Physical Science 8 Final Exam Review Flashcards

Vocabulary flashcards for Physical Science 8 Final Exam Review.

Scientific Reasoning

Thinking logically to solve problems or make decisions in science.

Scientific theories

Well-substantiated explanation of some aspect of the natural world, based on a body of facts that have been repeatedly confirmed through observation and experiment.

Scientific laws

Descriptive statement or equation that reliably predicts events under certain conditions

Variable

A factor that can change in an experiment.

Qualitative

Data that describes qualities or characteristics.

Experimental Group

The group in an experiment that is exposed to the treatment or variable being tested.

Control Group

A group separated from the rest of the experiment where the independent variable being tested cannot influence the results.

Quantitative

Data that is expressed in numbers and obtained by counting or measuring.

Graduated Cylinder

A tall, narrow container used for measuring the volume of liquids.

Scale

An instrument for weighing.

Beaker

A lipped cylindrical glass container for laboratory use.

Thermometer

Instrument for measuring temperature.

Ruler

A straight edge used for measuring length.

Physical Property

A characteristic that can be observed without changing the substance.

Chemical Property

A characteristic that describes how a substance interacts with other substances during a chemical reaction.

Atom

The basic building block of matter.

Element

A substance that cannot be broken down into simpler substances by chemical means, and is composed of atoms with identical atomic number.

Mass

A measure of the amount of matter in an object.

Volume

The amount of space that something occupies.

Weight

The force of gravity acting on an object's mass.

Density

Mass per unit volume. How much "stuff" is packed into a certain amount of space.

Physical Change

A change that does not alter the chemical composition of a substance.

Chemical Change

A change that involves the rearrangement of atoms, resulting in the formation of new substances.

Viscosity

A liquid's resistance to flow.

Temperature

A measure of the average kinetic energy of the particles in a substance.

Melting point

The temperature at which a substance changes from a solid to a liquid.

Freezing point

The temperature at which a liquid changes to a solid.

Vaporization

The process of a liquid changing into a gas.

Boiling point

The temperature at which a liquid boils and turns to vapor.

Evaporation

The process of a liquid turning into a gas at the surface.

Condensation

Change of state from a gas to a liquid.

Sublimation

The process of a solid turning directly into a gas.

Mixture

A combination of two or more substances that are physically combined.

Solution

A homogeneous mixture of two or more substances.

Solvent

The substance that dissolves another substance in a solution.

Solute

The substance that is dissolved in a solution.

Solubility

The ability of a solute to dissolve in a solvent.

Energy

The ability to do work.

Motion

The act or process of changing position or place; traveling from one point to another.

Force

A push or pull.

Work

The transfer of energy that occurs when a force is applied over a distance.

Power

The rate at which work is done.

Kinetic energy

Energy that is possessed by an object due to its motion or its stored energy of position.

Potential energy

Stored energy that results from the position or condition of an object.

Gravitational potential energy

Potential energy due to an object's height above the ground.

Elastic potential energy

The potential energy of an object that is stretched or compressed.

Mechanical energy

The sum of kinetic and potential energy in a system.

Nuclear energy

Energy stored in the nucleus of an atom.

Thermal energy

The total kinetic energy of the particles that make up an object.

Chemical energy

Energy stored in chemical bonds.

Electrical energy

Energy associated with the movement of electric charges.

Law of conservation of energy

Energy cannot be created or destroyed, but it can be transferred from one form to another.

Heat

Thermal energy in transfer from one body of matter to another.

Convection

The transfer of heat by the movement of a fluid.

Convection Current

The cyclical movement of a fluid due to convection.

Radiation

The transfer of energy through electromagnetic waves.

Conductor

A material that allows heat or electricity to flow easily.

Insulator

A material that does not allow heat or electricity to flow easily.

Specific Heat

The amount of heat required to raise the temperature of 1 gram of a substance by 1 degree Celsius.

Thermal Expansion

The increase in volume of a substance due to an increase in temperature.

Law of electric charges

Objects with like charges repel, and objects with opposite charges attract.

Electric Force

The attraction or repulsion between electric charges.

Load

A device that converts electrical energy into another form of energy.

Induction

A method of charging an object by rearrangement of electric charges within it.

Series Circuit

A circuit with only one path for current to flow.

Parallel Circuit

A circuit with multiple paths for current to flow.

Static Electricity

The buildup of electric charges on an object.

Electric Discharge

The loss of static electricity as electric charges move off an object.

Magnet

A material or object that produces a magnetic field.

Poles

The ends of a magnet, where the magnetic force is strongest.

Magnetic forces

The attraction or repulsion between magnetic poles.

Electromagnetism

The interaction between electricity and magnetism.

Solenoid

A coil of wire carrying an electric current, which produces a magnetic field.

Electromagnet

A solenoid wrapped around an iron core.

Electric motor

A device that converts electrical energy into mechanical energy using electromagnetism.

Electromagnetic induction

The production of electric current by moving a conductor through a magnetic field.

Generator

A device that converts mechanical energy into electrical energy by using electromagnetic induction.

Wave

A disturbance that transfers energy through matter or space.

Mechanical wave

A wave that requires a medium through which to travel.

Medium

A substance through which a wave can travel.

Electromagnetic radiation

Energy that is radiated in the form of electromagnetic waves.

Transverse wave

A wave that oscillates perpendicular to the direction of energy transfer.

Amplitude

The maximum displacement of a wave from its rest position.

Longitudinal wave

A wave that oscillates parallel to the direction of energy transfer.

Wavelength

The distance between two corresponding points on adjacent waves.

Frequency

The number of waves that pass a given point in a certain amount of time.

Reflection

The bouncing back of a wave when it strikes a barrier.

Refraction

The bending of a wave as it passes from one medium to another.

Diffraction

The bending of a wave around a barrier or through an opening.

Absorption

The process by which a material takes in energy from a wave.

Interference

The phenomenon that occurs when two or more waves overlap in space.

Standing wave

A wave that appears to stay in one place.

Resonance

An increase in the amplitude of a vibration that occurs when external vibrations match the object's natural frequency.

Electromagnetic wave

A form of energy that can travel through space.

Electromagnetic spectrum

The full range of electromagnetic waves.

Radio waves

Electromagnetic waves with the longest wavelengths and lowest frequencies.

Microwaves

Electromagnetic waves with wavelengths shorter than radio waves and longer than infrared waves.

Visible light

Electromagnetic waves that can be detected by the human eye.

Ultra violet rays

Electromagnetic waves with wavelengths shorter than visible light and longer than X-rays.

Infrared rays

Electromagnetic waves with wavelengths shorter than microwaves and longer than visible light.