density The amount of mass in a certain volume of matter

reflection The bouncing of light rays off the surface of a material

refraction The bending of light as it passes from one material to another.

hydrosphere All the water sitting on top of the lithosphere

atmosphere The blanket of gases that surround a planet

mineral A natural, non-living solid with a definite chemical structure

sediment Solid particles from weathered rocks carried from one place and deposited in another.

metamorphic rock Rock formed when heat, pressure, or chemical reactions change one type of rock into another type of rock

colliding boundary The area where 2 tectonic plates push against each other. Form high mountains, deep ocean trenches, earthquakes and volcanoes

fracture boundary The place where tectonic plates slide past each other. This causes major earthquakes, like in California

spreading boundary Tectonic plates move away from each other causing gaps between the plates. Seafloor spreading

chemical change The changing of a substance into a completely new substance with different chemical properties

mixture A combination of substances in which the atoms of the substances are not chemically combined. Mixtures can be easily separated into the original substances.

conduction Heat transfer between two objects that touch

convection The transfer of thermal energy by the movement of a liquid or a gas

radiation The transfer of energy in the form of waves. This is how energy reaches Earth from the Sun

kinetic energy The energy of a moving object

potential energy The energy an object has due to its position. Affected by distance (height above ground)

Noble gases Located at the far right of the periodic table. Have a complete outer shell of electrons. Helium, neon, argon, krypton, Xenon, and radon are all noble gases.

Sexual reproduction Reproduction by 2 parent cells

Punnett squares A diagram to show the possible offspring from sexual reprocuction

dominant The version of a gene that will mask (hide) the effect of another of a gene Only one dominant gene is needed for that trait to show.

recessive The trait or gene which is hidden. You must have 2 recessive genes for a recessive trait to show in an offspring.

weather The condition of the atmosphere at a particular time and place

weathering The process of breaking down rock into smaller pieces

sperm cell Sex cell of a male parent

asexual reproduction production of offspring by one parent

Rock formed from layers of sediment that have been cemented together sedimentary rock

sediment Solid particles carried from one place and dropped onto another place

rock A solid, natural material made up of one or more minerals

nonrenewable resource Resource that cannot be replaced as fast as they are used

renewable resource Resource that can be replaced through natural processes almost as fast as they are used

physical change The change in the appearance of a substance while its properties stay the same

fault Crack in the earth’s crust along which rock layers move

Theory of continental drift The continents have moved over time

Tectonic plates A large section of the earth’s surface made up of the crust and the upper mantle. 20 plates constantly moving causing mountains, volcanoes, and earthquakes.

O Chemical symbol for oxygen

Si Chemical symbol for silicon

H Chemical symbol for hydrogen

N Chemical symbol for nitrogen

Fe Chemical symbol for iron

compound A substance formed when atoms of two or more different elements join together.

element One of the 109 basic substances of matter.

precipitation Rain, snow, sleet, or freezing rain

high pressure An area of air pressure greater than the surrounding air pressure.

Low pressure An area of air pressure less than the surrounding air pressure.

front A boundary between a warm and cold air mass.

Water cycle Circular pathway in which water moves through the environment

energy Ability to do work

mitosis The process in which a cell’s nucleus divides All asexual reproduction All cells following meiosis

meiosis The process of cell division by which sex cells are produced

mass The amount of matter in an object

lithosphere The Earth’s crust and the solid part of the mantle

Igneous rock Rock formed by lava that has cooled and hardened

humidity The amount of water vapor in the air

gene Sections of DNA that control the substances the cell makes and when it makes them

erosion The process by which soil and sediments are transferred from one location to another, usually by wind, water, ice, or gravity

Fossil fuels Energy sources made from the remains of organisms Stored energy from the Sun

Egg cell Sex cell of the female parent

DNA A material in a cell’s nucleus that stores coded information about how an organism will grow

crystal A regular, repeating pattern in which particles of minerals are arranged

climate A pattern of weather that occurs in an area over a long period of time

Air mass A very large body of air that has a similar temperature and humidity throughout

Inner Core The layer of the Earth made of solid metal

Outer Core The layer of the Earth made of liquid metal

mantle The layer beneath the crust of the Earth, made of molten or melted rock called magma

crust The hard, rocky outer most layer of the Earth