ABeka 5th Grade Science Test 1

investigate

to look closely at something in order to learn facts

science

careful study of the wonders of the universe

technology

science put to practical use

scientific method

orderly step by step process in which scientists work

hypothesis

reasonable prediction

data

collection of facts

Sir Francis Bacon

introduced the scientific method

variables

factors in an experiment that can be controlled

dependent variable

factor in an experiment that is measured or observed

independent variable

only factor in an experiment that is changed to test the hypothesis

controlled variable

factors in an experiment that stay the same

control group

group in an experiment used as a standard

experimental group

group in an experiment in which the independent variable is tested

scientific method

1 observe, ask questions, and research

2 form a hypothesis

3 experiment and gather data

4 study data and reach conclusions

concept map

table, diagram, or chart that shows data in visually organized manner

graph

diagram showing data values

sector

part of a circle graph that represents a certain fraction or part of a whole

interval

amount from one line to the next on a graph

point

location on a line graph that represents data

trend

data on a graph that can help predict future data

conclusion

decision based on evidence

inconclusive

not enough evidence in the data to form a conclusion

law

specific description of how some part of nature always behaves

theory

general explanation of why some part of nature behaves the way it does

thermometer

instrument used the measure temperature

scale

instrument used to measure weight or mass

calculator

instrument used to measure mathematical data

computer

instrument useful in gathering and recording data for research

compass

instrument used in navigation

beaker

cylinder shape glass container

flask

glass container with narrow neck and opening

test tube

narrow glass tube used to hold, mix, or heat small amounts of liquid

eye dropper

instrument used to measure small amounts of liquid

funnel

instrument used to prevent spilling when transferring substances from one container to another

strainer

instrument used to separate parts of a mixture

hand lens

handheld instrument used to magnify a small object for closer examination

microscope

instrument using lenses and lights to examine objects that cannot be seen with the human eye

binoculars

handheld instrument that uses lenses to observe objects from a distance

telescope

instrument using lenses and mirrors to observe objects in space

clock

instrument used to record specific times that experiments begin and end

timer

instrument used to count down time

stopwatch

instrument used to count up times; records precise amounts of time

astronomy

the study of God's creation beyond our atmosphere

worldview

a set of beliefs that shape what someone believes to be true

creation scientist

scientist who studies science based on faith in God as creator

special creation

the Biblical principle that the all-power and wise God spoke the universe into being out of nothing

evolution

belief that the universe formed gradually over billions of years

evolutionary scientist

scientist who believes that the universe slowly evolved over billions of years

big bang

an evolutionary hypothesis about the origin of the world

lightyear

distance light travels in one year

core

center of a star, planet, or other celestial object

corona

part of the sun't atmosphere

photosphere

the visible part of the sun

apparent magnitude

classification of star brightness dependent on the star's brightness and distance from Earth

absolute magnitude

classification of star brightness dependent on surface temperature and size

galaxy

star system containing millions to billions of stars, as well as gas and dust

Milky Way

galaxy that includes our sun and planets

nebula

large cloud of gas and dust floating in space (nebulae-plural)

Local Group

galaxy cluster to which the Milky Way belongs

geocentric

earth-centered

heliocentric

sun-centered

ellipse

oval-shaved orbit of a plant around the sun

gravity

attracting force between two objects

solar system

the sun, the eight planets, and other celestial bodies that orbit the sun

planet

spherical celestial body that has its own orbital path around a star

dwarf planet

smaller celestial body than an actual planet that shares the orbit of other celestial bodies

inner planets

the four planets nearest the sun - Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars; also called terrestrial planets because of their solid surfaces

outer planets

the four planets farthest from the sun - Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune; also called Jovian or Jupiter-like planets, because of their gaseous surfaces

asteroid

object in space made of solid dense rock or metal that orbits the sun

asteroid belt

large ring of asteroids found orbiting between Mars and Jupiter

comet

object in space made of ice and dust, having 3 main parts: nucleus, coma, and tail

meteroid

small piece of rock or metal in space

habitable zone

Earth's position in the solar system where it is not too close or far away from the sun for liquid water to exist

axis

imaginary line through the center of a planet through which it rotates

equinox

time during March and September when both the Northern and Southern Hemisphere experience equal amounts of daytime and nighttime; occurs when the sun is directly above the earth's equator

solsitce

time during June and December when the sun is between the 2 equinoxes

satellite

object that orbits another object

lunar cycle

moon's cycle in which the moon changes its appearance as it waxes to a full moon and wanes to a new moon

constellation

zone of a celestial sphere occupied by a star picture

NASA

National Aeronautics and Space Administration; flight and space agency for the US government

International Space Station

satellite in which astronauts from different countries live and work together

Hubble Space Telescope

telescope that orbits the earth, taking pictures

James Webb Space Telescope

largest and most powerful telescope ever made; orbits the sun, taking pictures

exoplanet

planet orbiting a star not in our solar system

SpaceX

private spacecraft manufacturing and space transportation company founded by Elon Musk

Yuri Gagarin

first man in space

Alan Shepard

first American in space

John Glenn

first American to orbit the earth

Neil Armstrong

first person to walk on the moon