Science Glossary

A
abyssal plains - large, flat areas of the seafloor that extend across the deepest parts of ocean basins. acceleration - a measure of the change in velocity during a period of time. acid precipitation - precipitation that has a lower pH than that of normal rainwater (pH 5.6). activation energy - the minimum amount of energy needed to start a chemical reaction. adaptation - an inherited trait that increases an organisms chance of surviving and reproducing in a particular environment. air mass - a large area of air that has uniform temperature, humidity, and pressure. air pollution - the contamination of air by harmful substances including gases and smoke. air pressure - the pressure that a column of air exerts on the air, or a surface, below it. alkali metal - (AL kuh li) an element in group 1 on the periodic table. alkaline earth metal - (AL kuhlun) an element in group 2 on the periodic table. apparent magnitude - a measure of how bright an object appears from Earth. astrobiology astronomical unit - (AU) the average distance from Earth to the Sunabout 150 million km. atmosphere - (AT muhsfihr) a thin layer of gases surrounding Earth. atom - the smallest piece of an element that still represents that element. atomic number - the number of protons in an atom of an element. average atomic mass - the average mass of the elements isotopes, weighted according to the abundance of each isotope. average speed - the total distance traveled divided by the total time taken to travel that distance.

B
balanced forces - forces acting on an object that combine and form a net force of zero. basin - area of subsidence; region with low elevation. Big Bang theory - the scientific theory that states that the universe began from one point and has been expanding and cooling ever since.

Science Glossary
biosphere - (BI uh sfihr) the parts of Earth and the surrounding atmosphere where there is life. biotic potential - the potential growth of a population if it could grow in perfect conditions with no limiting factors. birthrate - the number of offspring produced by a population over a given time period. black hole - an object whose gravity is so great that no light can escape. blizzard - a violent winter storm characterized by freezing temperatures, strong winds, and blowing snow. brackish water - a mix of fresh water and sea water.

C
camouflage - (KAM uh flahj) an adaptation that enables a species to blend in with its environment. carrying capacity - the largest number of individuals of one species that an ecosystem can support over time. catalyst - a substance that increases reaction rate by lowering the activation energy of a reaction. centripetal force - (sen TRIH puhtuhl) in circular motion, a force that acts perpendicular to the direction of motion, toward the center of the curve. chemical bond - a force that holds two or more atoms together. chemical equation - a description of a reaction using element symbols and chemical formulas. chemical formula - a group of chemical symbols and numbers that represent the elements and the number of atoms of each element that make up a compound. chemical reaction - a process in which atoms of one or more substances rearrange to form one or more new substances. chromosphere - the orange-red layer above the photosphere of a star. circular motion - any motion in which an object is moving along a curved path. coefficient - a number placed in front of an element symbol or chemical formula in an equation. combustion - a chemical reaction in which a substance combines with oxygen and releases energy. commensalism - a symbiotic relationship that benefits one species but does not harm or benefit the other. community - all the populations living in an ecosystem at the same time.

Science Glossary
competition - the demand for resources, such as food, water, and shelter, in short supply in a community. compression - the squeezing force at a convergent boundary. computer model - detailed computer programs that solve a set of complex mathematical formulas. conduction - (kuhn DUK shun) the transfer of thermal energy due to collisions between particles. constants - the factors in an experiment that remain the same. constant speed - the rate of change of position in which the same distance is traveled each second. consumer - an organism that cannot make its own food and gets energy by eating other organisms. contact force - a push or a pull on one object by another object that is touching it. continental drift - Wegeners hypothesis that suggests that the continents are in constant motion on Earths surface. contour interval - the elevation difference between contour lines that are next to each other on a map. contour line - a line on a topographic map that connects points of equal elevation. control group - the part of a controlled experiment that contains the same factors as the experimental group, but the independent variable is not changed. convection - the circulation of particles within a material caused by differences in thermal energy and density. convection zone - layer of a star where hot gas moves up toward the surface and cooler gas moves deeper into the interior. convergent plate boundary - the boundary between two plates that move toward each other. coral bleaching - the loss of color in corals that occurs when stressed corals expel the colorful algae that live in them. Coriolis effect - the movement of wind and water to the right or left that is caused by Earths rotation. corona - the wide, outermost layer of a stars atmosphere. covalent bond - a chemical bond formed when two atoms share one or more pairs of valence electrons. critical thinking - comparing what you already know with information you are given in order to decide whether you agree with it. cross section - profile view that shows a vertical slice through rocks below the surface.

