FCAT Science Glossary
5th, 8th , and 11th grade words!
Terms
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- erosion
- a combination of natural processes in which materials from Earth's surface are loosened, dissolved, or worn away and transported from one place to another
- resource
- any material that can be used to satisfy a need
- dominance
- tendency of certain (dominant) alleles to mask the expression of their corresponding (recessive) alleles
- covalent bond
- a chemical bond between two atoms of the same or different elements in which each atom shares an electron
- biome
- a complex biotic community characterized by the interaction of living organisms and climatic factors
- first law of thermodynamics
- a law that states the internal energy in a system remains constant and the change in thermal energy of a system is equal to the work done on the system
- moon phase
- a phrase that indicates the fraction of the Moon's disc that is illuminated (as seen from Earth); the eight moon phases (in order)new moon, waxing crescent, first quarter, waxing gibbous, full moon, waning gibbous, last quarter, waning crescent
- consumer
- an organism that feeds on other organisms for food
- herbivore
- an animal that feeds on plants
- light
- electromagnetic radiation that lies within the visible range
- membrane
- a thin layer of tissue that surrounds or lines a cell, a group of cells, or a cavity; any barrier separating two fluids
- air resistance
- force of air on moving objects
- renewable resource
- a resource that is replaced or restored, as it is used, by natural processes in a reasonable amount of time
- centrifugal
- the motion away from center or axis
- organism
- any living plant, animal, or fungus that maintains various vital processes necessary for life
- heat
- a form of energy resulting from the temperature difference between a system and its surroundings
- species
- a group of organisms of common ancestry able toreproduce only among themselves and usuallygeographically distinct
- tropism
- the motion of an organism or part of an organism toward or away from an external stimulus
- trough
- the lowest point on a wave
- convection
- heat transfer in a gas or liquid by the circulation of currents from one region to another crest the peak or highest point on a wave
- constellation
- a star pattern identified and named as a definite group; usually thought of as forming certain shapes or figures in a specific region of the sky
- diffraction
- the bending of a wave around an obstruction
- abiotic
- an environmental factor not associated with the activities of living organisms
- prey
- an organism caught or hunted for food by another organism
- condensation
- the process of changing from a gas (i.e., water vapor) to a liquid (i.e., dew); the act of making more dense or compact
- chemical weathering
- the breakdown and alteration of rocks at or near Earth's surface as a result of chemical processes
- deposition
- layering matter in a natural process
- base
- a substance that increases the OH- concentration of a solution; a proton acceptor
- gravity
- the observed effect of the force of gravitation
- ecosystem
- an ecological community, together with its environment, functioning as a unit
- adaptation
- a characteristic of an organism that increases its chance of survival in its environment
- energy pyramid
- a pyramidal diagram that compares the amount of energy available at each position, or level, in the feeding order
- scientific method
- a plan of inquiry that uses science process skills as tools to gather,organize, analyze, and communicate information
- lever
- a type of simple machine; consists of a rigid bar that pivots about a fulcrum, used to transmit and enhance power or motion
- speed
- amount of distance traveled divided by time taken; the time-rate at which any physical process takes place
- protein
- a biological macromolecule composed of one or morechains of amino acids
- neutron
- a subatomic particle having zero charge, found in the nucleus of an atom
- plate tectonics
- theory of global dynamics in which Earth's crust is divided into a smaller number of large, rigid plates whose movements cause seismic activity along their borders
- producer
- an organism that makes its own food from the environment; usually a green plant
- change of state
- a physical change that occurs when matter changes to another state (i.e., liquid, gas, or solid)
- heat of vaporization
- the amount of heat energy needed to change a unit mass of substance from a liquid to a gas at its boiling point
- compound
- a substance made up of at least two different elements held together by chemical bonds that can only be broken down into elements by chemical processes
- genotype
- the sum total of the genetic information contained in an organism
- liquid
- one of the fundamental states of matter with a definite volume but no definite shape
- gas
- one of the fundamental states of matter in which the molecules do not have a fixed volume or shape
- Sun
- the closest star to Earth and the center of our solar system
- solar system
- a star and all the planets and other bodies that orbit it; the region in space where these bodies move
- accuracy
- the extent to which a measurement is in proximity to the standard or expected value
- second law of thermodynamics
- a law that states all natural processes proceed in a preferred direction (e.g., heat flows from high temperatureregions to low temperature regions)
- velocity
- the time-rate at which a body changes its position; defined as displacement divided by the time of travel
- mid-ocean ridge
- a continuous, seismic mountain range extending across the loor of the world's major oceans, area where two oceanic plates are moving away from each other, area where new crustal material may be released floor of the world's major oceans, area where two oceanic plates are moving away from each other, area where new crustal material may be released
- solar mass
- the quantity equal to the mass of the Sun
- precision
- the degree of accuracy or exactness of a measurement or tool
- moon
- a natural satellite that revolves around a planet
- frequency
- the number of cycles or waves per unit time
- microscopic
- relating to an object too small to be visible without the use of a microscope
- ecosystem
- an integrated unit of a biological community, its physical environment, and interactions
- planet
