OGT Vocabulary

OGT VocabularyName: ___________________

1 Absorb Take up or take in; The sponge absorbs water well

2 Abundance More than enough; a lot

3 Acceleration A change in speed (or velocity)

4 Acid

A substance that dissolves in water with the formation of hydrogen ions

and reacts with a base to form a salt and water. It neutralizes alkalis,

dissolves some metals, and turns litmus red; typically a corrosive and

sour-tasting liquid. A chemical that reacts easily with other

substances and turns litmus paper red; less than 7 on the pH scale

5 Acid Rainharmful moisture that falls to the ground; contains chemicals from the

smoke of factories and vehicles.

6 Adaptation

Adjustment to environmental conditions, modification of an organism

or its parts that makes to more fit for existence under the conditions of

the environment. A feature of an organism that helps it meet a

particular need in its natural habitat. A physical or behavioral trait of

an organism that helps it survive in its habitat.

7 Adaptive radiation The development of many different forms from a single group of

organisms as they adapt to different environments

8Advantaged

offspring

Offspring that have characteristics which help them survive better than

others

9Advantageous

characteristics Characteristics that help an organism survive better than others

10 Agriculture Using land to get food or to feed animals for human consumption

(livestock)

11 Air mass A large body of air that has the same characteristics of temperature

and pressure throughout

12 Air pollution The contamination of the atmosphere by harmful substances.

13 Air pressure The force with which air presses down on the Earth's surface.

14 Air temperatureA measurement of the amount of heat energy in the Earth's

atmosphere.

15 Allele One of the forms of a gene that is found in pairs on a chromosome;

Some alleles are dominant over others

16 Alloy A mixture of metals (and sometimes non-metals) which forms one

metallic substance; Brass is an alloy of zinc and copper

17 Altitude The height above sea level of a location.

18 AmplitudeThe height of the crest or the depth of the trough of a wave measured

from the undisturbed surface.

19 Arid being without moisture; extremely dry; parched

20 Arteries Blood vessels that carry blood away from the heart.

21Asexual

Reproduction

Reproduction that happens without sex; one organism creates one or

more organisms; only one parent; offspring are genetically identical to

the parent

22 Asteroid An object made up of rock and metals which orbits the sun, mainly

between Mars and Jupiter

23 Atmosphere The air surrounding a planet

24 Atom

The smallest unit of a substance that has all of the properties of that

substance. The smallest particle of an element that can exist either

alone or in combination.

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25 Atomic number The number of protons in an atom

26 Atomic theory A theory that says that all matter is composed of tiny indivisible and

indestructible particles

27 Axis of rotation An imaginary line through an object, around which the object spins

28 Bacteria The kingdom of life which has no cell membrane or nucleus and is

always unicellular

29 Bar Graph Visual tool used to organize, illustrate, and compare observations.

30 Base

A chemical that reacts easily with other substances and turns litmus

paper blue; greater than 7 on the pH scale. A substance that dissolves

in water with the formation of hydroxyl ions and reacts with an acid to

form a salt and water; turn litmus paper blue.

31 Bedrock The unbroken, solid rock portion of the Earth's crust.

32Behavioral

adaptations

Special behaviors that help organisms adapt to changes in their

environment.

33 Benefit An advantage.

34 Bias An influence in an unfair way; You are biasing my choice by telling me

yours

35 Big Bang The theory that the universe began suddenly from a tiny mass

36 Biodiversity Describes the great variety of species on Earth or within a habitat.

37Biogeochemical

cycle

A way that a chemical element or molecule moves through both the

biotic ("bio-") and biotic ("geo-") parts of an ecosystem

38Biogeochemical

cycle

The natural processes that move important substances through air,

water, land and organisms.

39 Biology The study of living things

40 Biome

A region of the world that has a particular climate and unique plants

and animals that live there. Major ecological community (tropical rain

forest, grassland or desert).

41 Biosphere The thin zone where all life exists on Earth.

42 Biotechnology The study of the use of small organisms to help industrial processes

43 Biotic Anything that is alive. The living parts of the environment.

44 Biotic The nonliving parts of the environment

45 BloodA liquid tissue that contains red and white blood cells, and platelets. It

carries dissolved gases, nutrients, hormones, and wastes.

46 Body cell All of the cells in an organism not involved in reproduction

47 BoilingThe rapid change in phase from liquid to gas where bubbles of gas

form within the liquid and escape.

48 Boiling point The temperature at which a substance changes from liquid to gas.

49 Bond An electrical force that links atoms together

50 Bone The hard parts of the skeleton

51 BrainThe organ, located within the skull that controls thinking and body

activities.

52 Brittle Easily broken

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53 BronchiThe two tubes that branch off from the lower end of the trachea,

connecting it to the lungs.

54 Buoyancy The tendency of an object to float.

55 Buoyant Able to float.

56 Calorie

A unit used to measure and compare the amount of heat energy in a

substance; the amount of heat needed to raise the temperature of 1

gram of water 1 degree Celsius.

57 Cancer A disease that is the result of abnormal cell division.

58 CapillariesThe tiny blood vessels, connecting arteries to veins. Exchange material

between the blood and the body's cells.

59 Carbohydrate An essential chemical in all cells that is broken down to form sugars;

glucose, sucrose, lactose, galactose. Used to produce energy.

60 Carbon cycle The flow of carbon dioxide and oxygen throughout the Earth

61 Carnivore Meat-eating animals, which get their energy from plants indirectly.

62 Carrying capacity The most amount of a particular organism that can be supported by an

ecosystem

63 CartilageA flexible tissue that acts as a cushion between bones and provides

flexibility at the ends of bones.

64 Catalyst Chemicals that alter (I.e. reduce) the rates of reactions.

65 Cell The basic structural and functional unit of all organisms

66 Cell differentiation A process where cells change to perform different roles

67 Cell division A process where one cell becomes more than one cell. A reproductive

process. A parent cell splits into two new daughter cells.

68 Cell membrane

Surrounds the cell and keeps it together; also decides what material

enters and leaves. The outer covering of the cell that regulates the

flow of materials into and out of the cell.

69 Cell membrane the semipermeable membrane enclosing the cytoplasm of a cell

70 Cell organelle Parts of the cell that perform specific functions

71 Cell wall The stiff outer layer of a cell that protects the cell and gives it shape.

Only in plant cells.

72 Cellular respiration The process where organisms get energy from organic molecules.

Releases energy from food. Takes place inside the mitochondria.

73 Ceramic Something made of hard brittle material produced from nonmetallic

minerals by baking at high temperatures

74 Characteristic A distinguishing quality of something; generosity is one of his best

characteristics

75 Chemical Material produced by or used in a reaction involving changes in atoms

or molecules

76 Chemical bondThe link that joins one atom to another atom in a molecule. Store

energy.

77 Chemical change A change in a substance that results in a completely different

substance or substances and cannot be undone.

78 Chemical energyThe energy stored in certain substances because of their chemical

makeup.

