Unit 1 Vocab

Question 1

The pieces inside the atom that make up and decide the composition of the substance

Answer 1

Subatomic particles

Question 2

Positively charged subatomic particles (location: inside the nucleus)

Answer 2

Protons

Question 3

Neutrally charged subatomic particles (location: inside the nucleus)

Answer 3

Neutrons

Question 4

Negatively charged particles that orbit around the nucleus (location: electron cloud/energy levels)

Answer 4

Electrons

Question 5

Particles that behave in the form of light

Answer 5

Photons

Question 6

The positively charged particles that make up the pieces of protons and neutrons

Answer 6

Quarks

Question 7

The force that is put upon quarks to hold them together to keep the protons and neutrons together

Answer 7

Gluons

Question 8

When hydrogen atoms are combining together to form atoms (typically done with strong force)

Answer 8

Recombination

Question 9

An increase (or decrease) in the frequency of sound, light, or any other wave as the source and observer move away or towards each other

Answer 9

Doppler effect

Question 10

An increase in wavelength (with corresponding decrease in frequency and photon energy) of electromagnetic radiation

Answer 10

Redshifting

Question 11

The ability to date a point of creation at a single time point

Answer 11

Extrapolating

Question 12

The smallest component of an element where the chemical properties still represent the element

Answer 12

Atoms

Question 13

The number on the periodic table that represents the total number of protons the element contains

Answer 13

Atomic number

Question 14

When the number of protons is not equal to the number of electrons in an atom, resulting in a positive or negative charge

Answer 14

Ions

Question 15

An atom or ion where the mass is different between two different atoms or ions, but is still the same element. The difference is noted in the different number of neutrons.

Answer 15

Isotope

Question 16

Average of all known mass numbers of all known isotopes of an element taking percent abundance of each isotope into consideration

Answer 16

Atomic Mass

Question 17

Specific to an isotope and is an exact number of protons and neutrons

Answer 17

Mass number

Question 18

A unit to measure the mass of atoms.

Answer 18

Relative mass

Question 19

The combination of more than one atom to create a heavier atom (releases and uses a lot of energy)

Answer 19

Fusion

Question 20

The separation of one larger atom into two or more smaller atoms to create lighter atoms (releases and uses a lot of energy)

Answer 20

Fission

Question 21

When variables change in opposite directions: one increases while the other decreases, and vice versa

Answer 21

Inverse relationship

Question 22

When both variables increase together, or both decrease together

Answer 22

Direct relationship

Question 23

The distance between corresponding points on the wave (from crest to crest)

Answer 23

Wavelength

Question 24

The number of waves to cross a point in 1 second

Answer 24

Frequency

Question 25

Made when a satellite records data about brightness of the light waves reflecting off the Earth’s surface; represented by a numerical value

Answer 25

False-color image

Question 26

Each element gives off light-waves with specific wavelengths and frequencies

Answer 26

Spectral Line

Question 27

When an atom when electrons temporarily occupy higher energy levels than they normally would in ground state as a result of being given extra energy

Answer 27

Excited state

Question 28

The interference of two or more waves of equal frequency and phase, resulting in their mutual reinforcement and producing a single amplitude equal to the sum of the amplitudes of the individual waves.

Answer 28

Constructive interference

Question 29

the interference of two waves of equal frequency and opposite phase, resulting in their cancellation where the negative displacement of one always coincides with the positive displacement of the other.

Answer 29

Destructive interference

Question 30

Property of an element that describes spontaneous changes in its nucleus that create a different element

Answer 30

Radioactivity

Question 31

The energy that is released as particles or rays during nuclear decay (break down of the nucleus of an unstable atom), where a new element is formed as a result of the process

Answer 31

Radiation

Question 32

The changing of one element into another

Answer 32

Transmutation

Question 33

The process by which both the mass and total charge are conserved as the parent-nuclei undergoes alpha transmutation, or alpha decay, and releases the alpha particle (helium nucleus) to become a new, daughter-element.

Answer 33

Alpha particle decay

Question 34

The process by which both the mass and total charge are conserved as the parent-nuclei undergoes beta transmutation, or beta decay, and releases the beta particle (an electron) to become a new, daughter-element.

Answer 34

Beta particle decay

Question 35

The process by which some nuclei with excess energy emit gamma rays, but does not release a particle.

Answer 35

Gamma particle decay

Question 36

The amount of time required for half of the sample to disintegrate (disappear or transmute).

Answer 36

Half-life

Question 37

The accumulation of particles into a massive object by attracting more matter, typically gaseous matter, into an accretion disk.

Answer 37

Accretion

Question 38

The process accretion, but through gravitational forces.

Answer 38

Gravitational accretion

Question 39

The separation of different constituents of planetary materials resulting in the formation of distinct compositional layers.

Answer 39

Differentiation

Question 40

A large, rigid slab of solid rock.

Answer 40

Plate

Question 41

Two tectonic plates coming together

Answer 41

Convergent boundaries

Question 42

Two tectonic plates spreading apart

Answer 42

Divergent boundaries

Question 43

Two tectonic plates sliding up against each other

Answer 43

Transform boundaries