| Term | Definition |
|---|
| sphere | a three-dimensional closed surface such that every point on the surface is an equal distance from the center; the shape of our Earth |
| rotation | the Earth takes 24 hours to do this on its axis |
| revolution | the Earth takes approximately 365 days to travel one of these distances around the sun |
| equinox | The time of the year when the sun crosses the earth's equator, making night and day of approximately equal length all over the earth; around March 20 and September 20. The time when the sun crosses the earth's equator, making night and day of approximately equal length all over the earth; around March 21 and Sept. 23, either of two times of the year when the sun crosses the plane of the earth's equator and day and night are of equal length |
| solstice | This occurs twice a year, whenever Earth's axis tilts the most toward or away from the Sun, causing the Sun to be farthest north or south at noon; around June 24 (midsummer) and Dec.23., the two days that mark the beginning of summer and winter |
| Galileo | astronomer who discovered the moons of Jupiter |
| Copernicus | proved the Earth goes around the sun |
| dependent variable | the data in an experiment that is graphed on the y-axis |
| independent variable | the data in an experiment that is graphed on the x-axis |
| variable | something that is likely to change |
| TAILS | Title, Axes, Interval, Labels, Substance |
| line graph | a graph of numerical data; points are plotted on a coordinate plane and connected by straight lines |
| quadrant I | the part of the coordinate grid (plane) where positive (x,y) pairs are plotted |
| quadrant II | the section of the coordinate plane where (negative x, positive y) pairs are plotted |
| quadrant III | the coordinate plane where the (x,y) pairs are negative numbers |
| quadrant IV | the section of the coordinate plane where (positive x, negative y) pairs are plotted |
| coordinate plane | This consists of an origin and two axes. The origin is a point. The axes are lines perpendicular to each other that intersect at the origin. |
| origin | where the x-axis and y-axis intersect at point zero; intersection must be perpendicular |
| perpendicular | a straight line at right angles to another straight line |
| point | a specific location on a number line or coordinate plane |
| reflection | an image where left and right are reversed; light bouncing off a surface |
| spectrum | a set of light waves making a particular type of light |
| opaque | most materials are this; light cannot be seen through the material; light bounces off or is absorbed and turned into heat |
| transparent | when light strikes this type of material it will pass right through; can see clearly through the material |
| translucent | only some of the light will pass through this type of material; light will scatter while passing through |
| refraction | the changing of the angle when light is traveling although it continues to travel in a straight line |
| speed of light | 186,000 miles per second traveling in a straight line; the distance you would travel if you circled the circumference of the Earth 7.5 times in one second! |
| Ben Franklin | credited for discovering electricity |
| Marie Curie | female physics researcher who discover radium along with her husband, Pierre |
| Edward Bouchet | first African-American to graduate from Yale University with a doctorate in Physics |
| Sir Isaac Newton | credited with researching the effects of gravity on Earth |
Combine with other sets
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