79 Chemical equation A short notation for describing a chemical change; 2H2 + O2 è 2H2O

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80 Chemical formula The sequence of atoms that describes a certain molecule

81 Chemical property Describes the ability of a substance to react and form new substances

82 Chemical reaction

What occurs when one or more reactants combine to form one or more

products. A change that results in the formation of one or more new

substances and which either releases or uses energy; a chemical

change.

83 Chemosynthesis The creation of carbohydrate from carbon dioxide and water that only

happens in certain bacteria and fungi

84 ChlorophyllA green substance found in the leaves of plants, which is necessary for

photosynthesis to take place.

85 Chlorophyllthe green coloring matter of leaves and plants, essential to the

production of carbohydrates by photosynthesis

86 Chloroplast Organelle in plants and some other organisms that contains chlorophyll

and which is responsible for photosynthesis

87 Chromosome A thread-like strand of DNA or RNA in the cell nucleus. Contains the

genetic information.

88Chronological

Order

a sequence according to time of occurrence. For example oldest to

newest.

89 Cilia A hair-like organelle on the outside of a cell used in movement

90 Circuit breakerA device that prevents overloading of an electric circuit by interrupting

the flow of electricity when it reaches a dangerous level.

91Classification

systemA system that groups things together by properties, which you choose.

92 Climate The average weather conditions in a location over a long period of time

93 Climax communityThe final community that emerges and is not replaced after ecological

succession.

94 Cloning

The creation of genetically identical copies of some organism. The

scientific process by which an organism that normally reproduces

sexually is reproduced asexually, resulting in a new organism that is

genetically identical to the parent organism.

95 CloudA mass of tiny water droplets or ice crystals suspended high in the

atmosphere.

96 CoalA black rock formed from the remains of ancient swamp plants. A

fossil fuel.

97 Cold FrontThe boundary formed when a cool air mass pushes into and under a

warm air mass.

98 Collision An event where two objects come together

99 Comet A small, frozen object outside the earth which travels around the sun in

an ellipse

100 Commensalism A relationship between two organisms where one benefits and the

other is unaffected

101 Community The collection of all organisms that live together in a specific habitat or

on an area of land

102 Competition The interaction between organisms that require the same food and

resources.

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103 Compound A substance formed from two or more elements chemically united in

fixed proportion.

104Compound

microscopeA microscope with two lenses.

105 Conceive To have the idea for something

106 Conclusion An explanation of the results of an experiment

107 CondensationThe changing of water vapor into droplets of liquid water; the change

in phase from gas to liquid.

108 Conduction The ability of a material to allow electricity or heat to pass through it.

The transfer of heat by direct contact.

109 Conductivity The amount of conduction of a material

110 ConductorsMaterials through which electricity moves easily. Most metals are

conductors

111 Conservation The saving of natural resources through wise use

112 Conserve To keep the same through a physical or chemical reaction; energy is

conserved in this process

113 Constant Does not change

114 ConstellationA pattern formed by stars in the night sky, which reminded people of

animals or characters in ancient myths.

115 Constrain To limit, hold back or restrict

116 Consumers Animals which have to eat other organisms in order to get energy.

117 Context The set of facts that surround a situation or event

118 Continental Drift The theory that states the continents are constantly in motion

119 ControlThe sample in an experiment that does not contain the variable being

tested.

120 Convection The process where heat causes fluids (gas or liquid) to rise and bring

heat up

121 Core Earth's center, which is made up of an inner and outer zone.

122 Core Earth's center, which is made up of an outer zone and an inner zone.

123 Corrosion The chemical wearing away of a metal, which forms a new substance.

124 Covalent Bond A type of chemical bond where electrons are shared between the atoms

125 Crossing-over

Occurs during gamete formation when a section of genes on one

chromosome breaks off and changes places with the same section on

its homologous chromosome; produces greater variation in the

offspring because the chromosomes are different from those of the

parents.

126 Crust The outermost solid rock layer that covers the surface of the Earth.

127 Cyclic fluctuation A process that involves change, but returns to the same state over and

over again

128 Cytoplasm The fluid that fills a cell, in which most life processes occur

129 Darwin Charles Darwin, who came up with the most widely accepted theory of

evolution

130 Data The results or information that you get from doing a scientific

experiment

131 Deciduous forest A biome where the trees lose their leaves every year

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132 Decomposers

Special organism, such as fungi mushrooms and molds) and some

bacteria which break down dead animal's remains and return their

nutrients to the soil.

133 Deduction A way of making scientific discoveries where general ideas are tested

very specifically

134 Deep interior The mantle and core of the Earth

135 Deletion The removal of a DNA base that results in a genetic mutation

136 Density The mass of a substance per unit volume

137Deoxyribonucleic

acid (DNA)The chemical that makes up the chromosomes.

138 Dependent variable

A variable whose values are determined by one or more (independent)

variables. The variable measured in an experiment which depends on

the value of the independent variable.

139 Diffusion The process that allows materials to flow through the cell membrane.

140 DigestionThe breaking down of the nutrients in food into a form usable by the

body.

141 Dissipate To cause to separate and go in different directions

142 Dissolve To cause to go into a solution

143 Distribution The amount of scattering over a certain area

144 Diversity The distribution and abundance of different plant and animal

communities and species within a given area

145 DNA Abbreviation for deoxyribonucleic acid, which contains the genetic

instructions for all forms of life

146 Dominant A genetic characteristic that is always expressed by the organism

147 Doppler effect

The apparent change in the frequency of a wave (light or sound) that

occurs when the source and/or the observer are in motion relative to

one another.

148 DormancyA state in which an organism is inactive while it awaits more favorable

conditions in its environment.

149 Double helixThe two twisted strands that form the spiral structure of a DNA

molecule.

150 Ductile Can be drawn into wire

151 Earthquake The movement of Earth's plates along a fault in the crust which results

in shaking on the surface of the crust

152Ecological

Succession

The natural process by which one community of living things is

replaced by another until a stable community appears.

153 Ecology The study of the interaction between organism and their environment.

154 Ecosystem

An ecosystem is an area consisting of all plants, animals and micro-

organisms (biotic factors) working together with all of the non-living

(abiotic) factors of the environment

155 Effort The force applied to a simple machine to overcome the resistance

156 El NinoAn unusually warm ocean current that periodically appears off the west

coast of South America.

157 Electric circuit A complete path for the flow of electricity.

158 Electric force The force between a positively-charged particle and an electron

(negatively charged)

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159 Electrical energyThe energy produced by the flow of electrons from one point to another

through a conductor.

160 Electrically neutral Neither positively charged or negatively charged

161 Electricity Energy caused by the movement of electrons in a direction

162Electromagnetic

Induction

The process of using a magnet to induce a flow of electrons in a coil of

copper wire.