Science Glossary
D
dark matter - matter that emits no light at any wavelength. death rate - the number of individuals in a population that die over a given time period. decomposition - a type of chemical reaction in which one compound breaks down and forms two or more substances. delta dependent variable - the factor a scientist observes or measures during an experiment. description - a spoken or written summary of an observation. dew point - temperature at which air is fully saturated because of decreasing temperatures while holding the amount of moisture constant. displacement - the difference between the initial, or starting, position and the final position of an object that has moved. divergent plate boundary - the boundary between two plates that move away from each other. Doppler radar - a specialized type of radar that can detect precipitation as well as the movement of small particles, which can be used to approximate wind speed. Doppler shift - the shift to a different wavelength on the electromagnetic spectrum. double-replacement reaction - a type of chemical reaction in which the negative ions in two compounds switch places, forming two new compounds. drought ductility - (duk TIH luh tee) the ability to be pulled into thin wires.

E
electron - a negatively charged particle that occupies the space in an atom outside the nucleus. electron cloud - the region surrounding an atoms nucleus where one or more electrons are most likely to be found. electron dot diagram - a model that represents valence electrons in an atom as dots around the elements chemical symbol. elevation - the height above sea level of any point on Earths surface. emit -

Science Glossary
endangered species - a species whose population is at risk of extinction. endothermic reaction - a chemical reaction that absorbs thermal energy. enzyme - a catalyst that speeds up chemical reactions in living cells. equinox - when Earths rotation axis is tilted neither toward nor away from the Sun. exothermic reaction - a chemical reaction that releases thermal energy. experimental group - the part of the controlled experiment used to study relationships among variables. explanation - an interpretation of observations. extinct species - a species that has died out and no individuals are left.

F
fault-block mountain - parallel ridge that forms where blocks of crust move up or down along faults. fault zone - an area of many fractured pieces of crust along a large fault. folded mountain - mountain made of layers of rocks that are folded. force - a push or a pull on an object. force pair - the forces two objects apply to each other. friction - a contact force that resists the sliding motion of two surfaces that are touching. front - a boundary between two air masses.

G
galaxy - a huge collection of stars, gas, and dust. gene - (JEEN) a section of DNA on a chromosome that has genetic information for one trait. genotype - (JEE nuhtipe) an organisms complete set of genes. geologic map - a map that shows the surface geology of an area. gravity - an attractive force that exists between all objects that have mass. group - a column on the periodic table. gyre - a large, circular system of ocean currents.

Science Glossary
H
habitat - the place within an ecosystem where an organism lives; provides the biotic and abiotic factors an organism needs to survive and reproduce. halogen - (HA luhjun) an element in group 17 on the periodic table. harmful algal bloom - explosive growth of algae that harms organisms. Hertzsprung-Russell diagram - a graph that plots luminosity v. temperature of stars. high-pressure system - a large body of circulating air with high pressure at its center and lower pressure outside of the system. humidity - (hyew MIH duh tee) the amount of water vapor in the air. hurricane - an intense tropical storm with winds exceeding 119 km/h. hypothesis - a possible explanation for an observation that can be tested by scientific investigations. I independent variable - the factor that is changed by the investigator to observe how it affects a dependent variable. inertia - (ihn UR shuh) the tendency of an object to resist a change in its motion. inference - a logical explanation of an observation that is drawn from prior knowledge or experience. inheritance - the passing of traits from generation to generation. inhibitor - a substance that slows, or even stops, a chemical reaction. instantaneous speed - an objects speed at a specific instant in time. International Date Line - the line of longitude 180 east or west of the prime meridian. International System of Units - (SI) the internationally accepted system of measurement. ion - an atom that is no longer neutral because it has gained or lost electrons. ionic bond - the attraction between positively and negatively charged ions in an ionic compound. ionosphere - a region within the mesosphere and thermosphere containing ions. isobar - lines that connect all places on a map where pressure has the same value.

