| A | B |
|---|
| abiotic factors | things that are nonliving |
| acceleration | how quickly somethings changes speed or direction |
| air pressure | the force of air molecules pressing on a surface |
| ampere | the unit used to measure the rate of electric current |
| asexual | reproduction in which the offspring has only one parent |
| asteroid | small rock objects found most frequently in a belt between the orbits of Mars and Jupiter? |
| atomic mass | the mass of an atom's protons and neutrons combined? |
| atomic number | the number of protons in an atom's nucleus |
| axis | the imaginary line running between the North Pole and South Pole on which the earth rotates? |
| Big Bang | theory that the universe exploded from one single point 15 to 20 billion years ago and has been expanding ever since? |
| biodiversity | the variety and balance of species in an ecological community |
| biome | a large geographic area of the earth having its own characteristic climate and vegetation? |
| biotic factors | things that are living? |
| cardiovascular | body system involving the heart and blood vessels? |
| carnivore | animal that eats other animals? |
| cell | basic unit of all living things? |
| chemical change | a reaction in substances that results in new substances with different chemical properties being formed? |
| chemical energy | energy contained in the molecular bonds of substances? |
| chemical formula | an expression that shows the composition of a compound by using the symbols for the elements? |
| chemical properties | the characteristics of a substance that describe what will happen when it interacts with other substances? |
| chemical weathering | the effect of chemicals on surfaces? |
| chromosome | a threadlike strand that carries the DNA that makes up genes? |
| circuit | a system of electrical parts that provides a path for an electrical current? |
| circulatory | body system that uses blood to carry food, water, and oxygen to parts of the body? |
| comet | a small body made by rock, gas, and ice that was likely formed outside our solar system and now orbits the sun? |
| compound | a chemical substance that is made up of two or more different kinds of atoms that are bonded together? |
| conclusion | a decision based on investigation and evidence? |
| condensation | when a gas cools and changes from gas to liquid? |
| conduction | the exchange of heat energy between two things that are touching? |
| conductor | a material that transmits heat or electricity easily? |
| covalent bond | a bond between the elements in which the atoms share electrons? |
| convection | the heating and cooling of liquids and gases that causes them to move in currents and exchange heat energy? |
| crust | the uppermost portion of the earth? |
| data | information that describes events or things, such as temperatures or life spans? |
| decomposer | a living organism that breaks down dead organisms into smaller parts? |
| density | the amount of mass in a given space? |
| dependent variable | the factor in an experiment that changes as a result of a controlled variable? |
| DNA | the chemical that makes up organism's genes on each chromosome? |
| dominant trait | the trait that does appear in an offspring when two different genes are mixed? |
| electric current | the flow of electrons |
| electromagnet | a magnet made by running electric current through a wire wrapped around a metal object? |
| electron | a negatively charged subatomic particle that moves in an orbit shell outside of an atom's nucleus? |
| embryo | the early stages of growth after fertilization? |
| endocrine | the body system that controls body functions with chemicals called hormones? |
| energy | the ability to push or pull to do work? |
| equilibrium | the state that exists when forces are equal and opposite and cancel each other out? |
| evaporation | the change of a liquid to a gas? |
| excretory | the group of organs that removes liquid and solid wastes from the body? |
| exothermic | a type of chemical change in which energy is given off? |
| food chain | a link from a lower organism to a higher organism to a higher organism; it is a straight line from bottom to top? |
| food web | how the various organisms must balance each other in nature? |
| force | a push or pull that causes something to change speed or direction? |
| friction | a force that occurs when two things move past each other and rub together? |
| gamete | a specialized cell, sperm, or egg of sexual reproduction? |
| gene | a unit found on a cell's chromosomes that carries information about a trait of the organism? |
| genetics | study of how traits are inherited? |
| global warming | the rise in global temperatures? |
| graph | visual representation of data |
| gravity | a force that pulls two objects together |
| greenhouse effect | the warming of the earth as a result of gas in the atmosphere that capture some of the sun's heat reflected back from the earth? |
