Physical Science and Engineering

Electron Affinity

The ability to accept an electron and become a more negative ion

Newton’s First Law/ The Law of Inertia

The law that objects resist changes in their state of motion

Electronegativity

The tendency of an atom to attract electrons toward itself

Period

the time it takes to complete one full wave cycle, measured in seconds

Hydroelectric Energy

energy collected as gravity pulls water from higher elevations to lower elevations

Ion

an atom with a net electrical charge because it lost or gained an electron

Coal

a fossil fuel formed from land plants

Gravity

a force that pulls all masses towards each other, with or without touching; Earth's gravity pulls all objects near its surface downward

Metallic Character

Elements that show stronger metallic properties such as conductivity, malleability, ductility, and luster; greater in elements that easily lose their valence electrons.

Magnetic Poles

the north and south ends of a magnet

Net Force

The vector sum of all forces acting on an object.

Acid Rain

rain with a lower pH than neutral

corrosive to many substances, including rocks

often caused by pollution

Gas

a state of matter with quickly-moving particles that are farther apart than in a liquid; has no definite volume and takes the shape of the container

Turbine

a device that transforms kinetic energy into mechanical energy

Wave

A disturbance that transports energy as it moves through space and time

Renewable Resouorces

resources which replenish at the same (or faster) rate than the rate at which they are used

Crests

the peaks, or highest points, of a vertically vibrating transverse wave

Generator

A device that uses electromagnetic induction to produce an electrical current (mechanical energy to electrical energy).

Frequency

The number of occurences of an observed behavior over a set time period.

Chemical Reactivity

a measure of the tendency of an atom, molecule, or compound to undergo a chemical change

Strong Nuclear Force

a force that holds protons and neutrons together in the nucleus

Photovoltaics

panels collect sunlight and turn the energy into electricity

Electromagnetic Waves

Waves consisting of vibrating electric and magnetic fields. Electromagnetic waves can travel through a vacuum because they do not require a medium. Emitted by all objects with a temperature above absolute zero.

Greenhouse Gases

gases which, when present in elevated quantities in Earth's atmosphere, trap solar radiation and cause the planet to warm

Mass

The amount of matter in an object, measured in kg in the SI system of units.

Combustion Motor

a device that transforms chemical energy into mechanical energy

Force

an interaction (push or pull) of one object with another that resists other forces or causes acceleration

Conseration of Matter

Matter cannot be created or destroyed; it only changes form

Wavelength

the length (in space) of one complete wave cycle, measured in distance units

Solid

a state of matter with particles fixed in place and packed closely together; has a definite shape and volume

Liquid

a state of matter with particles close together but not fixed in place; has a definite volume, but takes the shape of the container

Inertia

the tendency to resist changes in state of motion

Non-Renweable Resources

resources which will be depleted faster than they can be replenished

Spontaneous Reaction

A chemical reaction that occurs when elements are combined even when no extra energy is present.

Amplitude

the maximum displacement of a particle of the medium during a vibration (measured from non-vibrating position to one crest)

Transverse Wave

a wave in which the direction of the vibration is perpendicular to the direction the energy travels

Troughs (of a Wave)

the valleys, or lowest points, of a vertically vibrating transverse wave

Atomic Radius

the distance from the nucleus to the outer electron shell

Magnetic Field

the potential magnetic force in the space surrounding a magnet; proportional to the force on a magnetic pole in the space around the magnet

Acceleration

a measure of how quickly something changes its speed or direction, calculated from change in velocity/time

Solar Energy

energy from the sun in the form of electromagnetic radiation

Fossil Fuels

a natural non-renewable fuel source. derived from underground, fossilized (petrified) remains of living organisms.

Wave Speed

a measure of how fast the wave energy moves from one place to another

Charge

an electric property of matter that produces interactions with an electric field; can be positive or negative

Newton’s Second Law

the law that greater masses require a greater force to achieve the same acceleration, F = ma

Metallic Qualities

Qualities typically associated with metals such as magnetism, conductivity, malleability, and ductility

Gravitational Force

the force of attraction of all masses toward each other due to gravitational pull

Oil

a fossil fuel formed from marine organisms

Neutral (Charge)

a material without a net positive or negative charge

Weak Nuclear Force

a force that resists particle decay in the nucleus

Electromagnetic Force

interactions (pushes and pulls) of electrically charged particles with other charged particles and magnetic poles

Newton’s Thrid Law

the law that for every action there is an equal and opposite reaction

Medium

the material that carries a mechanical wave

Mechanical Waves

Physical waves that travel through a medium.

Longitudinal Wave

a wave in which the direction of the vibration is parallel to the direction the energy travels

Ionization Energy

the amount of energy needed to remove an outer electron to make a positive ion

Conservation of Energy

in a closed system, the total amount of energy is constant, even if it changes form or moves from one place to another

Natural Gas

a fossil fuel byproduct formed with coal and oil