Science Glossary
isostasy - (i SAHS tuh see) the equilibrium between continental crust and the denser mantle below it. isotopes - atoms of the same element that have different numbers of neutrons.

J
jet stream - a narrow band of high winds located near the top of the troposphere.

L
land breeze - a wind that blows from the land to the sea due to local temperature and pressure differences. latitude - the distance in degrees north or south of the equator. law of conservation of mass - law that states that the total mass of the reactants before a chemical reaction is the same as the total mass of the products after the chemical reaction. law of conservation of momentum - a principle stating that the total momentum of a group of objects stays the same unless outside forces act on the objects. light-year - the distance light travels in one year. limiting factor - a factor that can limit the growth of a population. lithosphere - (LIH thuhsfihr) the rigid, outermost layer of Earth that includes the uppermost mantle and crust. longitude - the distance in degrees east or west of the prime meridian. low-pressure system - a large body of circulating air with low pressure at its center and higher pressure outside of the system. luminosity - (lewmuh NAH sih tee) the true brightness of an object. lunar eclipse - an occurrence during which the Moon moves into Earths shadow. luster - the way a mineral reflects or absorbs light at its surface.

M
magnetic reversal - an event that causes a magnetic field to reverse direction. malleability - (ma lee uh BIH luh tee) the ability of a substance to be hammered or rolled into sheets. map legend - a key that lists all the symbols used on a map. map scale - the relationship between a distance on the map and the actual distance on the ground.

Science Glossary
map view - a map drawn as if you were looking down on an area from above Earths surface. maria - (MAR ee uh) the large, dark, flat areas on the Moon. marine - a term that refers to anything related to the oceans. mass - the amount of matter in an object. mass number - the sum of the number of protons and neutrons in an atom. metal - an element that is generally shiny, is easily pulled into wires or hammered into thin sheets, and is a good conductor of electricity and thermal energy. metallic bond - a bond formed when many metal atoms share their pooled valence electrons. metalloid - (MEH tuloyd) an element that has physical and chemical properties of both metals and nonmetals. mid-ocean ridge - a long, narrow mountain range on the ocean floor; formed by magma at divergent plate boundaries. migration - the instinctive, seasonal movement of a population of organisms from one place to another. mimicry - (MIH mihkree) an adaptation in which one species looks like another species. molecule - (MAH lihkyewl) two or more atoms that are held together by covalent bonds and act as a unit. momentum - a measure of how hard it is to stop a moving object. motion - the process of changing position. mutation - (myew TAY shun) a permanent change in the sequence of DNA, or the nucleotides, in a gene or a chromosome. mutualism - a symbiotic relationship in which both organisms benefit.

N
natural selection - the process by which organisms with variations that help them survive in their environment live longer, compete better, and reproduce more than those that do not have the variation. neap tide - the lowest tidal range that occurs when Earth, the Moon, and the Sun form a right angle. nebula - a cloud of gas and dust. net force - the combination of all the forces acting on an object. neutron - a neutral particle in the nucleus of an atom.

Science Glossary
neutron star - a dense core of neutrons that remains after a supernova. Newtons first law of motion - law that states that if the net force acting on an object is zero, the motion of the object does not change. Newtons second law of motion - law that states that the acceleration of an object is equal to the net force exerted on the object divided by the objects mass. Newtons third law of motion - law that states that for every action there is an equal and opposite reaction. niche - (NICH) the way a species interacts with abiotic and biotic factors to obtain food, find shelter, and fulfill other needs. noble gas - an element in group 18 on the periodic table. noncontact force - a force that one object applies to another object without touching it. nonmetal - an element that has no metallic properties. normal polarity - when magnetized objects, such as compass needles, orient themselves to point north. nuclear decay - a process that occurs when an unstable atomic nucleus changes into another more stable nucleus by emitting radiation. nuclear fusion - a process that occurs when the nuclei of several atoms combine into one larger nucleus. nucleus - the region in the center of an atom where most of an atoms mass and positive charge are concentrated.

