Physical Science GLOSSARY
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Physical Science GLOSSARY analog A Represented by a continuous but varying quantity, absorption (uhb-SAWRP-shuhn) such as a wave. In electronics, analog information The disappearance of a wave into a medium. When is represented by a continuous but varying electrical a wave is absorbed, the energy transferred by the signal. (p. 684) wave is converted into another form of energy, usually thermal energy. (p. 573) atom The smallest particle of an element that has the acceleration chemical properties of that element. (p. 16) The rate at which velocity changes over time. (p. 329) atomic mass The average mass of the atoms of an element. acid (p. 145) A substance that can donate a proton to another substance and has a pH below 7. (p. 254) atomic mass number The total number of protons and neutrons in an acoustics (uh-KOO-stihks) atom’s nucleus. The scientific study of sound; the behavior of sound waves inside a space. (p. 535) atomic number The number of protons in the nucleus of an atom. air resistance (p. 140) The fluid friction due to air. (p. 393) alloy B A solid mixture composed of a metal and one or base more A substance that can accept a proton from another other substances. (p. 262) substance and has a pH above 7. (p. 254) alternating current AC Bernoulli’s principle Electric current that reverses direction at regular A statement that describes the effects of movement intervals. (p. 721) on fluid pressure. According to this principle, an in- crease in the speed of the motion of a fluid decreas- ampere amp es the pressure within the fluid. (p. 404) The unit of measurement of electric current, which is equal to one coulomb per second. The number of binary code amps flowing through a circuit equals the circuit’s A coding system in which information is represented amperage. (p. 653) by two figures, such as 1 and 0. (p. 682) amplification bioluminescence The strengthening of an electrical signal, often used The production of light by living organisms. (p. 569) to increase the intensity of a sound wave. (p. 535) boiling amplitude A process by which a substance changes from its The maximum distance that a disturbance causes a liquid state to its gas state. The liquid is heated to a medium to move from its rest position; the distance specific temperature at which bubbles of vapor form between a crest or trough of a wave and line through within the liquid. (p. 54) the center of a wave. (p. 497) boiling point circuit The temperature at which a substance changes from A closed path through which charge can flow. (p. its liquid state to its gas state through boiling. (p. 54) 667) bond energy coefficient The amount of energy in a chemical bond between The number before a chemical formula that indicates atoms. how many molecules are involved in a chemical reaction. buoyant force The upward force on objects in a fluid; often called collision buoyancy. (p. 402) A situation in which two objects in close contact exchange energy and momentum. (p. 370) c compound calorie A substance made up of two or more different types The amount of energy needed to increase the tem- of atoms bonded together. (p. 23) perature of one gram of water by one degree Celsius. compound machine (p. 112) A machine that is made up of two or more simple machines. (p. 468) carbohydrate A type of carbon-based molecule in living things. computer Carbohydrates include sugars and starches used for An electronic device that processes digital informa- energy or as structural materials, Carbohydrate mol- tion. ecules contain carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen atoms. (p. 685) catalyst concave A substance that increases the rate of a chemical Curved inward toward the center, like the inside of a reaction spoon. (p. 596) but is not consumed in the reaction. (p. 204) concentration centripetal force (sehn-TRIHP-ih-tuhl) The amount of solute dissolved in a solvent at a Any force that keeps an object moving in a circle. given (p. 358) temperature. chemical change condensation A change of one substance into another substance. The process by which a gas becomes a liquid. (p. 46) (p. 55) chemical formula conduction An expression that shows the number and types of The process by which energy is transferred from a atoms warmer object to a cooler object by means of joined in a compound. (p. 171) physical contact. (p. 1 17) chemical property conductor A characteristic of a substance that describes how it 1. A material that transfers energy easily. (p.117) can form a new substance. (p. 46) 2. A material that transfers electric charge easily. (p. 646) chemical reaction The process by which chemical changes occur. In a