibrating object (Objects vibrating faster have a higher ________ than objects vibrating slower. Larger objects vibrate more slowly and have lower ________ than smaller objects.)

rarefaction

where a sound spreads matter apart

resonance

the amplication of sound by increasing the force of its vibration (when a plucked guitar string causes the entire body of the guitar to move)

sonar

a device that reflects sound by sending out high frequency sound waves and recording the time it takes to return to the source

sound

a form of energy produced and transmitted by vibrating matter

trough

the lowest point of a wave

ultrasound

a device used by doctors to see inside the body by using sound waves to bounce off such things as bone, muscle, or organs

vibration

the rapid back and forth motion of an object

wave

a disturbance moving through a medium (solid, liquid, or gas)

matter

_______ is anything that has mass and takes up space. All things, living and dead, are made of _______.

atoms

______ are the smallest particles of matter. ______ cannot be divided into smaller parts without changing their properties. ______ have a nucleus surrounded by a cloud of electrons.

molecules

____________ are the smallest whole bit of a substance. ____________ are made of two or more atoms.

compound

When two or more elements combine to form a new substance, it is called a __________.

There are many different types of ____________ because atoms of elements combine in many different ways (and in different whole number ratios) to form ___________.

What are some common examples of compounds?

Examples of compounds include water (H2O) and table salt (NaCl). The smallest part of a compound is a molecule.

mixture

A _________ is a combination of two or more substances that do not lose their identifying characteristics when combined.

solution

A ________ is a mixture in which one substance dissolves in another.

properties of matter

a characteristic of matter; color, taste, odor, shape, texture, and volume

solid

tightly packed molecules; has a definite shape, and volume; not easily compressible; does not flow easily

liquid

loosely packed molecules; no definite shape, but definite volume; not easily compressible

gas

very loosely packed molecules; no definite shape or volume; easily compressible

condensation

when air is cooled and turned into a liquid

evaporation

when a liquid turns into a gas

temperature

changes a solid into a liquid. think of the sun melting an ice cube (solid) to water (liquid)

element

a(n) _________ is made up of only one kind of atom

molecule

smallest particle made of two or more elements chemically combined

suspension

a mixture in which one of the parts is a liquid, and some particles don't dissolve

mass

amount of matter something has

gram

a small unit used to measure mass; light-weight objects such as feathers, coins, and paper clips are measured in this unit

kilogram

a thousand grams; heavier things are measured in kilograms, such as people, large animals, boulders, cars, etc.

inference

tentative explanation based on background knowledge and all available data

prediction

a forecast about what may happen in some future situation (ex: the weather forecast - meterologists can predict it, but they are never right for sure)

conclusion

summary statement based on the results of an investigation

experiment

a fair test driven by a hypothesis

observation

what you see, feel, taste, hear, or smell

variable

changes that can affect an experiment's outcome

independent variable

the factor in an experiment that is changed

dependent variable

the factor in an experiment that changes as a result of the independent variable

constant

what is kept the same on purpose in an experiment

speed

how fast an object is moving

force

any push or pull that causes and object to move, stop, or change speed or direction

friction

the resistance to motion created by two objects moving against each other and creates heat

inertia

unless acted upon by a force, objects in motion tend to stay in motion, and objects at rest remain at rest

kinetic energy

the energy of motion

potential energy

energy stored in an object because of its position

electron

negative charge

electric current

a continuous flow of negative charges

circuit

pathway taken by an electric current

conductor

materials that allow the movement of electricity through it

insulator

materials that do not allow the movement of electricity through it

photosynthesis

the process throught which green plants use chlorophyll to produce food (sugar), using carbon dioxide, water, nutrients and sunlight

dormancy

a time which a plant has no active growth

habitat

An organism's __________ provides food, water, shelter, and space.

niche

the function an organism performs in the food web of that community

ecosystem

a community of organisms and their nonliving environment

front

the boundary between air masses of different temperature and humidity

cumulus clouds

fluffy and white with flat bottoms, indicate fair weather

stratus clouds

smooth, gray clouds that cover the whole sky. Light rain and drizzle often associated with them.

cirrus clouds

feathery clouds. Indicate fair weather changing to snow or rain in several hours.

barometer

measures air pressure

anemometer

measures wind speed

rain gauge

measures the amount of precipitation

wind vane

measures wind direction

cell membrane

the thin lining on the inside of the cell wall that controls what comes into or leaves a cell

cell wall

in plants; a thick and rigid outer layer surrounding the cell and protecting the delicate contents.

chlorophyll

the green pigment found in chloroplasts where photosynthesis takes place.

prediction

a forecast about what may happen in some future situation. Based on the application of scientific principles and factual information.

hypothesis

a prediction about the relationship between variables.

experiment

a fair test driven by a hypothesis with which only one variable is compared.

ruler/meter stick

measures length

graduated cylinder

measures capacity

ounces

measures weight

celsius

measures temperature

closed circuit

allows the movement of electrical energy

open circuit

prevents the movement of electrical energy

series circuit

a circuit with only one pathway for the current to travel through