163Electromagnetic

radiation

A wave that moves back and forth at a certain frequency and moves

through space at the speed of light

164Electromagnetic

spectrum The range of all possible electromagnetic radiation

165Electromagnetic

waves A wave or "disturbance" in space; radio, television, x-rays, microwaves

166 Electron A negatively charged particle outside the nucleus of an atom

167Electron Dot

Structure

A model that shows the number and arrangement of valence electrons

around the symbol of an element

168 Element

A substance composed of atoms with the identical atomic number;

organized in the periodic table. One of the basic substances or building

blocks that form all matter. Any of more than 100 fundamental

substances that consist of atoms of only one kind and that singly or in

combination constitute all matter.

169 Elimination The removal of undigested materials from the body.

170 Emigration The act of leaving one place for another

171Endangered

speciesA species that is in danger of extinction.

172 Endothermic A chemical reaction that absorbs heat energy. Energy that is used to

break chemical bonds.

173 Energy The ability to do work. The capacity of doing work, can be in various

forms such as nuclear, sound, thermal, and light.

174 Energy levelsAccording to Bohr's theory, the rigid "shells" in which electrons orbit an

atoms nucleus.

175 Energy production Since energy cannot be created or destroyed, this refers to getting

energy into a more usable form

176 Energy pyramid

A diagram showing that as you go up the pyramid, the total amount of

energy decreases. Illustrates the total mass of any feeding level in a

food chain; always has producers (plants) at its base.

177 Energy transfer Energy can be transferred from one place to another, but when this

happens, energy is always lost

178 EnvironmentThe surroundings in which an organism lives; includes both living and

nonliving things

179 Equilibrium A system is at equilibrium when no change is occurring

180 ErosionThe process by which rock material at the Earth's surface is physically

worn away and carried away.

181 Ethics A system of principles that talks about good conduct

182 Eukaryote A type of organism that has a true nucleus in its cell's)

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183 Eukaryote

any organism having as its fundamental structural unit a cell type that

contains specialized organelles in the cytoplasm, a membrane-bound

nucleus enclosing genetic material organized into chromosomes, and

an elaborate system of division by mitosis or meiosis, characteristic of

all life forms except bacteria, blue-green algae, and other primitive

microorganisms.

184 EvaporationThe changing of liquid water into water vapor (gaseous water); a

change in phase from liquid to gas.

185 Evidence Knowledge on which to base an idea or belief

186 Evolution

The process by which natural selection acts, over time, on variations in

a population to produce new species. The events involved in the

development over long periods of time of organisms

187Evolutionary

relationship How closely related two organisms are in terms of evolution

188 ExcretionThe process of removing the waste products of cellular respiration from

the organism.

189 Exert To make a great effort

190 Exothermic A chemical reaction that gives off heat energy

191 Exothermic Reactions that release heat energy: bond formation is always

exothermic.

192 Experimental The sample in an experiment that does contain the variable.

193 Extinction No longer in existence

194 Extrusive On the outside; when talking about rocks, extrusive rocks are formed

on the surface of the Earth when lava cools

195 Eyewash A safety feature of a classroom which allows people to safely wash

their eyes of any chemicals or objects

196 Family

The classification group above genus. A subgroup of an order.

(Kingdom -> Phylum -> Class -> Order -> Family -> Genus ->

Species)

197 Faulting A crack or fracture in the Earth's crust, caused when rock is squeezed

or pulled beyond its capacity to bend or stretch and thus breaks

198 Faulting The creation of a crack in the surface of the Earth due to plate tectonics

199 Fermentation The process of energy production that happens in many organisms and

does not require oxygen

200 FertilizationThe joining of an egg cell's nucleus and a sperm cell's nucleus, during

sexual reproduction, to produce a new individual.

201 Filtration

The process used to remove particulates from factory and power-plant

smokestack gases. The process used to remove insoluble particles

from a mixture or solution.

202 Fission The splitting of an atomic nucleus into two smaller nuclei that releases

energy

203 Flagella An organelle of some prokaryotes that allows for movement and

resembles a tail

204 Fluid Anything that flows; both gases and liquids are considered fluids

205 Folding A process that happens on the surface of the earth when rock is pushed

together and forms wavelike patterns called folds.

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206 Food chainA sequence of organisms through which nutrients are passed along in

an ecosystem.

207 Food web A diagram that shows the relationships between different organisms in

an ecosystem. A number of interconnected food chains

208 Force Something that produces a change in an object. A push or pull exerted

on an object.

209 Formation The geological features of the earth

210 Fossil The remains (or an impression) of a plant or animal that existed in a

past geological age . Found in sedimentary rocks.

211 Fossil fuel An energy source (fuel) made from ancient plant or animal remains

(fossils)

212 Fossil record A piece of evidence for evolution that shows the development of

organisms over time across the entire world

213 Freezing

The change in phase from liquid to solid. The storing of food at

temperatures below 0 degrees to slow the growth of microorganisms

that can spoil food.

214 Freezing point The temperature at which a substance changes from a liquid to a solid.

215 Frequency The number of times something happens per second. The number of

waves that pass by a fixed point per second.

216 Friction The force that resists motion. It must be overcome to start an object

moving or to keep an object moving.

217 Front The boundary between two different air masses.

218 Fuel A source of energy

219 Full moon

The phase of the moon that occurs when Earth is between the sun and

the moon, so that all of the moon's lighted side can be seen from

Earth.

220 Function What something is used for

221 Fungi The kingdom of living things that are eukaryotic and make their own

energy; mushrooms, yeast, molds

222 Fuse

A device, used in an electric circuit, containing a thin metal strip that

melts to interrupt the flow of electricity when the circuit becomes

overheated.

223 Fusion The combination of two or more atomic nuclei that releases energy

224 Galaxy A large cluster composed of billions of stars. E.g. The Milky Way

225 Gametes

Special reproductive cells (eggs and sperm) that have one half the

normal chromosome number. Gametes join their nuclei during

fertilization. Human cells have 46 chromosomes. Human gamete cells

have 23 chromosomes.

226 Gamma ray A form of electromagnetic radiation that has a very short wavelength

and high frequency

227 Gene The basic unit of heredity, composed of DNA and found on

chromosomes

228 Gene frequency The amount of times a particular gene is found in a population

229 Gene pool The sum total of all alleles for all the traits within a population.

230Genetic

composition The collection of all of the genes of a particular organism

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231 Genetic drift

Occurs when a small population (whose gene pool may differ from that

of the larger group) becomes isolated from other members of the same

species.

232Genetic

engineering

The technique that involves the introduction f new genes into the

genetic material of another organism.

233 Genetic research Research that investigates what information is in organisms' DNA

234 Genetic variation Changes between organisms that is based on their DNA

235Genetically

modified food Food that has been changed so that its DNA benefits humans

236 Genotype The letters that represent the two alleles that make up a gene. The

combination of genes that controls a given trait.

237 Genus A classification of living things that is more specific than the species

238 Geologic time scale A chart that shows the eras and periods of major events on Earth

239 Geological Referring to geology, the study of the Earth

240 Geology The study of the Earth

241 Germ A small organism that causes disease

242 Germ theory The theory that says that diseases come from small organisms (germs)

243 GlacierA large mass of ice (from snowfall) that slowly flows over the land in

response to its great weight and to gravity.

