Science Vocab
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Created by:
egessner24 on July 14, 2012
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37 terms
Terms | Definitions |
|---|---|
 hypothesis | an educated assumption or guess concerning the results of a given experiment |
| dependent variable | something that relies on other factors in the experiment |
| independent variable | stands alone and isn't changed by other variables one is trying to measure |
| control group | a baseline group used to reference back to when comparing results of experiment to original group |
| experimental group | group exposed to the variable of the experiment |
| scientific theory | a concept that explains scientific observations |
| positive feedback loop | a closed system, response of the system relies on the feedback signal to function |
| negative feedback loop | feedback that reduces the output of a system |
| anthropogenic | caused or produced by humans |
| atom | the smallest component of an element; a very small particle of matter |
| molecule | consists of one or more similar atoms in an element; in a compound it is two or more different atoms |
| elements | cannot be separated into simpler substances by chemical means |
| compounds | composed of two or more parts or elements |
| proton | location: nucleus charge: positive |
| neutron | location: nucleus charge: none |
| electron | location: valence shells charge: negative |
| atomic number | the number of protons in the nucleus of an element |
| mass number | total number of neutrons and protons in a particular atom |
| isotopes | a form of a given element that has the same number of protons, but a different number of neutrons |
| ion | formed by the loss or gain of one or more atoms cation- positive ion anion-negative ion |
| pH | hydrogen ion concentration in gram atoms per liter acids: 1-6 neutral: 7 bases: 8-14 |
| organic compound | any blend of carbon and another element |
| inorganic compound | any blend that does not contain carbon |
| prokaryotic | cellular organism that has: no nuclear membrane, no organelles in the cytoplasm except ribosomes, and genetic material is in the form of single continuous strands forming coils or loops |
| eukaryotic | specialized organelles in cytoplasm, membrane bound nucleus enclosing genetic material organized into chromosomes, system of division by mitosis or meiosis |
| genes | basic physical unit of heredity; linear sequence of nucleotides along segment of DNA, which provides instructions for synthesis of RNA, translates into proteins, > character |
| chromosomes | threadlike bodies consisting of chromatin that carry genes in a linear order |
| Law of Conservation of Matter | matter cannot be created nor destroyed in an isolated system |
| radioactive isotopes | several species of the same chemical element with different masses whose nuclei are unstable, dissipate excess energy by emitting radiation in the form of alpha, beta, and gamma rays |
| half life | time required for 1/2 of the atoms of a given amount of a radioactive substance to disintegrate |
| nuclear fission | splitting of an atomic nucleus into almost equal parts, usually with an associated release of energy |
| nuclear fusion | two nuclei combine to form a nucleus with the release of energy |
| kinetic energy | energy of a body or system with respect to the motion of the body or system |
| potential energy | energy of a body or system with respect to its position |
| heat | form of energy associated with the motion of atoms or molecules |
| 1st Law of thermodynamics | when heat flows to or from a system, the system gains or loses an amount of energy equal to the amount of heat transferred (heat added= incr. internal energy + external work by system) |
| 2nd Law of thermodynamics | heat of itself never flows from a cold object to a hot object |
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