| Term | Definition |
| Lab Report Sections | Introduction, Materials, Procedure, Data, Analysis, Conclusion. |
| Control Group | In an experiment, a group that serves as a standard of comparison with another group to which it is identical except for one factor |
| Experimental Group | In an experiment, a group that is identical to a control group except for one factor and that is compared with the control group. |
| Independent Variable | Factor in an experiment that researchers manipulate so that they can determine its effect. |
| Dependent Variable | The outcome factor; the variable that may change in response to manipulations of the independent variable. |
| Data Table | The data retrieved from the experiment, displayed in table format. |
| Hypothesis | A testible idea or explanation that leads to scientific investigation. |
| Human vs. Experimental Error | Errors done by not following the procedure vs. errors in the procedure. |
| 1st Law of Thermodynamics | Energy is conserved. |
| Energy | The ability to do work. |
| States of Matter | Solid, Liquid, Gas, Plasma. |
| Heat vs. Temperature | Temperature is the measure of heat. |
| Brownian Motion | The idea that the atoms that make up matter are in constant motion. |
| Celsius / Kelvin | Units for measuring temperature. |
| Absolute Zero | The coldest temperature, 0 Kelvin, that can be reached. It is the hypothetical temperature at which all Brownian Motion stops. |
| 3rd Law of Thermodynamics | Brownian Motion will stop in the absence of heat, or 0 Kelvin. |
| Radiation | The energy that is transferred as electromagnetic waves, such as visible light and infrared waves. |
| Conduction | The transfer of energy as heat through a material. |
| Convection | The movement of matter due to differences in density that are caused by temperature variations; can result in the transfer of energy as heat. Transfer of heat by air currents. |
| Conductor | A material that allows energy to pass through it as heat. |
| Insulator | A material that does not allow energy to pass through it as heat. |
| Layers of the Atmosphere | Troposphere, Stratosphere, Mesosphere, Thermosphere, (Exosphere). |
| Atmosphere | A mixture of gases that surrounds a planet, such as Earth. |
| Aerosols | Tiny, liquid droplets found in the atmosphere. |
| Troposphere | Densest layer of the atmosphere. Almost all of Earth's weather occurs here. Temperature decreases as altitude increases. |
| Evaporation and Condensation | The transformation of H2O from a liquid to a gaseous state and the transformation of it from a gaseous state to a liquid or solid state. |
| Stratosphere | Layer above the troposphere. Temperature increases as altitude increases. Ozone layer found here. |
| Ozone | Molecule that is made up of 3 oxygen atoms and makes up the ozone layer. |
| Mesosphere | Layer above the stratosphere. Temperature decreases as altitude increases. Coldest layer of the atmosphere. |
| Thermosphere | Furthest layer from Earth's surface. Temperature increases as altitude increases. Hottest layer in the atmosphere but we can't feel it (Why?). |
| Ions | Electrically charged atoms. |
| Ionosphere | "Layer" found in the lower thermosphere that creates the auroras. |
| Exosphere | The transition of the atmosphere into outer space. |
| Convection Currents | Currents caused by unequal heating of the atmosphere. |
| Greenhouse Effect | The warming of the surface and lower atmosphere of Earth that occurs when carbon dioxide, water vapor, and other gases in the absorb and reradiate infrared radiation. |
| Lapse Rate | The average rate at which temperature decreases with an increase in altitude (mainly in the troposphere). |
| UV Radiation | Radiation that harms humans and other organisms. |