244 GlandAn organ that makes and secretes (releases) chemicals called

hormones

245 Global warming The idea that Earth's temperature is rising and causing mainly negative

effects. Caused by the Greenhouse Effect.

246 Goggles A safety device used whenever the eyes could be injured by a chemical

or physical experiment

247 Gravity

The theory that all objects are drawn to each other depending on their

distance from each other and their masses. The force that pulls

objects to the Earth's surface.

248 Greenhouse effect The trapping of heat in the Earth's atmosphere by carbon dioxide.

249 Ground waterFreshwater deposits formed by rain or snowmelt that filter into the

ground.

250 Growth The increase of size of an individual; can also be the presence of

something

251 Habitat The environment that a species lives and depends upon for its survival

252 Half-lifeThe amount of time required for one half of the sample of a radioactive

isotope to decay (at a predictable rate).

253 Hardness A scale that tells how hard a particular rock is; harder rock scratches

softer rock

254 HeartAn organ, made of mostly muscles, that contracts (beats) regularly to

pump blood throughout the body.

255 Heat energy The form of energy produced by the molecular motion of matter.

256 Helium The second-lightest chemical element and found primarily in stars like

the sun

257 Herbivores Plant-eating animals, which get their energy directly from plants.

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258 Heredity

The sum of the qualities and potentialities genetically derived from

one's ancestors; the relation between successiveness generations, by

which characteristics persist.

259 Heterozygous Meaning different; in genetics, this refers to a genotype made up of

both a dominant and recessive allele; Bb, Dd, Ff

260 HibernationA sleeplike state of reduced body activity that some animals enter to

survive the winter

261 Hierarchy

A sequence of groupings of things in a system; businesses have

hierarchies which start with the president of the company, then

managers (bosses) and finish with individual employees

262High-pressure

systemA large area where air is sinking, causing high surface air pressure.

263 Homeostasis

A state of equilibrium between different but interrelated functions or

elements, as in an organism or group. The maintenance of a stable

internal environment despite changes in an external environment.

264 Homozygous Meaning same; in genetics, this refers to a genotype made up of two

identical alleles; BB, dd, FF

265 HormoneA chemical messenger secreted by a gland into the bloodstream that

tells an organ what to do.

266 Humidity The amount of moisture or water vapor in the atmosphere.

267 Hurricane An intense cyclone (spinning storm system) that has winds above 73

miles per hour

268 Hybrid

A combination of two different things; in genetics, this refers to the

cross between a homozygous dominant and homozygous recessive

individual to form heterozygous individuals; BB x bb = Bb

269Hydroelectric

energy

Electricity produced by using the energy of flowing water to turn the

turbines of a generator.

270 Hydrogen The lightest chemical element and the main fuel in stars like the sun

271 HydrosphereThe liquid part of the Earth; i.e. an interrelated system of all the water

on the Earth.

272 Hypothesis

An educated guess that is used for experiments; a hypothesis must be

tested in order to figure out whether it is true or false; based on

observations and/or knowledge.

273 Igneous Rock that is formed from cooled magma (intrusive rock) or lava

(extrusive rock)

274 Immigration The movement of an organism into an area

275 Inadvertently Unintentionally; usually because something was not taken into account

276 IncinerationA method of solid-waste disposal that releases organic compound, ash,

soot, and other pollutants into the atmosphere.

277 Inclined planeA simple machine that consists of a flat surface with one end higher

than the other, such as a loading ramp.

278Independent

assortment

Refers to the genetic concept that genes separate independently of

each other during meiosis

279Independent

variableThe variable that you control in an experiment.

280 Indestructible Cannot be destroyed

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281 Indivisible Cannot be divided

282 Induction A type of scientific thinking where specific instances are put together to

form general ideas

283 InertiaThe tendency of an object at rest to remain at rest, or of an object in

motion to remain in motion.

284 Infectious diseaseA disease caused by microorganisms that can be transmitted from one

individual to another.

285 Inference A conclusion based upon observations or facts

286 Informed consent

When performing an experiment involving people, this is the

permission that the subject (person being experimented on) gives, but

only when they know what will be done

287 Infrared A part of the electromagnetic spectrum that has less energy than

visible light; it is the radiation that heat gives off

288 Ingestion The process of taking in food

289 Inheritance Attributes that are received by offspring (children) from their parents

290Inherited

characteristics Attributes that are received by offspring (children) from their parents

291 Inner CoreEarth's center. Radius = 1200 km. Thought to be solid because p-

waves travel through it.

292 Inquiry The process where information is received by asking questions

293 Insoluble Not able to dissolve in a given solvent.

294 InsulationMaterial used to reduce or prevent the flow of heat from one area to

another.

295 Interrelatedness Describes how genetically related two species of organisms are

296 Intrusive On the inside; refers to the type of rock that is formed inside the Earth

when magma cools

297 Investigation The work of inquiring into something thoroughly and according to

specific steps

298 Involuntary muscle Muscles that we do not consciously control.

299 Ion

A charged particle that forms then electron transfer occurs between

atoms. Ions have either more electrons than protons or fewer

electrons that protons.

300 Ionic Bond

A type of bond where ions are formed; electrons are not shared

between the atoms as they are lost from one atom and attracted to the

other. Formed when positive and negative ions are attracted.

301 Isotope

Any of two or more species of atoms of a chemical element with the

same atomic number and nearly identical chemical behavior, but with

differing atomic mass or mass number and different physical

properties. A version of an element having the same atomic number

but a different atomic mass; this is due to a different number of

neutrons.

302 Joint A place where one bone is connected to another.

303 JouleThe work ozone when a force of 1 Newton acts through a distance of 1

meter. The unit of work that is equal to 1 Newton-meter.

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304 Jumping gene A piece of DNA that can become a part of the chromosome at many

different sites along the chromosome

305 KidneyA pair of organs that filter wastes from the blood and help control the

water and mineral balance of the body.

306 Kinetic energy Energy of motion = 1/2(mass)(velocity)(velocity)

307 Kinetic energy The energy of movement

308Kinetic Theory of

Matter

Matter is composed of tiny particles called atoms or molecules that are

in constant random, vibrating motion.

309 Kingdom

The largest group in Linnaeus' system of classification for living things.

(Kingdom -> Phylum -> Class -> Order -> Family -> Genus ->

Species)

310 Lake effect snow Snow created when cold air flows over relatively warm water then over

cold land

311 Lamarck

Referring to the scientist who proposed the idea that evolution happens

by the inheritance of acquired characteristics; Lamarck thought that

giraffes' necks got longer because they grew during the lifetime of the

parents and the parents passed long necks on to their offspring

312 LandfillsDumpsites for garbage in which bacteria convert biodegradable

materials into carbon dioxide, methane, and other substances.

