Science vocabulary

Question 1

Evaporation

Answer 1

the process of turning from liquid into gas. Example Teakettle

Question 2

condensation

Answer 2

water which collects as droplets on a cold surface when humid air is in contact with it.

Question 3

precipitation

Answer 3

Precipitation is any liquid or frozen water that forms in the atmosphere and falls back to the Earth. It comes in many forms, like rain, sleet, and snow.

Question 4

Transpiration

Answer 4

(of a plant or leaf) the exhalation of water vapor through the stomata.

Question 5

Runoff

Answer 5

Runoff occurs when there is excessive precipitation and the ground is saturated (cannot absorb any more water). Rivers and lakes are results of runoff. There is some evaporation from runoff into the atmosphere but for the most part water in rivers and lakes returns to the oceans.

Question 6

cross-contamination

Answer 6

the process by which bacteria or other microorganisms are unintentionally transferred from one substance or object to another, with harmful effect.

Question 7

salinity

Answer 7

The term “salinity” refers to the concentrations of salts in water or soils. Salinity can take three forms, classified by their causes: primary salinity (also called natural salinity); secondary salinity (also called dryland salinity), and tertiary salinity (also called irrigation salinity).

Question 8

dissolved oxygen

Answer 8

Dissolved oxygen (DO) is one of the most important indicators of water quality. It is essential for the survival of fish and other aquatic organisms. Oxygen dissolves in surface water due to the aerating action of winds. Oxygen is also introduced into the water as a byproduct of aquatic plant photosynthesis.

Question 9

turbidity

Answer 9

the quality of being cloudy, opaque, or thick with suspended matter.

Question 10

Galleons

Answer 10

a heavy square-rigged sailing ship of the 15th to early 18th centuries used for war or commerce especially by the Spanish.

Question 11

Lateen sail

Answer 11

A lateen or latin-rig is a triangular sail set on a long yard mounted at an angle on the mast, and running in a fore-and-aft direction

Question 12

Mercantilism

Answer 12

Mercantilism is an economic policy that is designed to maximize the exports and minimize the imports for an economy. It promotes imperialism, colonialism, tariffs and subsidies on traded goods to achieve that goal.