Science Vocab Part 2 Flashcards
acceleration
the rate that velocity changes per unit time and the direction it changes in
calibration
the examination of the performance of an instrument in an experiment whose outcomes are known, for the purpose of accounting for the inaccuracies inherent in the instrument in future experiments whose outcomes are not known
centripetal force
the net force that acts to result in the centripetal acceleration. It is not an individual force, but the sum of the forces in the radial direction. It is directed toward the center of the circular motion.
chemical change
a process that involves the formation or breaking of chemical bonds
density
the mass of a substance for a given unit volume
displacement
the change in position of an object. Computed from the final position minus the initial position.
equilibrium
a state at which the forward and reverse reaction proceed at the same rate.
force
that which acts on an object to change its motion; a push or pull exerted on one object by another.
frequency
the number of cycles or repetitions per second
heterogeneous
a mixture that is not uniform in composition
homogeneous
a mixture in which the components are uniformly distributed
inertia
the tendency of an object to follow Newton’s First Law, the law of inertia. That is the tendency of an object to remain at rest or in motion with constant velocity unless acted on by a force.
isotope
atoms of the same element, with different numbers of neutrons, and hence a different atomic mass
latitude
the coordinate used to measure positions on the Earth north or south of the Earth’s equator
longitude
the coordinate used to measure positions on the Earth east or west of the prime meridian, which goes through Greenwich, England
meiosis
a process of cellular reproduction where the daughter cells have half the amount of chromosomes.
oxidation
the loss of electrons by a substance in a chemical reaction
qualitative observation
an observation that includes characteristics other than amounts or measurements; may include shapes, colors, actions, and odors.
quantitative observation
an observation that includes characteristics of measurements or amounts
solubility
the amount of solute that can be dissolved completely in a solvent at a given temperature
states of matter
solid, liquid, and gas. In solids, atoms or molecules are held in place. The shape and volume of a solid usually do not vary much. In liquids atoms or molecules can move, but their motion is constrained by other molecules. Liquids assume the shape of their container. In gasses the motion of atoms or molecules is unrestricted. Gases assume both the volume and the shape of their containers and they are easily compressible.
topography
the study of the surface features of the planet primarily through mapping
velocity
the rate that a position changes per unit time and the direction it changes in.
voltage
another name for potential difference
voltmeter
a device to measure voltage in a circuit