313 Landform A natural feature on Earth's surface

314 Latitude Distance (north-south) from the equator measured in degrees.

315 LavaThe liquid rock (magma) that breaks through a volcano and is on the

surface of the Earth.

316

Law of

Conservation of

Energy

Energy is neither created or destroyed but changed from one form to

another

317

Law of

Conservation of

Mass

Mass cannot be created or destroyed. It is changed from one form to

another

318

Law of

Conservation of

Matter

Matter cannot be created or destroyed. It is changed from one from to

another.

319Law of Universal

GravitationIn the universe, every mass attracts every other mass.

320 LensA piece of transparent glass or plastic with curved surfaces that bend

light rays to form an image.

321 LeverA simple machine consisting of a bar or rod that can turn around a

point called the fulcrum.

322 Life cycleThe changes that an organism undergoes as it develops and produces

offspring.

323 Life functions The basic processes carried out by all living things.

324 Life process Something that occurs in an organism that is necessary to keep it alive

325 Light

A visible form of radiant energy that moves in waves outward in all

directions from its source. A type of electromagnetic radiation that can

be seen with eyes.

326 Light-year The distance light travels in one solar year (about 9.5 trillion km.).

327 Line Graph A visual tool used to organize and present data.

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328 LipidsA type of nutrient that stores energy efficiently in organisms. Also

called fats. Fats that do not dissolve in water.

329 Liquid The state of matter where the particles are loose and form the shape of

their container but do not necessarily fill up the container

330 Lithosphere The section of Earth that is composed of rock. The solid part of the

Earth.

331 Liver

An organ that produces urea from excess amino acids, removes

harmful substances from the blood, and secretes bile (a digestive

juice).

332 Living system A group of organisms and their environment

333 Living thing An organism

334 Locomotion The movement of the body from place to place

335 Logic Reasoned and reasonable judgment; "it made a certain kind of logic"

336 Longitude The distance measured in degrees east or west of the prime meridian.

337 Longitudinal wave (l-wave) An earthquake wave that travels along the Earth's surface.

338Low-pressure

systemA large area where air is rising, causing low surface air pressure.

339 Lungs

A pair of organs, located in the chest that contain millions of tiny air

sacs in which the exchange of respiratory gases between the blood and

the environment takes place

340 LymphFluid that bathes all body cells and acts as an go-between in the

exchange of materials between the blood and the cells.

341 Lymph vesselsTubes in which waste-laden lymph is collected and returned to the

blood stream. Also called lymph nodes.

342 Machine A device that transfers mechanical energy from one object to another.

343 Magma Melted rock inside of the Earth. Liquid rock that forms when rock in

the lower crust melts. Its upward flow causes volcanoes.

344 Magnet A type of substance containing iron which also attracts iron (or steel)

345 Magnification The number of times the image is enlarged

346 Magnitude A measure of the brightness of a star. The size of a measurement.

347 Malleable Can be pounded and shaped without breaking

348 Mammary glands The female breasts, which produce milk to nourish newborn offspring.

349 MantleThe thick layer of rock below Earth's crust. It is solid but flows very

slowly.

350 Mass How much matter there is in an object

351 Mass

The property of a body that is a measure of its inertia and that is

commonly taken as a taken as a measure of the amount of material it

contains causing it to have weight in a gravitational field.

352 Material Something that is made up of matter

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353Material Safety

Data Sheet

A piece of safety equipment that comes with all ordered chemicals and

states the properties of the chemical and safe handling procedures

354 Matter Something that has mass and occupies space

355 Matter

Material substance that occupies space, has mass and is composed of

atoms consisting of protons, neutrons, and electrons that constitutes

the observable universe, and that is interchangeable with energy.

356 Mechanical The use of tools or devices

357 Mechanical energy A form of energy with which moving objects perform work.

358 Medium The surrounding environment

359 Meiosis The process of cell division which produces four sex cells (gametes)

from one cell

360 Melting The change in phase from solid to liquid.

361 Melting point The temperature at which a substance changes from solid to liquid.

362 Mendel

Gregor Mendel, the scientist who experimented with pea plants and

discovered how genetic factors were passed down from parents to

offspring

363 Metabolism The total of all chemical reactions that take place in the body.

364 Metal A chemical element from the left-hand side of the periodic table that is

malleable, ductile and conducts electricity

365 Metalloid A chemical element that has characteristics of both metals and

nonmetals

366 Metamorphic Rock formed when igneous or sedimentary rock is put under pressure,

heated, or reacts chemically

367 MetamorphosisThe process of a complete change in body form during development

from juvenile to adult stages.

368 MeteorA rock fragment traveling through space that enters Earth's

atmosphere and burns up, producing a bright streak of light.

369 Microorganism A small organism that is only visible underneath a microscope

370 Microscope A tool used by scientists to magnify tiny objects such as cells.

371 Microwave A type of electromagnetic radiation that has low energy and is used

primarily for communication (cell phones)

372 MigrateTo move from one environment to another, where conditions are more

favorable. How some animals survive the change in seasons.

373 Migration Movement from one environment to another.

374 MineralA naturally occurring, solid, inorganic (nonliving) substance with

characteristic physical and chemical properties

375 Mitochondria An organelle in all eukaryotic cells which is responsible for energy

production

376 Mitosis The process of cell division which produces two body cells from one cell

377 Mixture

A substance consisting of two or more substances mixed together

without forming a new substance. Can be separated by physical

means.

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378 Molecule

The smallest unit of a substance that is the combination of one or more

atoms. The smallest particle of a substance that retains all the

properties of the substance and is composed of one or more atoms.

379 Monsoons Seasonal movements of air (between landmasses and the oceans).

380 Motion A change in position or location

381 MountainA feature on Earth's surface that rises relatively high above the

surrounding landscape.

382 Movement A change in position that does not necessarily mean a change in

location

383 Multicellular Made up of more than one cell

384 Muscles Masses of tissue that contract to move bones or organs.

385 Mutation A change in the DNA of an organism; substitution, deletion, insertion

386 Mutualism A symbiotic relationship where both organisms benefit

387 Nanotechnology Technology that is only visible through the microscope

388 Natural disaster

A result of severe weather (like tornadoes and hurricanes) or some

geological event (like a volcano, earthquake or asteroid) that causes

devastation and destruction

389 Natural gasA gaseous fossil fuel found trapped deep underground, often with oil

deposits.

390 Natural selection The process in which some organisms live and reproduce and others

die before reproducing

391 Natural selection

The principle that in a given environment individuals having

characteristics that and survival will produce more offspring, and the

proportion of individuals having such characteristics will increase with

each succeeding generation.

392 NervesThin strands of tissue, composed of neurons, that carry impulses

throughout the body.

393 Net force The combination of all forces that act upon on object

394 NeuronsCells that make up the nervous system, which receive and transmit

information in the form of impulses.

395 Neutral Not negatively charged and not positively charged; no charge

396 New moonThe phase of the moon that occurs when the moon is between Earth

and the sun, so that moon cannot be seen from the Earth.

