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Physical science
physical science terms
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| Elements | each of more than one hundred substances that cannot be chemically inter-converted or broken down into simpler substances |
| Chemical symbol | an abbreviation or short representation of a chemical element; the symbols in the periodic table. |
| Molecules | a group of atoms bonded together, representing the smallest fundamental unit of a chemical compound that can take part in a chemical reaction. |
| Chemical formulas | a mathematical relationship or rule expressed in symbols. |
| Mixtures | a substance made by mixing other substances together. |
| Periodic table | a table of the chemical elements arranged in order of atomic number, usually in rows, so that elements with similar atomic structure (and hence similar chemical properties) appear in vertical columns. |
| Atomic number | the number of protons in the nucleus of an atom, which determines the chemical properties of an element and its place in the periodic table. |
| Electrons | a stable subatomic particle with a charge of negative electricity, found in all atoms and acting as the primary carrier of electricity in solids. |
| Atom | the basic unit of a chemical element. |
| Atomic symbol | the number of positive charges or protons in the nucleus of an atom of a given element, and therefore also the number of electrons normally surrounding the nucleus. |
| Compound | a thing that is composed of two or more separate elements; a mixture.: |
| Period | a set of elements occupying an entire horizontal row in the periodic table. |
| Group | is a column of elements in the periodic table of the chemical elements. There are 18 numbered groups in the periodic table, but the f-block columns (between groups 2 and 3) are not numbered. |
| Bond | a strong force of attraction holding atoms together in a molecule or crystal, resulting from the sharing or transfer of electrons. |
| Shell | a grouping of electrons surrounding the nucleus of an atom; "the chemical properties of an atom are determined by the outermost electron shell" group, |
| Noble | gases any of the chemically inert gaseous elements of group 8A or 0 of the periodic table: helium, neon, argon, krypton, xenon, and radon. Also called inert gas. |
| Ionic bond | A chemical bond formed between two ions with opposite charges. Ionic bonds form when one atom gives up one or more electrons to another atom. |
| Covalent | relating to or denoting chemical bonds formed by the sharing of electrons between atoms. |
| Periodic trend | Major periodic trends include: electro negativity, ionization energy, electron affinity, atomic radius, melting point, and metallic character. |
| Electromagnetic | relating to the interrelation of electric currents or fields and magnetic fields. |
| Electron affinity | the amount of energy released or spent when an electron is added to a neutral atom or molecule in the gaseous state to form a negative ion. |
| Metallic character | refers to the level of reactivity of a metal. Non-metallic character relates to the tendency to accept electrons during chemical reactions. |
| Metallic tendency | increases going down a group. Non-metallic tendency increases going from left to right across the periodic table. |
| Atomic radius | generally stated as being the total distance from an atom's nucleus to the outermost orbital of electron. |
| Mass | the quantity of matter that a body contains, |
| Matter | physical substance in general |
| Weight | a body's relative mass or the quantity of matter contained by it, |
| States of matter | There are five known phases, or states, of matter: solids, liquids, gases, plasma and Bose-Einstein condensates. The main difference in the structures of each state is in the densities of the particles. |
| Solids | firm and stable in shape; not liquid or fluid. |
| Crystal | a piece of a homogeneous solid substance having a natural geometrically regular form with symmetrically arranged plane faces. |
| Liquids | a substance that flows freely but is of constant volume, having a consistency like that of water or oil |
| Melting pot | pot in which metals or other materials are melted and mixed |
| Boiling point | the temperature at which a liquid boils and turns to vapor. |
| Condensation | water that collects as droplets on a cold surface when humid air is in contact with it. |
| freezing point | the temperature at which a liquid turns into a solid when cooled. |
| Solution | a liquid mixture in which the minor component (the solute) is uniformly distributed within the major component (the solvent). |
| Solute | the minor component in a solution, dissolved in the solvent. |
| Solvent | able to dissolve other substances |
| Chemical reaction | a process that involves rearrangement of the molecular or ionic structure of a substance, |
| Products | in science is a substance that is formed when two or more chemicals react. |
| Law of conservation | the principle that in any closed system subjected to no external forces, the mass is constant irrespective of its changes in form; the principle that matter cannot be created or destroyed. |
| Chemical equations | A written representation of a chemical reaction, in which the symbols and amounts of the reactants are separated from those of the products by an equal sign, arrow, or a set of opposing arrows. |
| Endothermic reaction | (of a reaction or process) accompanied by or requiring the absorption of heat |
| Exothermic reaction | (of a reaction or process) accompanied by the release of heat. |
| Activation energy | the minimum quantity of energy that the reacting species must possess in order to undergo a specified reaction. |
