6th grade science UIL

Element

A pure substance made of only one kind of atom

Atom

Basic unit of matter

proton

A subatomic particle that has a positive charge and that is found in the nucleus of an atom

Nuetron

A subatomic particle that has no charge and that is found in the nucleus of an atom

electron

A subatomic particle that has a negative charge

chemical change

A change that occurs when one or more substances change into entirely new substances with different properties.

metals

Elements that are good conductors of electric current and heat.

metalloids

elements with properties that fall between those of metals and nonmetals

nonmetals

Elements that are poor conductors of heat and electric current

geothermal energy

Energy from steam or hot water produced from hot or molten underground rocks.

wind energy

The energy captured by transforming the motion of air into electrical energy using a turbine

hydroelectric energy

electrical energy produced by the flow of water

solar energy

energy from the sun that is converted into thermal or electrical energy

nuclear power

electric or motive power generated by a nuclear reactor.

coal

A fossil fuel that forms underground from partially decomposed plant material

oil

A liquid fossil fuel formed from marine organisms that is burned to obtain energy and used in the manufacture of plastics.

natural gas

flammable gas, consisting largely of methane and other hydrocarbons, occurring naturally underground (often in association with petroleum) and used as fuel.

streak

the color of a mineral's powder

mineral

a naturally occurring, inorganic solid that has a crystal structure and a definite chemical composition

potential energy

stored energy that results from the position or shape of an object

kinetic energy

the energy an object has due to its motion

average speed

total distance divided by total time

chemical energy

A form of potential energy that is stored in chemical bonds between atoms.

Asthenosphere

The soft layer of the mantle on which the tectonic plates move

Lithosphere

the solid, outer layer of the earth that consists of the crust and the rigid upper part of the mantle

convection current

a current caused by the rising of heated fluid and sinking of cooled fluid

inner core

A dense sphere of solid iron and nickel at the center of Earth

metamorphic rock

A type of rock that forms from an existing rock that is changed by heat, pressure, or chemical reactions.

sedimentary rock

A type of rock that forms when particles from other rocks or the remains of plants and animals are pressed and cemented together

igneous rock

a type of rock that forms from the cooling of molten rock at or below the surface

rock cycle

A series of processes on the surface and inside Earth that slowly changes rocks from one kind to another

plate tectonics

The theory that pieces of Earth's lithosphere are in constant motion, driven by convection currents in the mantle.

meteor

A streak of light in the sky produced by the burning of a meteoroid in Earth's atmosphere.

asteroid

any of numerous small celestial bodies composed of rock and metal that move around the sun (mainly between the orbits of Mars and Jupiter)

comet

a frozen mass of different types of ice and dust orbiting the sun

gravity

A force of attraction between objects that is due to their masses.

Eukaryotic cells

Contain a nucleus and other organelles that are bound by membranes.

prokaryotic cell

A type of cell lacking a membrane-enclosed nucleus and membrane-enclosed organelles; found only in the domains Bacteria and Archaea.

biotic

living

abiotic

Non-living things

kingdoms

Archaebacteria, Eubacteria, Protista, Fungi, Plantae, Animalia

domains

Bacteria, Archaea, Eukarya

levels of oranization

organism, population, community, ecosystem, biome, biosphere

dochotomous key

Tool used to sort organisms by paired similarities or differences based on a series of questions.

food chain

A series of steps in which organisms transfer energy by eating and being eaten

Force equation

Force = mass x acceleration

lattitude lines

imaginary lines drawn on a map or globe and run east and west and measure distances north or south of the equator. closer you are to the equator the warmer it is.

longitude lines

Imaginary north-south lines that run vertically around the globe parallel to the Prime Meridian.

topographic map

A map that shows the surface features of an area.

density formula

Density = mass/volume

binary fission

A form of asexual reproduction in single-celled organisms by which one cell divides into two cells of the same size

budding

A form of asexual reproduction of yeast in which a new cell grows out of the body of a parent.

fragmentation

A means of asexual reproduction whereby a single parent breaks into parts that regenerate into whole new individuals.

amino acids

building blocks of proteins

Nulceic acids

Class of molecules to which DNA belongs

proteins

Nutrients the body uses to build and maintain its cells and tissues. chains of amino acids

hormones

chemical messengers that are manufactured by the endocrine glands, travel through the bloodstream, and affect other tissues

hemoglobin

An iron-containing protein in red blood cells that reversibly binds oxygen.

Punnett Square

A chart that shows all the possible combinations of alleles that can result from a genetic cross

meiosis

Cell division that produces reproductive cells in sexually reproducing organisms

mitosis

cell division in which the nucleus divides into nuclei containing the same number of chromosomes

qualitative data

Information describing color, odor, shape, or some other physical characteristic

Quantitative

Data that is in numbers

elastic potential energy

the energy of stretched or compressed objects

celestial

having to do with the sky or heavens

energy

the ability to do work

RNA

A single-stranded nucleic acid that passes along genetic messages

DNA

A complex molecule containing the genetic information that makes up the chromosomes.

Parallax

An apparent shift in the position of an object when viewed from different locations

neurons

Individual cells in the nervous system that receive, integrate, and transmit information.

methane

CH4

composite volcano

A tall, cone-shaped mountain in which layers of lava alternate with layers of ash and other volcanic materials

sheild volcano

a wide gentle slopping volcano made of layers of lava and formed by quiet erruptions.

cinder cone

volt

volt

Unit of electric pressure

ohm

unit of electrical resistance

amp

A unit of electric strength

convex lens

A piece of transparent glass curved so that the middle is thicker than the edges

concave lens

a lens that is thinner in the middle than at the edges

Solstice

Time when the Sun is farthest from the equator.

Equinox

The two days of the year on which neither hemisphere is tilted toward or away from the sun

wavelength

The distance between two corresponding parts of a wave

white blood cells

Blood cells that perform the function of destroying disease-causing microorganisms

red blood cells

Blood cells that carry oxygen from the lungs to the body cells.

Commensalism

A relationship between two organisms in which one organism benefits and the other is unaffected

Mutualism

A relationship between two species in which both species benefit

parasitism

One organism benefits and the other is harmed

symbiosis

A relationship in which two different organisms live in close association with each other

golgi complex

organelle that modifies, packages, and transports material out of the cell.

mitochondria

Powerhouse of the cell, organelle that is the site of ATP (energy) production

ribosome

Makes proteins