397 Newton

Sir Isaac Newton, a scientist who made hundreds of contributions to

science like the law of gravity and his three major laws of physics; a

Newton is a measure of force

398 Newton's 1st Law An object at rest stays at rest and an object in motion stays in motion

unless acted upon by an outside force

399 Newton's 2nd Law The net force on an object is equal to the acceleration on that object

times the mass of the object

400 Newton's 3rd Law Every reaction has an equal and opposite reaction

401Newton's First Law

of Motion

An object at rest will remain at rest and an object in motion will remain

in motion until an outside force acts on the object.

402Newton's Second

Law of MotionForce equals mass times acceleration. F = ma

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403Newton's Third Law

of MotionFor every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction.

404 Nitrogen cycle The processes that circulate nitrogen into and out of the atmosphere.

405 Noble GasesA small group of gaseous elements that seldom react with other

elements. Found in rightmost column on periodic table.

406Noninfectious

diseaseA disease that cannot be transmitted from one individual to another.

407 Nonmetal

A chemical element from the right side of the periodic table that is

brittle and does not conduct electricity well. Can be a solid, liquid or

gas.

408Nonrenewable

resource

A resource that is not replenished by nature within the time span of

human history.

409Non-sustainable

agriculture

Agriculture that is done so the land is over-farmed and cannot continue

to produce forever

410 Nuclear Relating to the nucleus of an atom

411 Nuclear decay

This happens when the nucleus of an atom breaks apart; usually,

neutrons and protons leave the nucleus. The process by which

radioactive nuclei change, during which they emit a combination of

particles and energy called radiation.

412 Nuclear energy

Energy that is produced by fission or fusion reactions. The energy

stored within the nucleus of an atom. Used by power plants to produce

electricity.

413 Nuclear reaction A reaction that happens in the nucleus of an atom; fission, fusion

414 Nuclear reactor A structure that is capable of controlling a nuclear fission reaction

415 Nuclear wasteThe poisonous, radioactive remains of the materials used to fuel

nuclear power plants.

416 Nucleic acid In the nucleus of a cell, there are two major types of nucleic acids:

DNA and RNA

417 Nucleotides

These are found on a strand of DNA or RNA as a sequence of bases The

simple compounds or subunits (composed of a phosphate, a sugar, and

a base) that make up a DNA molecule.

418 Nucleus

In biology, this refers to the control center of a cell that controls all cell

activities and contains genetic materials; in physical science, this refers

to the center of an atom

419 NutrientsFood substances that supply an organism with energy and with

materials for growth and repair

420 NutrientsThe chemicals that an organism uses for producing energy as well as

for its growth and repair.

421 Nutrition The process that includes ingestion, digestion, and elimination.

422 Observation Anything we perceive through us of one or more senses.

423 Offspring Children, of any organism

424 OilA thick, black, liquid fossil fuel, found trapped underground. Also

called petroleum

425 Omnivore A consumer that can eat both plants and other animals

426 Orbit The path of an object in space that is revolving around another object.

427 Organ A group of tissues that act together to perform a function

428 Organ system A group of organs that act together to carry out a life process.

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429 Organic Compounds containing carbon and chiefly or ultimately of biological

origin.

430 Organic molecule A molecule that contains carbon atoms bonded together

431 Organism A living thing that can live and reproduce independently. A living thing

that carries out the basic life functions.

432 OsmosisA special type of diffusion that involves the movement of water through

a semi permeable (cell) membrane.

433 Outer core

Layer of the Earth that surrounds the inner core. It is about 2300 km.

Thick. It is thought to be liquid because S-waves cannot travel

through it.

434 Ovaries he female reproductive organs that produce egg cells.

435 Oviducts Tubes that connect the ovaries to the uterus.

436 Oxygen One of the chemical elements on the periodic table that is used by all

living things

437Oxygen - carbon

dioxide cycle

The process that circulates oxygen and carbon dioxide into and out of

the atmosphere.

438 Ozone A form of oxygen that, in the atmosphere, protects living things from

ultraviolet rays

439 Parallel circuitAn electric circuit that has two or more paths for the electricity to flow

through.

440 Parasitism

A relationship in which one organism lives in or on another organism

and benefits from that relationship while the host organism is harmed

by it

441 Particle An object in the atom that has mass

442 ParticulatesAir pollutants such as ash, soot, and dust released by factories, power

plants, and vehicles

443 Peer review A method of selecting essays to be published where a group of peers

review and make comments about the submitted essays

444 Periodic table An arrangement of chemical elements based on their atomic numbers

and similarity of properties

445 pH scale

Measures the strength of acids and bases; an acid has a number below

7, a base has a number above 7 and neutral materials have a pH of 7

(like water)

446 PhasesThe changing apparent shape of the moon as seen from the Earth. The

three forms or states of matter (solid, liquid, or gas).

447 Phenomenon A fact, event or circumstance that can be observed

448 Phenotype The physical expression (what can be seen) of a genetic characteristic;

brown eyes, black hair

449 Phosphorous One of the chemical elements on the periodic table that is used by all

plants and animals

450 Photosynthesis

The process that happens in plants and some other organisms which

takes the sun's energy and turns it into usable energy; 6CO2 + 6H2O

+ Light è C6H12O6 (glucose) + 6O2 The chemical process by

which chlorophyll-containing plants use light to convert carbon dioxide

and water into carbohydrates(sugars), releasing oxygen as a by

product.

451 Physical adaptationA physical characteristic that t allows an organism to survive under a

given set of conditions.

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452 Physical change A change in a substance that results in a different form of the

substance and can be undone. A new substance is NOT formed.

453 Physical property A characteristic of a substance that can be observed; color, taste,

texture, density

454 Physical science

Any of the sciences, such as physics, chemistry, astronomy, and

geology, that discusses the nature and properties of energy and

nonliving matter

455 Pioneer In biology, the first species that inhabit a certain area

456 PlainA broad, flat landscape region at a low elevation, usually made of

layered sedimentary rocks.

457 Planet Any large body of rock that orbits a star

458 Plastic A material that can be molded and formed into objects and films

459 Plate tectonics The theory that the earth's surface is divided into a few large, thick

plates that are constantly moving

460 PlateauA large area of Earth's surface made up of horizontally layered rocks

found at a relatively high elevation

461 Polar moleculeDescribes a molecule formed by the unequal sharing of electrons and

which has an unbalanced distribution of electrical charges.

462 PollutionThe contamination of air, water, and land by harmful substances,

usually produced by people.

463 Population All the members of a particular species that live within a habitat.

464 Porous full or pores, allows the movement of water or a liquid through

465 Position The place in space where an object is found in relation to another

object

466 Potential energy Energy of positon = (mass)(gravity)(height)

467 Potential energy

The energy that matter has because of its position or because of the

arrangement of atoms or parts. Stored energy; energy that is

released and then becomes kinetic energy.

