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SAT/ACT PREP > ACT Science Vocabulary > Flashcards

ACT Science Vocabulary Flashcards

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SAT® Prep flashcards
1
Q

Acid

A

A compound that releases hydrogen ions when dissolved in water; has a pH of less than 7

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2
Q

Absolute zero

A

Approximately -273° C; the lowest possible temperature

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3
Q

Algae

A

Simple, one-celled plantlike organism found in water or damp places; includes seaweeds, pond scum, and so on

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4
Q

Alloy

A

A substance composed of two or more metals

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5
Q

Atmosphere

A

The layer of air surrounding Earth

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6
Q

Atmospheric pressure

A

The pressure exerted by the atmosphere on every part of Earth’s surface; approximately 10 newtons per square centimeter

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7
Q

Atom

A

The smallest part of an element that is recognizable as that element

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8
Q

Barometer

A

An instrument that measures atmospheric pressure

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9
Q

Base

A

A compound that releases hydroxide ions in water; has a pH of more than 7; is sometimes called an alkali

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10
Q

Boiling point

A

The temperature at which additional thermal energy causes a substance to change from a liquid to a vapor

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11
Q

Calorie

A

A quantity of heat energy; the amount needed to raise the temperature of one gram of water 1° C

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12
Q

Carbohydrate

A

An organic compound-like sugar or starch that contains carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen in the ratio of 1:2:1; the human body’s main source of energy

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13
Q

Carcinogen

A

A cancer-causing agent

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14
Q

Carnivore

A

Meat-eater

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15
Q

Catalyst

A

A substance that speeds up a chemical reaction without being changed by the reaction

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16
Q

Cell

A

The lowest-level structure of any living organism that can perform all the functions of life, including reproduction

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17
Q

Chlorophyll

A

The main pigment in plants that captures light energy during photosynthesis

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18
Q

Compound

A

A substance composed of two or more chemically bonded elements

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19
Q

Concentration

A

The exact amount of substance dissolved in a given amount of solvent; refers to a solution

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20
Q

Condensation

A

The process whereby a decrease in energy causes vapor particles to return to a liquid phase

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21
Q

Conductor

A

A material that allows heat or electricity to flow through it with minimal resistance

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22
Q

Control

A

A sample in which no variables are tested, thus serving as a basis for comparison

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23
Q

Control variable

A

A variable that stays constant in an experiment, allowing the effect of another variable to be measured

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24
Q

Convection

A

The circulation of fluid caused by warm fluid rising and cool fluid sinking

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25
Q

Density

A

In a physics sense, the amount of mass per unit volume; in a more general sense, the quantity per unit area or volume

26
Q

Diffusion

A

The scattering of light; the spreading of a liquid or gas from areas of higher concentration to areas of lower concentration

27
Q

DNA

A

Nucleic acid in the cells of an organism; contains the genes of an organism and transmits these to future generations

28
Q

Ecological succesion

A

A sequence of changes in the plant and/or animal life of a region over time

29
Q

Electron

A

A negatively charged fundamental atomic particle

30
Q

Element

A

A substance consisting of exactly one type of atom

31
Q

Erosion

A

Wearing away; typically the washing away of sand or rock by running water or wind

32
Q

Evaporation

A

The changing of a fluid into gas

33
Q

Fossil

A

The preserved remains of a very old organism

34
Q

Frequency

A

The number of cycles per unit time of a repeating phenomenon

35
Q

Glucose

A

A simple sugar that is broken down to provide energy to an organism

36
Q

Habitat

A

The part of an ecosystem where a plant or animal naturally grows or lives

37
Q

Herbivore

A

An animal that eats only plants

38
Q

Hormone

A

A chemical substance secreted by a gland of the body that affects other parts of the body

39
Q

Humidity

A

The amount of water vapor in the air

40
Q

Hypothesis

A

A statement that is a proposed explanation of a scientific phenomenon

41
Q

Infrared radiation

A

Electromagnetic waves whose wavelength is longer than that of visible light

42
Q

Insulator

A

A substance that blocks the flow of heat or electricity

43
Q

Ion

A

A molecule or atom that has become charged by either gaining or losing an electron

44
Q

Isotope

A

A variety of an element with the same number of protons per atom but a different number of neutrons

45
Q

Kinetic energy

A

The energy of an object due to its motion

46
Q

Melting point

A

The temperature at which additional thermal energy breaks the chemical bonds holding a substance together and causes the substance to change from the solid to a liquid state

47
Q

Molecule

A

The smallest unit of a chemical compound

48
Q

Neutron

A

A fundamental atomic particle that has no charge

49
Q

Ore

A

A piece of rock from which metal can be profitably extracted

50
Q

Osmosis

A

The movement of liquid through a membrane

51
Q

Parasite

A

An organism that invades another organism and feeds off it

52
Q

pH

A

A numerical scale from 1-14 representing the acidity or alkalinity of a solution; 1 is very acidic, 14 is very alkaline, and 7 is neutral

53
Q

Photosynthesis

A

The process in which plants use the sun’s energy to convert carbon dioxide and water into glucose

54
Q

Pressure

A

Force per unit area

55
Q

Protein

A

A complex molecule composed of amino acids that carries out a variety of processes in cells

56
Q

Proton

A

A positively charged fundamental atomic particle

57
Q

Starch

A

A complex carbohydrate found in potatoes, rice, corn, and many other vegetables

58
Q

Symbiosis

A

A close relationship between two organisms that is mutually beneficial

59
Q

Ultraviolet radiation

A

Electromagnetic waves with wavelength shorter than that of visible light

60
Q

Vapor

A

The gaseous form of a liquid

61
Q

X ray

A

Electromagnetic radiation with wavelength shorter than ultraviolet radiation

SAT/ACT PREP (2 decks)

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