- a large body in space that orbits a star and does not produce light of its own
- star
- a large, gaseous, self-luminous body held together by gravity and powered by thermonuclear reactions
- metamorphic rock
- a type of rock that forms from existing rock because of extreme changes caused by heat, pressure, or chemical environments
- prism
- a piece of glass with polished plane surfaces that disperses a beam of white light into its component colors
- crest
- the peak or highest point on a wave
- phenotype
- the appearance or other observable characteristic of an organism resulting from the interaction of its genetic makeup and its environment
- carnivore
- an animal or plant that consumes or obtains nutrients from animals
- niche
- the unique position occupied by a particular species in terms of the area it inhabits and the function it performs within the community
- volume
- a measure of the amount of space an object takes up; also the loudness of a sound or signal
- efficiency
- the relative effectiveness of a system or device determined by comparing input and output
- earthquake
- the shaking of the ground caused by a sudden release of energy in Earth's crust
- atomic number
- the number of protons in an atom's nucleus; the atomic number determines an element's placement on the periodic table
- Kelvin
- fundamental SI unit of temperature where zero degrees Kelvin is equal to absolute zero (One degree Kelvin equals one degree Celsius.)
- axis
- the imaginary line on which an object rotates (e.g., Earth's axis runs through Earth between the North Pole and the South Pole); an imaginary straight line that runs through a body; a reference to theline in a coordinate system or graph
- isotope
- the form of an element with the same number of protons but a different number of neutrons
- protist
- unicellular organisms belonging to the kingdom Protista
- half-life
- the amount of time required for half of an original sample of radioactive material to decay or undergo radioactive transformation
- system
- a set of objects, organisms, or different parts acting to form a whole
- vector
- a physical quantity with both a magnitude and direction
- pulley
- a type of simple machine; a circular lever, usually a wheel with a groove where a rope can be placed and used to change the direction of a force
- conduction
- the transmission of heat through a medium and without the
- mitosis
- a process of nuclear division in eukaryotic cells during which the nucleus of a cell divides into two nuclei, each with the same number of chromosomes
- acceleration
- rate of change in velocity, usually expressed in meters per second; involves an increase or decrease in speed and/or a change in direction
- igneous rock
- a type of rock that forms from molten or partly molten material that cools and hardens
- entropy
- a measure of randomness or disorder of a closed system
- experiment
- a procedure that is carried out and repeated under controlled conditions in order to discover, demonstrate, or test a hypothesis; includes all components of the scientific method
- tissue
- similar cells acting to perform a specific function; four basic types of tissue are muscle, connective, nerve, and epidermal
- atom
- the smallest unit of a chemical element that can still retain the properties of that element
- friction
- a force that opposes the relative motion of two material surfaces in contact with one another
- topography
- the surface, shape, and composition of a land area
- vibration
- a repetitive movement around an equilibrium point
- nonrenewable resource
- a resource that can only be replenished over millions of years
- neap tide
- a twice-monthly tide of minimal range that occurs when the Sun, Moon, and Earth are at right angles to each other, thus decreasing the total tidal force exerted on Earth
- molecule
- the smallest unit of matter of a substance that retains all the physical and chemical properties of that substance; consists of a single atom or a group of atoms bonded together
- wedge
- a type of simple machine that consists of an inclined plane used to separate two objects
- inclined plane
- a type of simple machine; a slanted surface that makes it easier to move a mass from a lower point to a higher point
- velocity
- the time rate at which a body changes its position vector;quantity whose magnitude is expressed in units of distanceover time
- asexual reproduction
- a form of reproduction in which new individuals are formed without the involvement of gametes
- predator
- an organism that preys on and consumes animals; usually an animal
- independent variable
- the factor that is changed in an experiment in order to study changes in the dependent variable
- conservation of energy
- a fundamental principle stating energy cannot be created nor destroyed but only changed from one form to another
- rate of reaction
- the speed at which reactants are consumed and productsare produced in a given reaction
- acid
- a substance that increases the H+ concentration when added to a water solution
- energy transfer
- a change of energy from one form to another (e.g., mechanical, electrical, solar to electrical) to environment the sum of conditions affecting an organism, including all living and nonliving things in an area, such as plants, animals, water, soil, weather, landforms, and air
- electromagnetic waves
- waves generated by the oscillation of a charged particle and characterized by periodic variations of electric and magnetic fields
- permeability
- the capability of a porous substance or membrane to allow a fluid or gas to enter it; the measure or degree to which a substance can be penetrated by a liquid or gas
- refraction
- a change in the direction of a wave that occurs as it passes from one medium to another of different density
- universe
- the total sum of all matter and energy that exists
- rift valley
- a long, narrow valley in Earth's crust where twocontinental plates are separating or between two faults
- gravitation
- a force of attraction between two masses
- momentum
- a vector quantity that is the product of an object's mass and velocity; the general effect of ongoing motion
- investigation
- a procedure that is carried out in order to observe a response caused by a stimulus; not a complete experiment
- aqueous
- a solution containing water
- organ
- a structure containing different tissues that are organized to carry out a specific function of the body (e.g., heart, lungs, brain, etc.)
