Vocabulary for biology and physics 1 T2
Forces and Motion – Simple Definitions
Acceleration – How quickly something speeds up.
Air resistance – The force air pushes against something moving through it.
Balanced force – Forces that cancel each other out, so nothing moves or changes.
Contact force – A force that happens when two things touch.
Distance – How far something has moved.
Energy – The ability to do work or cause change.
Force – A push or a pull.
Friction – A force that slows things down when they rub together.
Gravity – A force that pulls things toward each other (like toward Earth).
Joule – The unit for measuring energy or work.
Kilogram – A unit for measuring mass (how much matter something has).
Kinetic – Related to movement.
Mass – The amount of matter in something.
Net / Resultant force – The total force after all forces are added or subtracted.
Newton – The unit for measuring force.
Non-contact force – A force that acts without touching (like gravity or magnetism).
Power – How fast energy is used or work is done.
Reaction force – A force that pushes back when another force is applied.
Speed – How fast something is moving.
Stationary – Not moving.
Thrust force – A force that pushes something forward (like a rocket).
Unbalanced force – Forces that do not cancel out and cause a change in motion.
Watt – The unit for measuring power.
Weight – How strongly gravity pulls on something.
Work / Work done – When a force moves something over a distance.
Genetics and Evolution – Simple Definitions
Allele – A version of a gene (like blue or brown eye color).
Cervix – The lower part of the uterus that connects to the vagina.
Chromosome – A structure made of DNA that holds many genes.
Continuous variation – Traits that show a range (like height or skin color).
Diploid cell – A cell with a full set of chromosomes (like body cells).
Discrete variation – Traits with clear categories (like blood type).
DNA – A molecule that carries genetic instructions.
DNA replication – The process of copying DNA.
Dominant – An allele that shows up even if only one is present.
Egg (ovum) – The female sex cell.
Embryo – A developing baby in the early stages after fertilisation.
Evolution – How living things change over a long time.
Fertilisation – When a sperm and egg join together.
Foetus – A baby developing inside the womb after 8 weeks.
Gamete – A sex cell (sperm or egg).
Gene – A section of DNA that controls a trait.
Genotype – The combination of alleles a person has.
Haploid cell – A cell with half the usual number of chromosomes (like sperm or egg).
Heterozygous – Having two different alleles (e.g., one for brown eyes, one for blue).
Homozygous – Having two of the same allele (e.g., two for brown eyes).
Meiosis – Cell division that makes sex cells (gametes).
Mitosis – Cell division that makes identical cells (for growth and repair).
Mutation – A change in DNA.
Ovary – Where eggs are made in females.
Oviduct / Fallopian tube – Where the egg travels and where fertilisation usually happens.
Penis – The male organ that releases sperm.
Phenotype – The traits you can see (like eye color).
Prostate gland – Makes fluid to help sperm move.
Punnet square – A chart to predict what traits offspring might have.
Recessive – An allele that only shows if both copies are the same.
Scrotum – The pouch of skin holding the testes.
Selective breeding – Choosing animals or plants with certain traits to reproduce.
Sperm – The male sex cell.
Sperm duct – Carries sperm from the testes to the penis.
Testes (testis) – Organs that make sperm and testosterone.
Urethra – A tube that carries urine or sperm out of the body.
Uterus / womb – Where the baby grows during pregnancy.
Vagina – The canal leading from the uterus to the outside of the body.
Zygote – A fertilised egg cell.