Unit 1 Vocab Flashcards
The pieces inside the atom that make up and decide the composition of the substance
Subatomic particles
Positively charged subatomic particles (location: inside the nucleus)
Protons
Neutrally charged subatomic particles (location: inside the nucleus)
Neutrons
Negatively charged particles that orbit around the nucleus (location: electron cloud/energy levels)
Electrons
Particles that behave in the form of light
Photons
The positively charged particles that make up the pieces of protons and neutrons
Quarks
The force that is put upon quarks to hold them together to keep the protons and neutrons together
Gluons
When hydrogen atoms are combining together to form atoms (typically done with strong force)
Recombination
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
Doppler effect
An increase in wavelength (with corresponding decrease in frequency and photon energy) of electromagnetic radiation
Redshifting
The ability to date a point of creation at a single time point
Extrapolating
The smallest component of an element where the chemical properties still represent the element
Atoms
The number on the periodic table that represents the total number of protons the element contains
Atomic number
When the number of protons is not equal to the number of electrons in an atom, resulting in a positive or negative charge
Ions
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.
Isotope
Average of all known mass numbers of all known isotopes of an element taking percent abundance of each isotope into consideration
Atomic Mass
Specific to an isotope and is an exact number of protons and neutrons
Mass number
A unit to measure the mass of atoms.
Relative mass
The combination of more than one atom to create a heavier atom (releases and uses a lot of energy)
Fusion
The separation of one larger atom into two or more smaller atoms to create lighter atoms (releases and uses a lot of energy)
Fission
When variables change in opposite directions: one increases while the other decreases, and vice versa
Inverse relationship
When both variables increase together, or both decrease together
Direct relationship
The distance between corresponding points on the wave (from crest to crest)
Wavelength
The number of waves to cross a point in 1 second
Frequency
Made when a satellite records data about brightness of the light waves reflecting off the Earth’s surface; represented by a numerical value
False-color image
Each element gives off light-waves with specific wavelengths and frequencies
Spectral Line
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
Excited state
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.
Constructive interference
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.
Destructive interference
Property of an element that describes spontaneous changes in its nucleus that create a different element
Radioactivity
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
Radiation
The changing of one element into another
Transmutation
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.
Alpha particle decay
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.
Beta particle decay
The process by which some nuclei with excess energy emit gamma rays, but does not release a particle.
Gamma particle decay
The amount of time required for half of the sample to disintegrate (disappear or transmute).
Half-life
The accumulation of particles into a massive object by attracting more matter, typically gaseous matter, into an accretion disk.
Accretion
The process accretion, but through gravitational forces.
Gravitational accretion
The separation of different constituents of planetary materials resulting in the formation of distinct compositional layers.
Differentiation
A large, rigid slab of solid rock.
Plate
Two tectonic plates coming together
Convergent boundaries
Two tectonic plates spreading apart
Divergent boundaries
Two tectonic plates sliding up against each other
Transform boundaries