chemical reaction, atoms are rearranged, and chemical bonds are broken and formed. (p. 197) convection diffuse reflection A process by which energy is transferred in gases The reflection of parallel light rays in many different and liquids,occurring when a warmer, less dense directions. (p. 594) area of gas or liquid is pushed up by a cooler, more dense area of the gas or liquid. (p. 1 18) digital Represented by numbers. In electronics, digital convex information is represented by the numbers 1 and 0, Curved outward, like the underside of a spoon. (p. signaled by a circuit that is either on or off. (p. 682) 596) dilute cornea (KAWR-nee-uh) adj. Having a low concentration of solute. (p. 246) A transparent membrane that covers the eye. v. To add solvent in order to decrease the concentra- (p. 607) tion of a solution. covalent bond direct current DC A pair of electrons shared by two atoms. (p. 178) Electric current that flows in one direction only. (p. 721) crest The highest point, or peak, of a wave. (p. 497) Doppler effect The change in perceived pitch that occurs when the cycle source or the one who hears the sound is moving. n. A series of events or actions that repeat them- (p. 530) selves regularly; a physical and/or chemical process in which one material continually changes locations and/or forms. Examples include the water cycle, the E carbon cycle, and the rock cycle. echolocation v. To move through a repeating series of events or The sending out of high-pitched sound waves and actions. the interpretation of the returning echoes. (p. 539) efficiency D The percentage of the input work done on a machine data that the machine can return in output work. A ma- Information gathered by observation or experimen- chine’s output work divided by its input work and tation that can be used in calculating or reasoning. multiplied by 100. (p. 454) Data is a plural word; the singular is datum. electric cell decibel dB A device that produces electric current using the The unit used to measure the intensity of a sound chemical or physical properties of different materials. wave. (p. 532) A battery degree consists of two or more cells linked together. (p. 655) Evenly divided units of a temperature scale. (p. 106) electric charge density A property that allows one object to exert an electric A property of matter representing the mass per unit force on another object without touching it. Electric volume. (pp. 43, 403) charge can be positive or negative: positive charge is a property of the proton, while negative charge is a diffraction property of the electron. (p. 634) The spreading out of waves as they pass through an opening or around the edges of an obstacle. (p. 506) electric current A continuous flow of electric charge, which is mea- suredin amperes. (p. 652) electric field element An area surrounding a charged object, within which A substance that cannot be broken down into a sim- the object can exert an electric force on another ob- pler substance by ordinary chemical changes. An ject without touching it. (p. 634) element consists of atoms of only one type. (p. 22) electric potential endothermic reaction The amount of potential energy per unit charge that A chemical reaction that absorbs energy. (p. 2 15) a static charge or electric current has. Electric poten- reacci6n endotermica Una reaccion quimica que tial is measured in volts and is often called voltage. absorbe energia. (p. 643) energy electric power The ability to do work or to cause a change. For The rate at which electrical energy is generated example, the energy of a moving bowling ball knocks from, or over pins; energy from food allows animals to move converted into, another source of energy, such as and to grow; and energy from the Sun heats Earth’s kinetic energy. (p. 726) surface and atmosphere, which causes air to move. (p. 72) electromagnet A magnet that consists of a piece of iron or steel energy efficiency inside a coil of current-carrying wire. (p. 7 14) A measurement of usable energy after an energy conversion; the ratio of usable energy to the total electromagnetic spectrum EM spectrum energy after an energy conversion. (p. 83) The range of all electromagnetic frequencies, in- cluding the following types (from lowest to highest enzyme frequency): radio waves, microwaves, infrared light, A type of protein that is a catalyst for chemical reac- visible light, ultraviolet light, x-rays, and gamma rays. tions in living things. (p. 287) (p. 560) evaporation electromagnetic wave EM wave A process by which a substance changes from its A type of wave, such as a light wave or radio wave, liquid state to its gas state by random particle that does not require a medium to travel; a distur- movement.