Semester One
Vocabulary Review
an event when one object in
space casts a shadow onto
another; when the Moon
moves through Earth’s shadow
or is in Earth’s umbra
lunar eclipse
the act of one object going
around another, like the orbit
of a planet around the Sun(a
year) or a satellite around a
planet
revolution
a scientific hypothesis that
has been tested many times
with the same outcome
theory
The total energy of motion in
the molecules of a substance
thermal energy
theory that places the Sun at the
center of the universe with
planets and other objects
orbiting around it
heliocentric
The direct transfer of heat from
one substance to another that
is touching
conduction
a group of billions of stars
galaxy
a substance that cannot be
broken down into simpler
substances by ordinary
chemical changes; consists of
atoms of only one type
element
when two forces are working
on the same object in opposite
directions and no changes
seem to be occurring
balanced forces
the speed and direction of an
objects motion
velocity
an object bigger than an
asteroid orbiting a star
planet
a cylindrical container marked
with horizontal lines to
represent units of measurement
and used to precisely measure
the volume of liquids
graduated cylinder
the rise and fall of ocean water
occurring at somewhat regular
intervals due to the
gravitational pull of the Moon
tide
the planets, Sun, moons, stars,
and everything that exists in
space
universe
the spinning of an object, like a
planet (a day)
or other celestial body on its
axis
rotation
a combination of two or
more substances that can be
separated by physical means
mixture
The amount of mass in a given
volume
density
the Sun and all the objects
revolving around it
solar system
the star groups made up of
stars in the universe, not
always the same galaxy, that
resemble familiar objects and
characters
constellation
the attraction between objects
that depends on the mass of
the objects and distance
between them
gravitational pull
a narrow-mouthed container
used to transport, heat, or store
substances, often used when a
stopper is required
Erlenmeyer flask
a distant sun glowing from heat
produced by nuclear reaction
at its center
star
compound or element that is
the result of a chemical
reaction
product
a positive or negative
change in speed
acceleration
described using a reference point,
direction, and displacement
motion
The transfer of heat by the
movement of a fluid or a gas
convection
a particular kind of matter with
uniform properties
substance
in all energy transfers, some
energy is lost as thermal energy
energy inefficiency
the SI unit of measure of force
Newton
the irregular-shaped rocks,
smaller than planets, that
revolve around the Sun
asteroid
an electrically neutral
subatomic particle that is part
of the nucleus of an atom and
has a mass slightly greater than
that of a proton
neutron
the method of determining the
volume of an irregularly shaped
object
displacement volume
an oval or flattened circular
path that the moons, planets,
asteroids, and comets follow as
they travel around the Sun
elliptical orbit
a type of force that acts upon an
object without touching it (ex.
magnetism, gravity,
electrostatic)
noncontact force
a variable in an experiment
that is measuring the effect of
the change made on purpose
dependent variable
the measurement of the
amount of gravitational force
exerted on the mass of an
object
weight
a change in the composition of
a substance/object
chemical change
a space rock or dust from a
comet or broken up asteroid
that burns up in the
atmosphere of Earth
meteor
a change in the appearance of
an substance or object
physical change
a celestial body that orbits the Sun, is
large enough to have a nearly round
shape, does not clear the neighborhood
around its orbit, and is not a satellite of a
planet
dwarf planet
the energy possessed by a body
as a result of its position or
condition rather than its
motion
potential energy
the smallest particle of an
element that has the chemical
properties of that element
atom
a variable that must remain the
same throughout the
experiment
constant
the force that pulls an object
moving in a circle toward the
center of the circle and causes
the object to follow a curving
path
centripetal force
the positively charged central
region of an atom, composed
of protons and neutrons and
containing most of the mass of
the atom
nucleus (atomic)
a force that opposes the
motion of an object
friction
an event when one object in
space casts a shadow onto
another; when the Moon’s
shadow crosses Earth
solar eclipse
a substance participating in a
chemical reaction, especially
one present at the start of the
reaction
reactant
a part of an experiment set up
to represent normal,
unchanged conditions that is
used for comparison at the end
of an experiment
control or control group
forces working in opposite
directions that result in
acceleration of an object
unbalanced forces
a stable subatomic particle that
has a positive electric charge
and is part of the nucleus of an
atom
proton
a variable in an experiment
that is changed on purpose by
the investigator to see the
effect it may have
independent variable
the process of changing one
form of energy into another;
energy is never created or
destroyed
energy transformation
The direct transfer of energy by
electromagnetic waves
radiation
a celestial body that revolves
around a planet
moon – natural satellite
the apparent force that seems
to cause a body turning around
a center to move away from
the center
centrifugal force
a group of atoms that are held
together by covalent bonds so
that they move as a single unit
molecule
the energy possessed by a body
as a result of being in motion
that is dependent on mass and
velocity of the object
kinetic energy
a stable subatomic particle
with a negative electric charge
that spins around an atom’s
nucleus in orbits called shells
electron
the amount of salt dissolved in a
solution; it’s much higher in the
ocean than in rivers, lakes, or
other bodies of water
salinity