WGU C165 Integrated Physical Sciences

Physics

The study of forces, energy, motion

Chemistry

The study of atoms and molecules, their structures, and their interactions to form substances

Earth science

The study of the Earth's structure and composition, and processes that change Earth

essential attributes of science

Studies the natural world

Uses testable ideas

Relies on data from observations/experiments

Presented for evaluation by other scientists

Leads to further questions/research

variables

The changing quantities in an experiment

independent variable

What you change in an experiment on purpose

dependent variable

The variable that changes because of an independent variable

control variable

The variable(s) you don't want to study, need to be either eliminated or kept constant

observational study

When systems are observed as they appear in nature, researchers do not attempt to change them

physical model

A model of a physical phenomenon, such as a planetary system

conceptual model

A model used to visualize things that cannot be seen, such as atoms

mathematical model

A model that treats physical objects/phenomena using mathematical methods

computer model

A detailed, complex model calculated by a computer

principle of falsification

Principle that only falsifiable statements can be subject to scientific inquiry

hypothesis

A testable statement about how something in nature works

law

A concise statement that is supported by scientific evidence and repeated experiments, describes a widespread pattern in nature (what)

theory

A statement that explains a wide range of observations, supported by a large body of scientific evidence (how/why)

meter

Base unit of length

kilogram

Base unit of mass

second

Base unit of time

kelvin

Base unit of temperature

Derived units

What is produced when the base units/quantities are combined

Speed

The name for the distance traveled divided by an interval of time

Volume

Term for the amount of space an object occupies

Liquid displacement

Method of determining the volume of an object by measuring the amount of liquid it displaces

direct relationship

A relationship between two variables where increasing one increases the other, and vice versa

inverse relationship

A relationship between two variables where increasing one decreases the other, and vice versa

Velocity

A combination of speed and direction

Acceleration

Term for any change in an object's speed and/or direction

Force

Term for a push or a pull with direction and magnitude. You may not feel it.

Net force

The sum of all forces acting on an object

balanced forces

Term for forces that combine to produce a net force of 0

Newton's first law

An object in motion remains in motion unless acted on by a net force

inertia

The tenancy to keep the same motion/velocity or remain at rest. Newton's first law

Newton's second law

Net force = mass x acceleration (F = ma)

Newton's third law

When one object exerts a force on a second object, the second object exerts a force of the same magnitude in the opposite direction on the first object ("For every action, an equal and opposite reaction")

friction

The force that opposes the motion of an object on which it acts

Kinetic friction

Friction between two objects moving against each other

Static friction

Friction between two objects touching but not moving against each other

Fluid resistance

Friction when an object moves through a gas or liquid

Gravity

Attractive force between objects directly proportional to their masses and inversely proportional to the square of their distance

Linear momentum

Name for the mass of an object times its velocity

Law of conservation of momentum

Term for the fact that momentum is conserved when two or more objects collide

elasticity

The amount of bounce an object has after a collision

Elastic collision

A collision in which the total kinetic energy is conserved

Inelastic collision

A collision in which the total kinetic energy is not conserved

Work

Term for the displacement of an object in the direction of an applied force by using/converting energy

Energy

The capacity to do work or cause change

Kinetic energy

The energy objects have because they are moving. Increases with mass and velocity

potential energy

Energy that is stored

Formula for work

work = force x displacement

gravitational potential energy

Energy an object has due to its height above the ground. Increases with mass and height.

chemical potential energy

Energy that is stored in the chemical bonds in a substance

elastic potential energy

Energy stored in stretched springs, rubber bands, etc.

electromagnetic energy

Energy carried by electromagnetic waves. Light energy.

thermal energy

Energy from the motion of atoms and molecules. Depends on mass and temperature

Law of conservation of energy

Term for the fact that energy cannot be created/destroyed, only transferred/converted

oscillation

A repetitive motion that occurs around a center point or equilibrium

equilibrium

A position or state to which an oscillating object eventually returns to

wave

A repeating and periodic disturbance (oscillation) that travels from one point to another, transferring energy

mechanical waves

Type of waves that require a medium (air, water, etc.) to travel through, cannot travel through a vaccuum

transverse wave

Wave where the oscillation is perpendicular to the direction the wave is traveling

longitudinal wave

Wave where the oscillation occurs along the direction the wave is traveling

electromagnetic waves

Waves with both an electric and magnetic component. Can only be transverse waves and can travel through a vaccuum

compression

Region of longitudinal wave where particles are close together

expansion

Region of longitudinal wave where particles are far apart (aka rarefaction)

crest

The highest point in a wave above equilibrium

trough

The lowest point in a wave under equilibrium

amplitude

The distance between a wave's equilibrium and crest/trough in a transverse wave, or how compressed/expanded the medium becomes in a longitudinal wave

wavelength

The horizontal distance after which the wave repeats

period

The amount of time needed for one full oscillation/one wave to pass

frequency

Number of wave oscillations in a given period of time

sound wave

A disturbance we can hear that moves through a medium away from the source

Matter

Anything that takes up space and has mass

Atom

The basic building block of matter

valence electrons

The electrons in the outer most shell of an atom

Element

A pure substance made of only one kind of atom, defined by its proton count

atomic number

The number of protons in the nucleus of an atom

Chemical

Any substance that has a definite, fixed composition

Compound

a chemical combination of two or more different elements in a fixed ratio

chemical bonds

the attractive forces that hold atoms together

organic compound

Compounds that contain carbon and hydrogen

Inorganic compounds

Compounds that are not organic compounds

pure substance

A chemical containing only one type of element or compound

Mixture

A combination of two or more substances that are not chemically combined and not present in a specific, fixed ratio

heterogeneous mixture

A mixture in which pure substances are unevenly distributed throughout the mixture

homogeneous mixture

A mixture in which substances are evenly distributed throughout the mixture

macroscopic properties

The properties observed when a large number of particles interact

microscopic properties

Properties at the small scale, such as properties of atoms and molecules

Troposphere

The lowest layer of Earth's atmosphere where weather occurs

Stratosphere

the layer above the troposphere; the ozone layer is found in this layer, planes fly here

ozone layer

Protective layer in atmosphere that shields earth from UV radiation.

Mesosphere

The layer of Earth's atmosphere immediately above the stratosphere, where meteors burn up

Thermosphere

The atmospheric layer above the mesosphere where auroras occur, ISS orbits here

Exosphere

The outer layer of the atmosphere

physical change

When matter changes in appearance without changing in chemical composition

chemical change

When matter changes in chemical composition

chemical reaction

When chemical bonds are formed/broken in a chemical change

Reactants

The substances present before a chemical reaction begins

Products

The substances formed during a chemical reaction