MSA Science Vocab Physical Science
Terms
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- Chemical change
- a change that occurs when one or more substances are changed into entirely new substances with different properties
- Heat
- the transfer of energy between objects that are at different temperatures
- Compound
- a pure substance composed of two or more elements that are chemically combined
- Velocity
- the speed of an object in a particular direction
- Temperature
- a measure of how hot or cold something is
- Potential energy
- the energy of position or shape
- Series circuit
- a circuit in which all parts are connected in a single loop
- Weight
- a measure of the gravitational force exerted on an object, usually by the Earth
- Chemical reaction
- the process by which one or more substances undergo change to produce one or more different substances
- Gravitational
- energy due to an objects position above the Earth's surface
- Pitch
- how high or low a sound is perceived to be
- Acceleration
- the rate at which velocity changes, an object accelerates if its speed changes, if its direction changes, or if both change
- Nonmetals
- elements that are dull and are poor conductors of thermal energy and electric current
- Momentum
- a property of a moving object that depends on the objects mass and velocity
- Solubility
- the ability to dissolve in another substance
- Work
- the action that results when a force causes an object to move in the direction of the force
- Gravity
- a force of attraction between objects that is due to their masses
- Reactivity
- ready susceptibility to chemical change
- Magnetic
- having the properties of a magnet
- Friction
- a force that opposes motion between 2 surfaces that are touching
- Light
- a type of energy that travels as an electromagnetic wave
- Inertia
- the tendency of all objects to resist any change in motion
- Mixture
- a combination of 2 of more substances that are not chemically combined
- Molecule
- a neutral group of atoms held together by covalent bonds
- pH scale
- a measurement scale of hydronium ion concentration in a solution pH 7 neutral, less than 7 acidic, more than 7 basic
- Reactant
- the starting materials in a chemical reaction
- Mechanical energy
- the total energy of motion and position of an object
- Force
- a push or a pull; all forces have both size and direction
- Neutral atom
- has no overall charge because there are equal numbers of protons and electrons
- Amplitude
- the maximum distance a wave vibrates from its rest position
- Conduction
- the transfer of thermal energy from one substance to another through direct contact; conduction can also occur within a substance
- Motion
- an objects change in position over time when compared with a reference point
- Expand
- become larger in size or volume or quantity
- Mass number
- the sum of the protons and the neutrons in an atom
- Wavelength
- the distance between one point on a wave and the corresponding point on an adjacent wave in a series of waves
- Element
- a pure substance that cannot be separated or broken down into simpler substances by physical or chemical means
- Sound
- longitudinal waves created by vibrations
- Solar energy
- energy from the sun
- Electricity
- energy made available by the flow of electric charge through a conductor
- Radiation
- the transfer of energy through matter or space as electromagnetic waves, such as visible light and infrared waves
- Mass
- the amount of matter something is made of
- Kinetic energy
- the energy of motion; depends on speed and mass
- Noble gases
- the unreactive elements in group 18 of the periodic table; their atoms have 8 valence electrons except Helium
- Magnetic field
- the region around a magnet in which magnetic forces can act
- Physical property
- a property of matter that can be observed or measured without changing the identity of the matter
- Chemical property
- a property of matter that describes a substance based on its ability to change into a new substance with different properties
- Transverse wave
- a wave in which the particles of the waves medium vibrate perpendicular to the direction the wave is traveling
- Density
- the amount of matter in a given space, mass per unit volume
- Chemical energy
- the energy of a compound that changes as its atoms are rearranged to form a new compound; chemical energy is a form of potential energy
- Electric circuit
- a complete, closed path through which electric charges flow
- Newton's 2nd Law
- the acceleration of an object depends on the mass of the object and the amount of force applied
- Vibration
- the complete back-and-forth motion of an object
- Frequency
- the number of waves produced in a given amount of time
- Malleability
- the ability of a substance to be pounded into thin sheets
- Longitudinal wave
- a wave in which the particles of the medium vibrate back and forth along the path that the wave travels
- Speed
- the rate at which an object moves
- Newton's 3rd Law
- For every action there is an equal and opposite reaction
- Nuclear energy
- the form of energy associated with changes in the nucleus of an atom
- Physical change
- a change that affects one or more physical properties of a substance; many physical changes are easy to undo
- Newton's 1st Law
- objects at rest tend to stay at rest, objects in motion tend to stay in motion
- Energy
- the ability to do work
- Convection
- a transfer of thermal energy by the movement of liquid or gas