| Energy | the strength and vitality required for sustained physical or mental activity. |
| Work | the exertion of force overcoming resistance or producing molecular change. |
| Heat energy | or thermal energy or simply heat) is defined as a form of energy which transfers among particles in a substance (or system) by means of kinetic energy of those particles. |
| Light energy | a type of kinetic energy with the ability to form types of light people can see as well as invisible waves. |
| Electric energy | energy made available by the flow of electric charge through a conductor; "they built a car that runs on electricity" |
| Chemical energy | may be released during a chemical reaction, often in the form of heat; such reactions are called exothermic |
| Mechanical energy | the sum of potential energy and kinetic energy. It is the energy associated with the motion and position of an object. |
| Nuclear energy | the energy released by the nucleus of an atom as the result of nuclear fission, nuclear fusion, or radioactive decay |
| Law of conservation of energy | the total energy of an isolated system remains constant—it is said to be conserved over time. Energy can neither be created nor destroyed; rather, it transforms from one form to another. |
| Potential energy | the energy possessed by a body by virtue of its position relative to others |
| Kinetic energy | energy that a body possesses by virtue of being in motion. |
| Joules | the SI unit of work or energy, equal to the work done by a force of one newton when its point of application moves one meter in the direction of action of the force, equivalent to one 3600th of a watt-hour. |
| Power | physical strength and force exerted by something or someone. |
| Watts | the SI unit of power, equivalent to one joule per second, corresponding to the power in an electric circuit |
| Speed | the rate at which someone or something is able to move or operate.: |
| Velocity | the speed of something in a given direction |
| Acceleration | a vehicle's capacity to gain speed within a short time. |
| Force | strength or energy as an attribute of physical action or movement. |
| Law of motion | A body at rest will remain at rest, and a body in motion will remain in motion unless it is acted upon by an external force.” |
| Law of inertia | states that, unless acted upon by an external force, an object at rest remains at rest, or if in motion, it continues to move in a straight line with constant speed. |
| Law of acceleration | states that a body's rate of change of momentum is proportional to the force causing it. |
| Newton | the SI unit of force. |
| Net force | the sum of all forces acting on an object. |
| Electric charge | physical property of matter that causes it to experience a force when placed in an electromagnetic field. There are two types of electric charges: positive and negative |
| Static energy | an imbalance of electric charges within or on the surface of a material. The charge remains until it is able to move away by means of an electric current or electrical discharge. |
| Electric current | the time rate of flow of electric charge, in the direction that a positive moving charge would take and having magnitude equal to the quantity of charge per unit time: measured in amperes |
| Conductor | a material or device that conducts or transmits heat, electricity, or sound, |
| Insulator | a thing or substance used for insulation, in particular. |
| Semiconductor | a solid substance that has a conductivity between that of an insulator and that of most metals |
| Magnetic field | a region around a magnetic material or a moving electric charge within which the force of magnetism acts. |
| Electromagnet | a soft metal core made into a magnet by the passage of electric current through a coil surrounding it. |
| Permanent magnet | a magnet that retains its magnetic properties in the absence of an inducing field or current. |
| Generator | a thing that generates something, in particular. |
| Transformer | an apparatus for reducing or increasing the voltage of an alternating current. |
| Voltage | an electromotive force or potential difference expressed in volts. |
| Medium | through which the wave travels is the ocean water. the medium through which the sound wave travels is the air in the room. |
| Electromagnetic energy | a form of energy that can be reflected or emitted from objects through electrical or magnetic waves traveling through space. |
| Longitudinal wave | the particles of the medium move parallel to the wave's direction of travel. |
| Transverse waves | are characterized by peaks and valleys, called crests and troughs. |
| Amplitude | the maximum extent of a vibration or oscillation, measured from the position of equilibrium. |
| Frequency | the rate at which something occurs or is repeated over a particular period of time or in a given sample |
| Wavelength | the distance between successive crests of a wave, especially points in a sound wave or electromagnetic wave. |
| Hertz | the SI unit of frequency, equal to one cycle per second. |
| Reflected | (of a surface or body) throwback ( heat, light, or sound) without absorbing it. |
| Absorbed | take in or soak up (energy, or a liquid or other substance) by chemical or physical action, typically gradually. |
| Transmitted | cause (something) to pass on from one place or person to another. |
| Analog | relating to or using signals or information represented by a continuously variable physical quantity such as spatial position or voltage. |
| Digital | (of signals or data) expressed as series of the digits 0 and 1, typically represented by values of a physical quantity such as voltage or magnetic polarization. |
Created by:
rhart1973
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