O
observation - the act of using one or more of your senses to gather information and take note of what occurs. ocean current - a large volume of water flowing in a certain direction. ocean trench - a deep, underwater trough created by one plate subducting under another plate at a convergent plate boundary. orbit - the path an object follows as it moves around another object. ozone layer - the area of the stratosphere with a high concentration of ozone.

P
Pangaea - (pan JEE uh) name given to a supercontinent that began to break apart approximately 200 million years ago.

Science Glossary
parallax - the apparent shift in position of an object when viewed from two different places parasitism - a symbiotic relationship in which one organism benefits and the other is harmed. particulate matter - (par TIH kyuhlut) the mix of both solid and liquid particles in the air. penumbra - the lighter part of a shadow where light is partially blocked. percent error - the expression of error as a percentage of the accepted value. period - a row on the periodic table. periodic table - a chart of the elements arranged into rows and columns according to their physical and chemical properties. phase - the lit part of the Moon or a planet that can be seen from Earth. phenotype - (FEE nuhtipe) how a trait appears or is expressed. photochemical smog - air pollution that forms from the interaction between chemicals in the air and sunlight. photosphere - the apparent surface of a star. plain - landform with low relief and low elevation. plateau - an area with low relief and high elevation. plate tectonics - theory that Earths surface is broken into large, rigid pieces that move with respect to each other. polar easterlies - cold winds that blow from the east to the west near the North Pole and South Pole. polar molecule - a molecule with a slight negative charge in one area and a slight positive charge in another area. population - all the organisms of the same species that live in the same area at the same time. population density - the size of a population compared to the amount of space available. position - an objects distance and direction from a reference point. precipitation - water, in liquid or solid form, that falls from the atmosphere. prediction - a statement of what will happen next in a sequence of events. producer - an organism that uses an outside energy source, such as the Sun, and produces its own food. product - a substance produced by a chemical reaction.

Science Glossary
profile view - a drawing showing a vertical slice through the ground. proton - positively charged particle in the nucleus of an atom.

Q
qualitative data - the use of words to describe what is observed in an experiment. quantitative data - the use of numbers to describe what is observed in an experiment.

R
radiation - the transfer of thermal energy by electromagnetic waves. radiative zone - a shell of cooler hydrogen above a stars core. radioactive - any element that spontaneously emits radiation. reactant - a starting substance in a chemical reaction. reference point - the starting point you use to describe the motion or the position of an object. relative humidity - the amount of water vapor present in the air compared to the maximum amount of water vapor the air could contain at that temperature. relief - the difference in elevation between the highest and lowest point in an area. remote sensing - the process of collecting information about an area without coming into contact with it. reversed polarity - when magnetized objects reverse direction and orient themselves to point south. revolution - the orbit of one object around another object. ridge push - the process that results when magma rises at a mid-ocean ridge and pushes oceanic plates in two different directions away from the ridge. rotation - the spin of an object around its axis. rotation axis - the line on which an object rotates.

S
salinity - a measure of the mass of dissolved salts in a mass of water. science - the investigation and exploration of natural events and of the new information that results from those investigations.