- adaptation
- a particular development, behavior, or physiological change in a population of organisms, in response to changes in the populations
- astronomical unit
- the average distance from Earth to the Sun, approximately 150 million kilometers
- volcano
- a vent or fissure in Earth's surface through which magma and its associated materials are expelled; generally a mountain-like structure
- chemical change
- a reaction or a change in a substance produced by chemical means that results in producing a different chemical
- nuclear fission
- the process by which an atomic nucleus splits into two or more large fragments of comparable mass, simultaneously producing additional neutrons and vast amounts of energy
- magnetic field
- the region where magnetic force exists around magnets or electric currents
- fulcrum
- the pivot point of a lever
- heterozygous
- cell or organism that has two different alleles for a particular trait
- DNA
- a nucleic acid that carries genetic material; present in all cellular organisms
- atmosphere
- the layers of gas that surround Earth, other planets, or stars
- product
- a substance or compound resulting from a chemicalreaction
- variable
- an event, condition, or factor that can be changed or controlled in order to study or test a hypothesis in a scientific experiment
- proton
- a subatomic particle having a positive charge and which is found in the nucleus of an atom
- reactant
- any substance or molecule that participates in a chemicalreaction
- deposition
- the process by which sediment is carried by forces (e.g., wind
- natural selection
- the theory stating every organism displays slight variations from other organisms of its kind, and the struggle for limited natural resources results in individuals with certain natural variations adapted to their specific environments
- wheel and axle
- a type of simple machine that consists of a rod driven through the center of a cylinder that is allowed to rotate freely, yielding a mechanical advantage equal to the cylinder's diameter
- decomposer
- any organism that feeds or obtains nutrients by breaking down organic matter from dead organisms
- food chain
- transfer of energy through various stages as a result of feeding patterns of a series of organisms food web (food cycle) the interconnected feeding relationships in a food chain found in a
- inertia
- the property of an object, due to its mass, by which it resists any change in its position unless overcome by force
- galaxy
- a large collection of stars, gases, and dust that are part of the universe (e.g., the Milky Way galaxy) bound together by gravitational forces
- weathering
- the natural processes that break down and change rock into soil,sand, and other materials; differs from erosion in that no transportation of those materials takes place
- wavelength
- the distance between crests of a wave
- recessive
- an allele for a trait that will be masked unless the organism is homozygous for this trait
- dependent variable
- factor being measured or observed in an experiment
- pollution
- any alteration of the natural environment producing a condition harmful to living organisms; may occur naturally or as a result of human activities
- meiosis
- the process of nuclear division in cells during which the number of chromosomes is reduced by half
- physical change
- a reaction; a change in matter from one form to another, without forming new substances
- diffraction
- the change in direction of a wave caused by passing by an obstacle or traveling through an opening
- pH
- a symbol for the measure of the acidity or alkalinity of a solution
- fossil
- a whole or part of a plant or animal that has been preserved in sedimentary rock
- life cycle
- the entire sequence of events in an organism's growth and development
- radiation
- emission of energy in the form of rays or waves
- reflection
- the bouncing off or turning back of light, sound, or heat from a surface
- allele
- any of two or more alternate forms of a gene that an organism may have for a particular trait
- inertia
- the property of a body, due to its mass, that causes it to resist any change in its motion unless overcome by a force
- solution
- a mixture of two or more substances uniformly dispersed throughout a single phase
- mixture
- the product of a thorough blending of two or more substances, not chemically combined
- mass
- the amount of matter an object contains
- compound
- a substance made up of a combination of two or more elements held together by chemical bonds that cannot be separated by physical means; has properties unlike those of the elements that make up the compound
- mass number
- the total number of protons and neutrons in a nucleus
- energy
- a quantity that describes the capacity to do work; a source of usable power
- catalys
- a substance that speeds up or slows down the rate of a reaction without being consumed or altered
- stimulus
- a condition that produces a response
- nuclear fusion
- the process by which two lighter atomic nuclei combine at extremely high temperatures to form a heavier nucleus and release vast amounts of energy
- habitat
- a place in an ecosystem where an organism normally lives
- food web (food cycle)
- the interconnected feeding relationships in a food chain found in a particular place and time
- water cycle
- the path water takes as it is being cycled through the environment,
- activation energy
- the least amount of energy required to start a particular chemical reaction
- matter
- a solid, liquid, or gas that possesses inertia and is capable of occupying space
- potential energy
- the energy an object has because of its position or structure; stored energy
- nucleus