468 Precipitation Any form of water that falls from the atmosphere; rain, snow, sleet,

hail

469 Predation When one animal hunts and feeds on another animal

470 Predator An animal that hunts and feeds on prey

471 Predict To use observations and inferences to make an educated guess about

what will happen in an experiment

472 Prevailing windsThe winds that commonly blow in the same direction at a given

latitude.

473 Prey The animals that predators hunt and kill for food.

474Primary wave

(P-wave)An earthquake wave that can travel through liquids and solids.

475 Problem A scientific query which is always stated in the form of a question.

476 ProducerAn organism that makes its own food. Most producers are green

plants.

477 Products The final materials formed in a chemical reaction.

478 ProfileThe side view of a landform projected from a straight line on a contour

map

479 Prokaryote A type of living thing that is single-celled and has no true nucleus

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480 Prokaryote

any cellular organism that has no nuclear membrane, no organelles in

the cytoplasm except ribosomes, and has its genetic material in the

form of single continuous strands forming coils or loops, characteristic

of all organisms in the kingdom Monera, as the bacteria and blue-green

algae.

481 Propagate To transmit or to continue a process

482 Proportional A good size compared to something else

483 Protein A sequence of amino acids

484 Protein synthesis The creation of proteins in the cell from DNA

485 Proton A positively-charged particle in the nucleus of an atom

486 PulleyA modified form of a lever that can be used to change the direction of

force or decrease the force used to move a heavy object.

487 Punnett squareA diagram used to predict the probability of an organism inheriting a

given trait.

488 Pure substance A substance that has an identical chemical composition in every part

489 Purebred For every genetic characteristic, a purebred is homozygous

490 Qualitative Involving quality or kind.

491 Quantitative Involving the measurement of quantity or amount.

492 Radiation

Energy that is transmitted in the form of rays or waves or particles;

when talking about heat, this is when heat spreads out from a central

source

493 Radio wave

A type of electromagnetic radiation that has very low energy and a

very long wavelength (can be 10 – 20 feet long); used for cell phones

and radios of all kinds

494 Radioactive isotopeAn unstable isotope, which undergoes radioactive decay. Ex. Carbon-

14.

495Radioactive

substance

A type of substance that releases neutrons and protons from its

nucleus

496 Radiometric dating

Determining the age of a rock or fossil based on the amount of one

isotope compared with another isotope; for example, the amount of

carbon-14 versus the amount of carbon-12 can determine how old

something is because carbon-14 breaks down to carbon-12 over time.

Based on the decay rates of radioactive substances.

497 Random A lack of order and predictability

498 Random motion Motion that has no specific direction and cannot be predicted

499 Rate of reactionThe speed at which a chemical reaction proceeds, which is most

affected by temperature and the presence of a catalyst.

500 Reaction When one or more substances are changed into other substances

501 Recessive A genetic characteristic that is only expressed by the organism if there

is no dominant characteristic present

502 Recycle To break down a material so that it can be reused instead of throwing

it away

503 Red shift

A displacement of a star's light toward the red end of the spectrum.

This is caused by an increase in the distance between the e light source

and the observer.

504 Reflect To throw or bend back

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505Renewable

resource

A resource that is replenished by nature within a relatively short time

span.

506 ReplicationThe process during mitosis by which the genetic information contained

in the DNA is copied.

507 Reproduce To create more of

508 Reproduction The life process by which organisms produce new individuals or

offspring.

509 Reproduction The process of creating offspring

510 Research The gathering of facts, data, and opinions on a scientific topic.

511 Resistance The force a machine must overcome.

512 Resource A supply of something that can be used when needed

513 Respiration

The physical and chemical processes by which an organism supplies its

cells and tissues with the oxygen needed for metabolism and relieves

them of the carbon dioxide formed in Entergy-producing reactions.

514 Response The reaction of a living thing to a change in its environment

515 RevolutionThe movement of an object in space around another object. The moon

revolves around the Earth.

516 Ribosome

a tiny, somewhat mitten-shaped organelle occurring in great numbers

in the cell cytoplasm either freely, in small clusters, or attached to the

outer surfaces of endoplasmic reticula, and functioning as the site of

protein manufacture.

517 Rock sequence A natural, stony material composed of one or more minerals

518 Rock sequence The order of rocks according to the geological age where they can be

found

519 RotationThe spinning of an object around its own axis. The Earth rotates once

in 24 hours.

520 Science The study of physical and material knowledge in an organized manner

according to specific procedures

521 Scientific method

Principles and procedures for the systematic pursuit of knowledge

involving the recognition and formulation of a problem, the collection

of data through observation and experiment, and the formulation and

testing of hypotheses. An organized step-by-step approach to

problem solving.

522 Screw An inclined plane that is wrapped around a cylinder

523 Sea-floor spreading In geology, when oceanic plates move apart, the middle fills in with

magma which cools and forms new sea floor

524Secondary wave

(S-wave)An earthquake wave that can travel only through solids.

525 Sedimentary A type of rock formed in an area that was once covered by water.

526 Segregation In genetics, this refers to the separation of paired genes into separate

sex cells (gametes)

527 Selective breeding

The process by which people, over many years, have selected and bred

organisms for traits that are beneficial to humans. Also called artificial

selection.

528 Semiconductor A substance with electrical conductivity less than a metal but greater

than a nonmetal.

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529 Sense organsOrgans that receive information from the environment. The eyes, ears,

nose, tongue, and skin.

530 Sequence An arrangement in which things follow a pattern; in genetics, this

refers to the bases of DNA, in order

531 Series circuitAn electric circuit that has a single path of electricity through the

devices attached to it.

532 Sex cell A type of cell which is involved in reproduction; sperm, eggs

533 Sex-linked trait A genetic characteristic that is present only on the X (or in some cases,

the Y) chromosome and so behaves differently in males and females

534Sexual

reproduction

The form of reproduction that involves two parents, producing offspring

that are not identical to either parent.

535Significant digits or

Significant figuresAll the measured places and one estimated place in a measurement.

536 SkinThe organ that covers and protects the body. It excretes wastes by

perspiring.

537 SmogA haze formed by the reaction of sunlight with the chemicals from

automobile exhaust and factory smoke.

538 Soil A mixture of small rock fragments and organic matter

539 Solar energy Energy from the sun

540 Solar systemThe sun and all the objects that revolve around it including the sun,

planets and their moons, asteroids, comets, and meteors.

541 Solid One of the basic states of matter which has a definite shape and

volume

542 SolubilityThe maximum amount of solute that can dissolve in a given amount of

solvent at a given temperature

543 Solute The substance that dissolves to form a solution

544 SolutionA homogeneous mixture in which the components remain evenly

distributed.

545 Solvent The dissolving medium in a solution

546 Somatic cells The type of cells that form the body of an organism and are not

involved in sexual reproduction

547 SoundThe form of energy produced by a vibrating object. Moves in waves.

Requires a medium.

548 Space The unlimited area in which everything is located; "Space, the final

frontier"

549 Speciation

The process by which after a very long time and many changes, the

organisms in one population come to differ from those in all other

populations enough to be considered a new species.

