Science Bowl - Physics

acceleration

change in magnitude or direction of velocity with respect to time

alkali metals

univalent metals in 1A of periodic table, very reactive

amplitude

magnitude of distance to the zero value during an oscillation

analog

device that has continuously changing physical aspects to represent changing values

atom

smallest unit of an element, nucleus composed of neutrons and protons with electrons orbiting it

atomic number

count of protons in nucleus, leading to location in periodic table and properties of the element

atomic weight

mass of an atom almost equal to the sum of protons and neutrons

bar magnet

magnet in the shape of a bar with a pole at each end

calorie

measures fuel or energy value of foods as well as energy required to heat 1kg of water through 1°C

chemical change

reorganization of atoms causing irreversible chemical change and change in properties, giving rise to new substance

circuit

path on which an electrical signal can be carried between two or more points

combustion

chemical reaction that produces energy in the form of heat or light

compound

two or more elements chemically bonded together by covalent or ionic bonds to make a new substance

compression

forces pushing "inward" to reduce size

condensation

part of the water cycle; where gas transitions to liquid

conduction

movement and transfer of energy (heat, electrical, etc.) via touch and contact

conservation of energy

law that states that in a system where there is no outside force, energy is constant and cannot be created or destroyed

convection

transfer of heat in or out by the movement of a fluid surrounding it

covalent bond

chemical bond in which electrons are shared

crest

maximum peak on a wave in a cycle

density

mass per unit of volume, how tightly mass is compacted

dependent variable

a variable one does not manipulate, and uses to determine how much if any effect there is from an independent variable

digital

discrete value at each point of measurement, electrical signal converted into bits

electromagnet

electric current passed through a coil of wire to magnetize a core of a magnetic material

electromagnetic radiation

form of energy that refers to waves through space like microwaves, visible light, radio waves, infrared, X-rays, etc.

electron

particle found surrounding atoms with negative charge, shared or transferred in bonds

entropy

measures molecular disorder and randomness in a system

evaporation

part of the water cycle; water to gas phase change

diatomic molecule

molecule made of only two of the same or different atoms

deposition

a physical process where gas becomes a solid without first becoming a liquid or a geological process where sediments are deposited from wind or water and build up to form more land

family

groups of elements in the same vertical column of the periodic table of elements

force

an interaction that will change the motion of an object unless opposed

freezing

point at which a liquid becomes a solid, 32° F for water

frequency

number of waves that pass through in a set amount of time or cycle, measured in hertz

gas

a phase of matter where atoms and molecules are the most spaced out with the least amount of collisions

graduated cylinder

tall and thin instrument that measures volume of a liquid

halogen

five nonmetallic elements that readily react because of one missing electron: fluorine, chlorine, bromine, iodine, astatine

heterogeneous

combination of two or more distinct substances which keep their original chemical properties

homogeneous

same properties at every point and all locations

hypothesis

question that one tests through experimentation

independent variable

variable in which the experimenter chooses values and quantity

inertia

resistance of an object to a change in its speed or direction

intermolecular

attraction or repulsion between molecules or atoms due to polarity

intramolecular

force that holds atoms together within a molecule due to polarity

ionic bond

type of chemical bond in which electrons are transferred instead of shared

kinetic energy

energy an object has because of its motion, can be transferred

law

statement deduced from facts used to describe global phenomenon

liquid

phase of matter in which atoms are closer together than a gas and further than a solid, medium amount of collisions

magnetic field

produced by electric current carrying electrons that move through space

mass

amount of matter in an object regardless of forces on it or its volume

melting

physical change, phase transition in which a solid reaches a certain peak temperature or pressure and transitions to a liquid

metal

readily forms positive ions (cations), high electrical conductivity, malleability, and luster

metalloid

physical appearance of a metal, but low electrical conductivity, used as semiconductors

neutron

neutral charged particle in the nucleus of an atom

noble gas

odorless, colorless, low chemical reactivity, last column of periodic table, full outer shell of electrons

nonmetal

element that lacks metal properties, forms negative ions, and are poor conductors of heat and electricity

nucleus

center of an atom with net positive charge composed of neutrons and protons

period

time required for a wave to complete one full cycle

periodic table

table of elements in groupings according to different properties

phase change

object changes from gas, liquid, or solid to another without changing its chemical composition

physical change

reversible change where substance changes its physical properties like size or shape

potential energy

energy in an object at rest due to its position

pressure

force per unit area, scalar quantity, impacts phase changes - as this increases higher temperature required to change phases

proton

positive charged particle in the nucleus of an atom

pure

a substance that cannot be chemically or physically separated into smaller parts

radiation

the result of rays or waves that carry and emit energy, like heat, sound, or light

scientific method

common steps used to investigate a question based on measurable evidence

solid

phase of matter where atoms are the least spread out, vibrate, and have the most collisions

solution

2 or more substances that form homogeneous mixture in which a solute is dissolved in a solvent

speed

scalar amount measuring how quickly an object can cover a certain distance, ignores direction

sublimation

phase change where a solid goes directly to a gas, skipping the liquid state

temperature

degree of how hot or cold something is, a measure of hotness

theory

repeatedly tested and widely accepted explanation of global phenomena

thermal energy

heat energy; measure of internal energy due to an object's kinetic energy due to vibrational, rotational, or translational motion; hotter object has greater kinetic energy

torsion

force that causes twisting or turning of an object

trough

lowest or minimum point on a wave in a cycle

variable

item or substance in an experiment that can be changed or controlled

velocity

rate of an object's change in position, speed with a direction

volume

amount of space an object can contain or occupy, 3D value

wavelength

distance a wave makes in a full cycle, distance peak to peak