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6th Grade Science Words
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Gravity
Terms in this set (100)
Abiotic Factors
nonliving physical features of the environment including soil, water, temperature, air light wind, and minerals.
Aquifer
an underground layer of rock or sediment that holds water.
Astronomer
a scientist who studies the universe beyond Earth.
Atmosphere
the envelope of gases that surrounds Earth.
Atom
the smallest unit of an element that has the properties of the element.
Axis
an imaginary line that passes through Earth's center and the North and South Poles, about which Earth rotates.
Big Bang
the most commonly accepted theory of how the universe formed; it states that the universe expanded from a hot, dense initial condition at a specific point in time around 13 billion years ago
Biosphere
that part of Earth in which life can exist
Biotic Factors
living organisms in the environment, such as plants and animals.
Cementation
the process by which dissolved minerals crystallize and glue particles of sediment together into one mass.
Centi
one hundredth of a basic unit of measurement.
Chemical Property
any property of a substance that produces a change in the composition of matter.
Cleavage
a mineral's ability to split easily along flat surfaces.
Compaction
the process by which sediments are pressed together under their own weight.
Compound
a substance in which two or more elements are chemically joined.
Conduction
the direct transfer of thermal energy from one substance to another substance that is touching.
Conservation
the practice of using less of a resource so that it will not be used up.
Continental Drift
the hypothesis that the continents slowly move across Earth's surface.
Controlled Experiment
an experiment in which only one variable is manipulated at a time.
Convection
the transfer of thermal energy by the movement of a fluid.
Convergent Boundary
a plate boundary where two plates move toward each other.
Core
the central region of an object.
Crust
the layer of rock that forms Earth's outer surface.
Density
an object's mass divided by its volume; a measure of how many particles are packed together into a certain amount of space
Deposition
the process in which sediment is laid down in new locations.
Divergent Boundary
a plate boundary where two plates move away from each other.
Dormant
a volcano that is not currently active, but that may become active in the future.
Earthquake
a sudden shaking of the ground caused by the movement of rock underground
Eclipse
an event that happens when the shadow of an object in space falls on the surface of another object
Electromagnetic Radiation
energy that travels through space in the form of waves.
Element
a substance in which all the atoms are the same that cannot be broken down into other substances.
Energy
the ability to do work or cause change.
Equator
an imaginary line that circles Earth halfway between the North and South poles.
Equinox
the two days of the year on which neither hemisphere is tilted toward or away from the sun.
Erosion
the destructive process in which water, wind, or gravity loosens and carries away fragments of rock.
Evaporation
the process by which water molecules in liquid water escape in the air as water vapor.
Evolution
the process by which all the different kinds of living things have changed over time.
Extinct
a volcano that is no longer active and is unlikely to erupt again. Or an organism that no longer lives on Earth.
Fault
a break or crack in Earth's lithosphere along which the rocks move.
Fossil
evidence that an organism once existed in an area; can be a part of the organism's body or a trace fossil which is a mark or print left by the organism
Fossil fuel
an energy-rich substance (such as coal, oil, or natural gas) formed from the remains of organisms.
Fracture
the way a mineral looks when it breaks apart in an irregular way.
Galaxy
a huge group of single stars, star systems, star clusters, dust, and gas bound together by gravity.
Gemstone
a hard, colorful mineral that has a brilliant or glassy luster and is valued for its appearance.
Geo
prefix meaning Earth
Geologic Time Scale
a record of the geologic events and life forms in Earth's history.
Geologist
a scientist who studies the forces that make and shape planet Earth.
Global Warming
a gradual increase in the temperature of Earth's atmosphere.
Gram
the basic metric unit to measure mass.
Gravity
a force that moves rocks and other materials downhill; the force that pulls objects toward each other.
Hardness
the level of a mineral's ability to be scratched.
Humidity
the amount of water vapor in a given volume of air.
Hydrosphere
all of the water on, under, and above the Earth
Hypothesis
a possible explanation for a set of observations or answer to a scientific question. It must be testable! (An educated guess.)
Igneous Rock
a type of rock that forms from the cooling of molten rock at or below the surface.
Inorganic
not formed from living things or the remains of living things.
Inertia
the tendency of an object to resist a change in motion.
Kilo
one thousand of a basic unit of measurement.
Kinetic Energy
the energy an object has due to its motion.
Latitude
the distance in degrees north or south of the equator.
Lava
liquid magma that reaches the surface.
Light Year
the distance light travels in a vacuum in one year; about 6 trillion miles
Liter
the basic metric unit to measure capacity.
Lithosphere
the part of Earth which is composed mostly of rocks; the crust and outer mantle
Longitude
the distance in degrees east or west of the prime meridian.
Luster
the way a mineral reflects light from its surface.
Magma
the molten mixture of rock-forming substances, gases, and water from the mantle.
Manipulated/Independent Variable
the one factor that a scientist changes during an experiment.
Mantle
the layer of hot, solid material between Earth's crust and core.
Mass
the amount of matter in an object.
Metamorphic Rock
a type of rock that forms from an existing rock that is changed by heat, pressure, or chemical reactions.
Meteorologist
a scientist who studies the causes of weather and tries to predict it.
Meter
the basic metric unit to measure distance.
Milli
one thousandth of a basic unit of measurement
Mineral
a naturally occurring, inorganic solid that has a crystal structure and a definite chemical composition.
Observing
the process of using one or more of your senses to gather information.
Ology
suffix meaning the study of.
Orbit
the circular path of an object as it revolves around another object in space.
Pangaea
the name of the single landmass that broke apart over 200 million years ago and gave rise to today's continents.
Petrified Fossil
remains of a living specimen in which minerals replace all or part of the organism
Physical Property
any characteristic of a substance that can be observed or measured without changing the composition of the substance.
Potential Energy
the amount of energy that is stored in an object; energy that an object has because of its position relative to other objects
Responding/Dependent Variable
the factor that changes as a result of changes to the manipulated variable.
Revolution
the movement of an object around another object.
Rock Cycle
the process during which rocks are formed, change, wear down, and are formed again over long periods of time
Rotation
the spinning motion of a planet on its axis.
Satellite
a natural or artificial object that revolves around another object in space
Science
A way of learning about the natural world.
Scientific Method
A plan of inquiry that uses science process skills as tools to gather, organize, analyze, and communicate information.
Sedimentary Rock
a type of rock that forms when particles from other rocks or the remains of plants and animals are pressed and cemented together.
Solstice
the two days of the year in which the sun reaches its greatest distance north or south of the equator.
Streak
the color of a mineral's powder.
Transform Boundary
a plate boundary where two plates move past each other in opposite directions.
Trace Fossil
type of evidence that provides a record of the activities of an ancient organism
Universe
everything that exists in, on and around the Earth
Variable
a quantity or condition that can be changed in an experiment
Volcano
an opening in the Earth's surface through which magma and gases or only gases erupt
Volume
the amount of space that an object occupies, measured in liters or centimeters squared
Water Cycle
The continual movement of water among Earth's atmosphere, oceans, and land surface through
Weather
the properties of the atmosphere at a given time and location, including temperature, air movement and precipitation
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