550 Species

A very specific classification of organisms; all members of a species can

mate together and produce fertile offspring. (Kingdom -> Phylum ->

Class -> Order -> Family -> Genus -> Species)

551 Speed The amount of distance an object travels divided by the amount of time

it takes; He traveled 30 mph

552 Spinal CordThe thick cord of nerve tissue that extends from the brain down

through the spinal column

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553 Spin-offA technological product, system, or process that was designed for one

purpose and then made available for another purpose.

554 Star An object in the sky that is made up of gases and very hot due to

nuclear reactions (fission and fusion) that happen inside the star

555 Stem cell A type of cell that can turn into any other type of cell

556 StimulusA change in the environment that causes an organism to react in some

way

557 StormA natural disturbance in the atmosphere that involves low air pressure

, clouds, precipitation and strong winds

558 Strata

a layer of material, naturally or artificially formed, often one of a

number of parallel layers one upon another: a stratum of ancient

foundations.

559 Subduction zoneAn area associated with ocean trenches and volcanic activity where one

plate collides with and is forced under another plate.

560 Subduction zone

the process by which collision of the earth's crustal plates results in

one plate's being drawn down or overridden by another, localized along

the juncture (subduction zone) of two plates.

561 Substance A type of matter that has the same properties; water, oxygen, carbon

dioxide, diamond

562 Substitution

The replacement of one thing for another; in chemistry, this is a type

of reaction where one atom or group is replaced by another; in

genetics, this refers to a mutation where one base of DNA changes to

another

563 Sulfur A chemical element that is a part of fossil fuels and can contribute to

acid rain

564 Superconductor A type of material that allows electricity to flow with no resistance

565 Superimpose To place one image on top of another

566 Support In biology, this refers to the ability of the environment to provide basic

needs to the organisms that live there

567 Survive In biology, this refers to an organism that makes it to the next

generation

568Sustainable

agriculture

Agriculture that is done so the land is used well and can continue on

forever

569 Symbiosis Two or more organisms that live in close association with one another,

570 Synthesis The combination of two or more things or concepts

571 SystemA group of related elements or parts that work together for a common

purpose.

572 Technology

The application of science to solve a particular problem. The process of

using scientific knowledge and other resources to develop new products

and processes.

573 Temperature

a measure of the warmth or coldness of an object or substance with

reference to some standard value. The temperature of two systems is

the same when the systems are in thermal equilibrium. The average

kinetic energy of the particles.

574 Temperature The measurement of the average thermal energy (molecular motion) of

a system

575 Testes The male reproductive organs that produce sperm cells

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576 Theory A well proven explanation of some part of the natural world

577 Thermal energy Heat

578 Thermal pollutionAn increase in the temperature of a body of water that may be harmful

to living things in that environment.

579 ThunderstormA brief, intense rainstorm that affects a small area's accompanied by

thunder, lightning, and strong winds

580 TidesThe twice-daily rise and fall in the water level of the Earth's oceans.

Mainly produced by the gravitational pull of the moon.

581 Time A part of the measuring system used to measure how long an action

takes

582 Tissue A group of similar cells that act together to perform a function

583 Tornado A violently whirling wind, sometimes visible as a funnel shaped cloud.

584 Tornado alley The area in the Midwest United States that gets a high amount of

tornadoes

585 Total mass The combination of all of the masses of everything that is being

considered

586 TracheaThe tube that connects the nose and mouth to the bronchi which lead

to the lungs. Also called the windpipe.

587 Transport The process of moving materials throughout an organism.

588 Transposons

Describes genes that can change position within the same chromosome

or by crossing from one chromosome to another. Also called jumping

genes.

589 Ultraviolet

A form of electromagnetic radiation that has more energy than visible

light; most ultraviolet light is usually blocked in our atmosphere by

ozone

590 Unbalanced charge An electric charge, positive or negative, that is not neutral because

there are either more or less electrons than normal

591 Unbalanced force A force that is not balanced out by an opposite force; She was pushing

against the wall, but when the wall fell it became an unbalanced force!

592Undirected

variation

Changes in a population that seem random but can result in mutations

that benefit the organism

593 Unicellular Made up of one cell

594 Unity Property of something in that it is complete

595 Universe Consists of all matter, energy, and space since the beginning of time.

596 Unstable nuclei More than one nucleus (nuclei) that break down very quickly to smaller

nuclei

597 UraniumA radioactive element found in certain rocks and used as a fuel for

nuclear power plants

598 Urban growth The distance that a city (an urban center) is expanding

599 UterusThe organ of the female reproductive system within which the offspring

develop.

600 Vagina The birth canal

601 Variable A quantity that may assume any one of a set of values. The

changeable condition that can affect the outcome of an experiment.

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602 Variation Something that has changed; in biology, this refers to the genetic

difference between individuals

603 Veins Blood vessels that return blood to the heart.

604 Velocity The distance that an object travels over a certain amount of time and

in a certain direction; He traveled at 30 mph south

605 Vibration A shaky motion, especially inside of an atom

606 Virus A small particle that contains DNA or RNA and is able to reproduce only

inside of a living cell

607 Visible light

A form of electromagnetic radiation that is visible to the human eye

(other organisms are capable of seeing some infrared and ultraviolet

radiation)

608 Volcanic action The type and amount of lava that is erupting from a volcano

609 Volcano

An opening in the Earth's surface through which hot, liquid rock flows

from deep underground. A mountain formed by a series of volcanic

eruptions.

610 Volume The amount of space an object takes up

611 Warm frontThe boundary formed when a warm air mass slides up and over a cool

air mass.

612 Water cycle

The continuous movement of water from land and oceans into the

atmosphere and back again by means of evaporation, condensation,

and precipitation.

613 WattA unit of power. A unit used to measure the rate at which electricity is

used.

614 Wave A movement up and down or back and forth

615 Wavelength Refers to the length of a single wave (back and forth); can be

calculated from the crest of one wave to the crest of the next

616 Weather The current state of the atmosphere in terms of temperature, wind,

clouds and precipitation

617 Weather pattern Weather that happens over and over again over a certain period of

time

618 WeatheringThe breading down of rocks into smaller pieces. Mostly caused by the

movements of water, wind, and ice

619 Wedge A double-sided inclined plane

620 Weight The combination of the mass and the force of gravity on an object

621 Wheel and axleA modified lever that consists of a large wheel and a smaller wheel or

axle at its center

622 Wind The movement of air over the Earth's surface.

623 Wind

The movement of the air over the Earth's surface. It blows from areas

of high pressure to areas of low air pressure. Acts as a force of

erosion.

624 Wind direction The direction FROM which the wind is blowing.

625 Winter storms Blizzards and ice storms

626 Work The movement of an object over a distance by a force. W=f x d.

627 X-rays A form of electromagnetic radiation that has low energy and is used in

medical equipment

628 ZygoteThe fertilized egg cell that has a complete set of chromosomes. It

develops into a new organism through mitotic cell division.

629

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