Absorbed Taken in When light hits an object, some colors are absorbed and others are reflected You only see reflected colors

atom The smallest particle of a substance that has all the properties of that substance.

Balanced Forces Forces that act against each other and do not cause a change in motion. Object is not moving

Battery A device that changes chemical energy into electrical energy. Considered Potential energy. Also called a dry cell

Boiling Point Temperature at which liquid boils and changes from a liquid to a gas. Boiling point of water is 100° Celsius.

Buoyancy Ability to float

Buoyant Force The upward push of a liquid or gas on an object.

Celsius Metric unit used for temperature 0° Celsius is the freezing/melting point of water 100° Celsius is the boiling point of water

Characteristic A feature of a person, plant, animal or object that helps identify it. Use your 5 senses.

Chemical Change A change that produces a new substance Examples-- burning paper changes it from paper to ashes.

Chemical Energy Stored Energy Batteries Food

Chemical Symbol A one or two letter abbreviation for an elements name O Oxygen C Carbon CO 2 Carbon Dioxide

Circuit A compete path of conductors that an electric current can flow through

Circuit Breaker A switch that automatically opens a circuit when too much electricity flows through it “Blew a breaker”

Classify To group by like characteristics.

Compound A substance whose molecules contain atoms of different elements

Concave Lens A lens that is thinner in the center and thicker at the edges Bends the light outward Makes things appear smaller

Condensation The process in which a gas changes into a liquid.

Condensation Point The temperature at which a substance changes from a gas to a liquid

Conduct / Conductor To allow to pass through Matter that allows energy to pass through it Metal is a conductor of heat, electricity and magnetism. Cloth is not a conductor of heat or electricity.

Conduction The movement of heat between two objects that touch each other

Convection The movement of heat energy through liquids and gases in currents

Convex Lens A lens that is thicker in the center and thinner at the edges Bend light inward Makes things larger

Crest The highest part of a wave

Current (electric) A constant flow of electrons through a conductor

Density How thick something is.

Dissolve To mix and form a solution with another substance. Ability to dissolve is called solubility.

Electric Charge A property of matter Charge can be positive or negative

Electric Circuit A complete pathway of conductors that electrons flow through

Electric Current A complete loop through which electricity can flow. Called a complete circuit. Called a closed circuit.

Electricity A form of energy that can move through wires, making it possible to do work.

Electromagnet A temporary magnet created by a flow of electric current around an iron bar

Element A pure substance made of only one kind of atom

Energy The ability to do work. Causes changes to matter. Examples: mechanical, chemical, kinetic, potential.

Evaporation The process in which liquid changes to a gas.

First Law of Motion An object at rest will remain at rest, and an object in motion will continue moving in a straight line at a constant speed until an outside force acts on it.

Food Energy A form of energy that is stored in plants and when consumed is converted to energy for animals and humans.

Forms of Energy Heat Light Sound Solar

Force A push or pull that causes a change in motion.

Freezing Point The temperature at which a liquid becomes a solid. Freezing Point of water is 0° Celsius.

Friction A force that acts against motion when two surfaces rub against each other. Sliding Drag Rolling

Gas The state of matter that spreads out evenly to fill a container. Particles move about freely. Has no volume?

Grams Metric unit used for measuring weight.

Gravitation - Gravity The force that pulls all objects in the universe towards one another. Makes things fall. Causes weight

Heat A form of energy that makes something feel warm. Thermal Solar Electrical

Inertia The property of matter that keeps it moving in a straight line or keeps it at rest. Newton’s First Law of Motion

Insulate, Insulator To block the flow of energy. Cloth is an insulator of heat. (hot pad) Rubber is an insulator of electricity. ( an electrician will use rubber gloves or rubber handles)

Kinetic Energy Energy of Motion Jumping Jacks

Light A form of energy that makes it possible to see. If you can see something, it either produces light or reflects light.

Liquid The state of matter that takes the shape of its container. Particles flow past one another. Has volume.

Magnetism A force that attracts or pushes away matter.

Mass Amount of matter in an object. Measured in grams. Stays the same everywhere. On Earth, mass and weight are the same. My Average Size Spacesuit.

Matter Anything that has mass and takes up space.

Melting Point Temperature at which a solid melts. Temperature at which a solid becomes a liquid. Melting Point and Freezing Point are the same temperature. Water is 0° Celsius.

Mixture A combination of two or more substances in which each substance keeps its original characteristics. Can be easily separated. Examples: Salad, Chex Mix

Molecule A grouping of two or more atoms joined together Example: H 2 O = water Non-living things are made of atoms

Motion The act of changing place or position.

Opaque Does not allow light to go through. Cast a shadow.

Physical Change Changes to appearance. Does not change what the substance is. Examples: melted chocolate

Physical Science The study of matter and energy. Objective 2 on the TAKS Test. 9 questions

Physical States of Matter 3 states of matter Solid, Liquid, Gas

Pitch vs. Volume Pitch is the highness or lowness of sound. Depends on the frequency of sound waves Volume is soft or loud

Potential Energy Energy of Position Standing still Stored energy Gravity

Property Similar to characteristics A characteristic you can see, feel, smell, hear or taste. (5 senses) Examples: color, size, shape, odor, or texture.

Reflection A wave that bounces back off an object. Mirror

Refraction The act of bending light as it passes through something. Changes direction and speed. Slows the light. Appears broken.

Second Law of Motion An object’s acceleration (speeding up) depends on the size and direction of the force acting on it and on the mass of the object.

Solar Energy A form of energy from the Sun. Produces, heat and light energy

Solid The state of matter that has a definite shape. Keeps it shape no matter what the container. Particles packed tightly together. Has Mass and Volume.

Solubility The ability to dissolve. Salt is soluble in water. Sand is not soluble in water.

Solution Special type of mixture. One substance dissolves into another. Examples: Sugar in tea, lemonade

Sound Caused by vibration. Travels in waves. Pitch vs. Volume

Suspension A mixture where one substance floats in another. Examples: cereal floating in milk

Temperature The average kinetic energy of all the molecules in an object. The higher the average the kinetic energy, or the faster the molecules move, the higher the temperature.

Thermal Energy Energy from heat. HEAT MOVES!!

Third Law of Motion For every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction

Transmit - Transmission Allows energy to pass through. Similar to Conduction. Metal transmits heat.

Transparent Clear. Allows light to pass through. Transparencies

Translucent Allows some light to pass through Wax Paper

Volume How much space something takes up. L x W x H

Weight Measure of the force of gravity on an object. Measured in newtons. Not the same everywhere.