Physical Science Flashcards
An ______ is the smallest particle of an element that is still identifiable as part of that element.
Atom
An atom is made up of several subatomic particles. The three most important are:
Protons, Electrons, and Neutrons
Protons have a negative or positive charge?
Positive charge
What kind of charge do Electrons have?
Negative Charge
What kind of charge do Neutrons have?
Neutrons are neutral
Electrons orbit the nucleus in increasing energy levels called ______?
Shells
The _________________ is a chart that arranges the chemical elements in an easy-to-understand way.
Periodic Table of Elements
When two or more atoms join together they form a _________.
Molecule
A _________ is made by combining two or more different elements.
Compound
In a _______ ____, atoms share electrons.
Covalent Bond
In a ________ _____, two ions with opposite charges are attracted to each other and bind together.
Ionic Bond
A _________ consists of two or more substances that are not chemically bonded.
mixture
A uniform, or homogeneous, mixture of different molecules is called a _________.
solution
If the solution is a liquid, the material being dissolved is the ________, and the liquid it is being dissolved in is called the ________.
Solute, Solvent
The physical states of matter are generally grouped into ____ main states?
Three
What are the three main states of matter?
Solid, Liquid, and Gas
_______ are rigid; they maintain their shape and have strong inter-molecular forces.
Solid
_______ cannot maintain their shape; they conform to their containers but contain forces strong enough to keep molecules from dispersing into spaces.
Liquids
______ have indefinite shape; they disperse rapidly through space due to random movement of particles and are able to occupy any volume. They are held together by weak forces.
Gases
Changes in what two things cause matter to change states?
Pressure and Temperature
When a solid changes to a liquid, what is that called?
Melting
When a liquid changes to a solid, what is that called?
Freezing
When a liquid changes to a gas, what is that called?
Evaporation
When a gas changes to a liquid, what is that called?
Condensation
When a solid changes to a gas, what is that called?
Sublimation
When a gas changes to a solid, what is that called?
Deposition
A _________ ________ occurs when there is a conversion of one set of chemical substances to another set.
Chemical reaction
In a chemical reaction, the starting substances are called the _________.
Reagents or Reactants
In a chemical reaction, the ending substances are called the ________.
Products
An ____ can be defined as a substance that produces hydrogen ions (H +) in solution.
Acid
A ____ produces hydroxide ions (OH -)
Base
Common characteristics of acidic solutions are:
- They have a sour taste
- React strongly to metals
- pH between 0 - 7
- Examples are orange juice and vinegar
Common characteristics of bases are:
- Taste bitter
- Slippery texture
- pH between 7 - 14
A neutral solution, which has the same concentration of
hydrogen ions and hydroxide ions, have a pH of ___?
7
Name 4 acids according to the pH scale?
- Upset stomach acid
- sodas
- coffee
- Lemons
Name 4 bases according to the pH scale?
- Bleach
- Baking soda
- Eggs
- Sea Water
A ______ is any solution that exhibits very little change in its pH when small amounts of an acid or base are added to it.
Buffer
Name 4 neutral solutions according to the pH scale?
- Pure Water
- Milk
- Human Saliva
- Blood
________ are measurements that have a quantity but no direction.
Scalars
In contract to Scalars, ______ have both quantity and direction.
Vectors
_______ is a scalar: it describes how far an object has traveled along a path.
Distance
____________ is a vector: it describes how far an object has traveled from its starting position.
Displacement
_____ describes how quickly something is moving.
Speed
________ is the rate at which an object changes position.
Velocity
____________ is how quickly an object changes velocity.
Acceleration
A push or pull that causes an object to move or change direction is called ______.
Force
________ is the attraction of one mass to another mass.
Gravity
An object that is at rest or moving with a constant speed has a net force of zero, meaning all the forces acting on it cancel each other out. Such an object is said to at _______________.
Equilibrium
Explain Newton’s First Law of motion:
An object at rest stays at rest, and an object in motion stays in motion, unless acted on by a force.
Explain Newton’s Second Law of motion:
Force is equal to the mass of an object multiplied by its acceleration (F = ma)
Explain Newton’s Third Law of motion:
For every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction
What are 3 examples of simple machines?
