Name _______________________
Earth/Space Science Vocabulary
Directions: Prepare the definitions for the following
science words.
Anemometer- spinning cups-measure wind speed.
Axis –an imaginary line of spin through Earth’s center.
Barometer- measures air pressure.
Cardinal points or directions –north, south, east, west.
Climate- weather over a long period of time.
Condensation- vapor turns to liquid.
Crescent moon – when a small part of the visible
Moon can be seen.
Erosion- movement of Earth materials.
Evaporation- liquid turns to vapor
First quarter moon – the right half of the visible Moon
is illuminated.
Freezing- liquid turns to solid.
Vocab ES key
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Full moon –entire visible Moon is illuminated.
Hardness Test- which rocks scratch other
rocks/objects.
Humidity- amount of water vapor in the air.
Igneous Rock- rocks formed-magma/lava cools.
Melting- solid turns to liquid.
Metamorphic Rock- rocks “changed” by heat and
pressure.
Mineral- pure materials that make up rocks.
Mohs hardness scale- labels rocks-softest to hardest.
Moonth- time for one Moon orbit around Earth.
New Moon – when none of the visible Moon is
illuminated.
Noon-when the Sun is to the south, shadow points
north.
Orbit – the path an object takes as it revolves in a
circular path around another object.
Phase (Moon) – the changing appearance of the
Moon as seen from the Earth.
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Pores- spaces between soil particles.
Precipitation- rain, hail, sleet and snow.
Revolve – move around an object in a circular way.
Rotation – to spin in place.
Sedimentary Rock- particles, in layers, cemented
together by nature.
Solar energy – a form of energy from the Sun.
Solar system – the Sun with its nine planets and
smaller bodies that move around the planets.
Streak Test- dragging a rock across a porcelain tile to
see the powder color.
Third quarter moon –the left half of the visible Moon is
illuminated.
Weather-daily conditions: temperature, air pressure,
wind speed etc.
Weathering- the breakdown of Earth materials.
Vocab ES key
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