Science Glossary
scientific law - a rule that describes a pattern in nature. scientific literacy - having knowledge of scientific concepts and being able to use that knowledge in your everyday life. scientific notation - a method of writing or displaying very small or very large numbers. scientific theory - an explanation of observations or events that is based on knowledge gained from many observations and investigations. sea breeze - a wind that blows from the sea to the land due to local temperature and pressure differences. seafloor spreading - the process by which new oceanic crust forms along a mid-ocean ridge and older oceanic crust moves away from the ridge. sea level - the average level of the oceans surface at any given time. seawater - water from a sea or ocean that has an average salinity of 35 ppt. selective breeding - the selection and breeding of organisms for desired traits. semiconductor - a substance that conducts electricity at high temperatures but not at low temperatures. shear - parallel forces acting in opposite directions at a transform boundary. single-replacement reaction - a type of chemical reaction in which one element replaces another element in a compound. slab pull - the process that results when a dense oceanic plate sinks beneath a more buoyant plate along a subduction zone, pulling the rest of the plate that trails behind it. slope - a measure of the steepness of the land. solar eclipse - an occurrence during which the Moons shadow appears on Earths surface. solstice - when Earths rotation axis is tilted directly toward or away from the Sun. spectroscope - an instrument that spreads light into different wavelengths. speed - the distance an object moves divided by the time it takes to move that distance. spring tide - the largest tidal range that occurs when Earth, the Moon, and the Sun form a straight line. stability - whether circulating air motions will be strong or weak. star - a large sphere of hydrogen gas, held together by gravity, that is hot enough for nuclear reactions to occur in its core.

Science Glossary
strain - a change in the shape of rock caused by stress. stratosphere - (STRA tuhsfihr) the atmospheric layer directly above the troposphere. subduction - the process that occurs when one tectonic plate moves under another tectonic plate. subsidence - the downward vertical motion of Earths surface. supernova - an enormous explosion that destroys a star. surface report - a description of a set of weather measurements made on Earths surface. symbiosis - (sihm bee OH sus) a close, long-term relationship between two species that usually involves an exchange of food or energy. synthesis - (SIHN thuhsus) a type of chemical reaction in which two or more substances combine and form one compound.

T
technology - the practical use of scientific knowledge, especially for industrial or commercial use. temperature inversion - a temperature increase as altitude increases in the troposphere. tension - the pulling force at a divergent boundary. threatened species - a species at risk, but not yet endangered. tidal range - the difference in water level between a high tide and a low tide. tide - the periodic rise and fall of the oceans surface caused by gravitational force between Earth and the Moon, and Earth and the Sun. time zone - the area on Earths surface between two meridians where people use the same time. topographic map - a map showing the detailed shapes of Earths surface, along with its natural and humanmade features. tornado - a violent, whirling column of air in contact with the ground. trade winds - steady winds that flow from east to west between 30N latitude and 30S latitude. trait - a distinguishing characteristic of an organism. transform fault - fault that forms where tectonic plates slide horizontally past each other. transform plate boundary - the boundary between two plates that slide past each other.

Science Glossary
transition element - an element in groups 312 on the periodic table. troposphere - (TRO puhsfihr) the atmospheric layer closest to Earths surface. tsunami - a wave that forms when an ocean disturbance suddenly moves a large volume of water.

U
umbra - the central, darker part of a shadow where light is totally blocked. unbalanced forces - forces acting on an object that combine and form a net force that is not zero. uplift - the process that moves large bodies of Earth materials to higher elevations. uplifted mountain - mountain that forms when large regions rise vertically with very little deformation. upper-air report - a description of wind, temperature, and humidity conditions above Earths surface. upwelling - the vertical movement of water toward the oceans sur face.

V
valence electron - the outermost electron of an atom that participates in chemical bonding. variable - any factor that can have more than one value. variation - (veree AY shun) a slight difference in an inherited trait among individual members of a species. velocity - the speed and the direction of a moving object. volcanic arc - a curved line of volcanoes that forms parallel to a plate boundary.

W
waning phases - phases of the Moon during which less of the Moons near side is lit each night . water cycle - the series of natural processes by which water continually moves throughout the hydrosphere. water vapor - water in its gaseous form. waxing phases - phases of the Moon during which more of the Moons near side is lit each night. weather - the atmospheric conditions, along with short-term changes, of a certain place at a certain time. weight - the gravitational force exerted on an object. westerlies - steady winds that flow from west to east between latitudes 30N and 60N, and 30S and 60S.

Science Glossary
white dwarf - a hot, dense, slowly cooling sphere of carbon. wind - the movement of air from areas of high pressure to areas of low pressure.