- Lever
- Inclined Plane
- Wedge
_______ occurs when motion is impeded because one object is rubbing against another object.
Friction
_______ is the force caused by pulling an object or hanging an object a rope.
Tension
______ is the capacity of an object to work. In other words, it is the capacity of an object to cause some movement of change.
Energy
What are the two types of energy?
Kinetic and Potential energy
_______ energy is the energy possessed by objects in motion.
Kinetic
_________ energy is possessed by objects that have the potential to be in motion due to their position.
Potential
Explanation:
A book held 10 feet off the ground has more potential energy than a book held 5 feet off the ground, because it has the potential to fall farther (i.e., to do more work).
What are the different types of potential energy?
- Gravitational Potential Energy
- Electric Potential Energy
- Elastic Potential Energy
- Chemical Potential Energy
__________ is the special name given to the kinetic energy of all the atoms or molecules in a substance.
Temperature
Explanation:
While it may not look like an substance is not in motion, in fact, its atoms are constantly spinning and vibrating.
_____ is the movement of energy from one substance to another.
Heat
What are three ways heat energy can be transferred?
- Radiation
- Convection
- Conduction
__________ does not need a medium; the sun radiates energy to the earth through the vacuum of space.
Radiation
__________ occurs when two substances are in contact with each other.
Conduction
Example:
When a pan is placed on a hot stove, the heat energy is conducted from the stove to the pan and then the food in the pan.
____________ transfers energy through circular movement of air or liquids.
Convection
Example:
A convection oven transfers heat through circular movement caused by hot air rising and cold air sinking
Energy can also be transferred through ______, which are repeating pulses of energy.
waves
Waves that travel through a medium, like ripples on a pond or compressions in a Slinky, are called ___________ waves.
Mechanical
Waves that vibrate up and down (like ripples on a pond) are _______ waves.
transverse
Waves that travel through compression (like the Slinky) are ___________ waves.
Longitudinal
A wave’s highest highest point is called its _______.
Crest
A wave’s lowest point is called its _______.
trough
A wave’s midline is halfway between the crest and trough; the _________ describes the distance between the midline and the crest (trough).
Amplitude
A wave’s _______ is the time it takes for a wave to go through one complete cycle.
period
The number of cycles a wave goes through in a specific period of time is its __________.
frequency
_______ is a special type of longitudinal wave created by vibrations.
Sound
The frequency, or rate, of the vibration determines the sound’s ______.
Pitch
________ depends on the amplitude, or height, of a sound wave.
Loudness
The ___________ is the difference in perceived pitch caused by the motion of the object creating the wave.
Doppler Effect
___________ waves are composed of oscillating electric and magnetic fields and thus do not require medium to travel through.
Electromagnetic
The study of light is called _______.
optics
Light can _____, or bend, when it travels through substances such as water.
refract
Materials that conduct electrons well are called __________.
Conductors
Materials that do not conduct electrons well are __________.
Insulators
___________ is the movement of electrons through a conductor.
Electricity
What are 3 substances that are used to produce Permanent Magnets?
- Iron
- Nickel
- Cobalt
________ and _______ are small rocky or icy objects that orbit the sun.
Asteroids and comets
________ consists of stars, gas, and dust held together by gravity.
Galaxies
______ are hot balls of plasma and gases.
Stars
A ______ eclipse occurs when Earth lines up between the moon and the sun; the moon moves into the shadow of Earth and appears dark in color.
Lunar
A _____ eclipse occurs when the moon lines up between earth and the sun, the moon covers the sun, blocking sunlight.
Solar
_______ is the study of the minerals and rocks that make up the earth.
Geology
A _______ is a naturally occurring, solid, inorganic substance with a crystalline structure.
mineral
What are the three types of rocks?
- Igneous
- Sedimentary
- Metamorphic
_______ rocks are the result of tectonic processes that bring magma, or melted rock, to the earth’s surface.
Igneous
__________ rocks are formed from the compaction of rock fragments that results from weathering erosion.
Sedimentary
___________ rocks form when extreme temperature and pressure cause the structure of pre-exisitng to rocks to change.
Metamorphic
__________ is the mechanical and/or chemical processes by which rocks break down.
Weathering
____________, the study of the history of life on Earth is sometimes also considered part of geology.
Paleontology