- the center region of an atom where protons and neutrons are located; also a cell structure that contains the cell's genetic material
- solid
- having a definite shape and a definite volume; one of the fundamental states of matter
- fossil fuels
- the remains of animal or plant life from past geologic ages that are now in a form suitable for use as a fuel (e.g., oil, coal, or natural gas)
- calorie
- unit of energy; the amount of heat needed to raise one gram of water one degree Celsius at standard atmospheric pressure
- ocean basin
- a depression on the surface of Earth occupied by water
- evaporation
- the process by which a liquid is converted to its vapor phase by heating the liquid
- solubility
- the ability or tendency of one substance to dissolve inanother at a given temperature and pressure
- amplitude
- in any periodic function (e.g., a wave) the maximum absolute variation of the function
- sedimentary rock
- rock formed from layers of sediment that overlay and squeeze together or are chemically combined
- density
- concentration of matter of an object; number of individuals in the same species that live in a given area; the mass per unit volume of a substance in a given area
- convergent boundary
- area where two tectonic plates collide
- heat of fusion
- the amount of heat energy required to convert a unit mass of substance from a solid to a liquid through melting at a constant temperature and pressure
- potential energy
- energy stored in an object due to the object's configuration and position
- amino acids
- an organic molecule containing an amino (-NH2) and a carboxyl (-COOH) group from which proteins are synthesized
- neutral
- a particle, object, or system that lacks a net charge
- community
- all the populations of organisms belonging to different species and sharing the same geographical area
- succession
- the progressive replacement, on a single site, of one typeof community by another
- virus
- a noncellular, disease-causing particle that uses the genetic material from its host to reproduce
- population
- a group of organisms of the same species living in a specific geographical area
- centripetal force
- the force on an object required to keep this object on a circular path, pulling toward the center of the circle
- erosion
- the wearing away of Earth's surface by the breakdown and transportation of rock and soil
- element
- a substance that cannot be reduced to a simpler substance by chemical means
- photosynthesis
- a chemical process by which plants trap light energy to convert carbon dioxide and water into carbohydrates (sugars)
- fault
- a rock fracture along which movement or displacement of Earth's crust has taken place
- concentration
- the relative amount of a particular substance, a solute, or mixture
- crust
- outermost layer of Earth covering the mantle
- spectroscope
- an instrument that uses a prism to separate and catalog light wavelengths
- kinetic energy
- the energy possessed by a body because of its motion
- wheel and axle
- a type of simple machine; a circular frame or disk revolving around a central axis
- biodiversity
- the existence of a wide range of different species in a given area or specific period of time
- electromagnetic radiation
- the emission and propagation of the entire range of electromagnetic spectrum including gamma rays, x-rays,ultraviolet radiation, visible light, microwaves, and radio waves
- magnetic
- having the property of attracting iron and certain other materials by virtue of a surrounding field of force
- thermal energy
- internal energy found by adding the kinetic energy of particles making up a substance
- conservation
- controlled use and/or maintenance of natural resources; various efforts to preserve or protect natural resources efforts to preserve or protect natural resources
- conservation of mass
- the principle that mass cannot be created or destroyed; also conservation of matter
- electromagnet
- a magnet consisting of a coil of wire wrapped around a core that becomes strongly magnetized when current flows through the coil producing a magnetic field
- RNA
- a single-stranded nucleic acid consisting of a phosphategroup and one of four nitrogenous bases that encodesinformation needed to synthesize proteins
- mutation
- the process by which a gene undergoes a change in DNA sequence or a structural change
- biotic
- factors in an environment relating to, caused by, or produced by living organisms
- mass
- the amount of matter an object contains
- pressure
- the force exerted per unit area
- sexual reproduction
- reproduction involving the union of gametes producing an offspring with traits from both parents
- force
- a quality that tends to produce movement or acceleration of a body in the direction of its application; a push or pull
- gene
- a specific part of a chromosome or sequence of DNA that determines a particular feature or characteristic in an organism
- screw
- a type of simple machine that consists of an inclined plane wrapped around a cylinder
- spring tide
- the tide of increased range that occurs twice monthly at the new and full phases of the Moon
- indicator
- a chemical compound that changes color depending on the pH of the solution or other chemical change
- electron
- a stable elementary particle that is negatively charged and orbits the nucleus of an atom
- Punnett square
- a graphic checkboard used to determine results from a particular genetic cross
- circuit
- an interconnection of electrical elements forming a complete path for the flow of currentconduction the transmission of heat through a medium and without the motion of the medium
- homozygous
- cell or organism that has identical rather than different alleles for a particular trait