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Physical Science
Terms and Definitions for 5th grade physical science
Term | Definition |
---|---|
Spring Scale | Measures the weight of an object. |
Triple Beam Balance | Measures the mass of an object. |
Bunsen Burner | Uses a flame to heat objects. |
Graduated Cylinder | Used to measure liquids and their volume. |
Meter Stick | Used to measure length in centimeters or millimeters. |
Eyedropper | Used to measure one droplet at a time. |
Beaker | Used to measure liquids and powders. |
Strainer/Sieve | Separates bigger materials from smaller ones. |
Filter | Cloth like material used to separate liquids from larger particles. |
Waft | Fan the air to get the scent of smell. |
Dispose | To throw away or to get rid of. |
Procedure | Steps followed during an experiment. |
Variable | The part of an experiment that either changes or is controlled. |
Observation | Noticing something about the world around you. |
Inference | Using clues to find the answer. |
Classify | To put into groups. |
Mass | How much matter is in something: Measured in grams using triple beam balance and pan scale. It always stays the same. Not affected by gravity. |
Volume | How much space something takes up. Measured in liters or milliliters. A graduated cylinder can be used to measure volume. |
Matter | Anything that takes up space. |
Thermometer | Measures temperature. We use Celsius in science. |
Buoyancy | Able to float because of its shape. Ex. A ball of aluminum foil will sink, shape it like a boat and it floats. |
Density | The amount of molecules in matter that allows it to sink or float. Example: honey is more dense than oil. More dense items sink, less dense items float. |
Weight | The measure of the pull of gravity on an object. |
Gravity | A force that pulls towards the center of another object. |
Physical properties | A characteristic of a substance that can be measured or observed. Use your five senses. |
Phases of Matter/States of Matter | Solid, liquid and gas. |
Solid | Has a definite shape and volume, tightly packed together, does not flow easily and cannot be poured from one container to another. |
Liquid | Does not have a definite shape but does have a definite volume. Changes to the shape of its container, flows easily and can be poured filling the bottom of the container first. |
Gas | Does not have a definite shape or volume, flows easily from one place to another, particles of gases are less tightly packed than liquids and solids and expands freely to fill any space available. |
Evaporation | Liquid changing to a gas. |
Condensation | Gas changing back to a liquid. Examples: Steam on a mirror after a hot shower, clouds, water droplets on the outside of a glass of ice water. |
Magnetism | A force that can attract (pull closer) or repel (push away) magnetic materials. The magnetic metals are iron, nickel, cobalt, and steel. |
Conductor | A material that allows electricity or heat to pass through it easily. Usually metals and even water. Ex. Aluminum, silver, platinum, iron, |
Insulator | A material that does NOT allow electricity or heat to pass through it easily (paper, plastic, cloth, rubber, wood, Styrofoam, cardboard, glass, porcelain) |
Attract | A force that causes objects to pull together. |
Repel | A force that causes objects to push back or away from one another. |
Mixture | Two or more substances that keep their own physical properties and tend to be easier to separate. Ex. Fruit salad or trail mix |
Solution | A type of mixture in which one substance dissolves in another and tends to be more difficult to separate. Physical properties of the ingredients will change. Ex. Lemonade or salt water |
Soluble | Able to dissolve in liquid. |
Dissolve | To form a solution with another substance. Becomes so small you can no longer see it but it’s still there. |
Texture | How an object feels to the touch. |
Friction | The force in which two objects rub against each other (It causes them to heat up and slow down). |
Force | A push or a pull. |
Pressure | To apply a force on the surface of an object. |
Energy | The ability to do work. |
Mechanical Energy | Energy of motion. A combination of the kinetic and potential energy of an object. |
Thermal Energy | Energy of heat. |
Solar Energy | Energy produced by the Sun. |
Light Energy | Energy in the form of waves that can travel through an empty space. |
Sound Energy | Energy caused by vibrations. |
Electrical Energy | Energy of moving electrons or electric charges. |
Source/Cell/Battery | Power source of a circuit. |
Switch | Turns a circuit on and off. Not necessary to have in a working circuit. |
Series Circuit | An electric circuit in which electricity has only one path to take. If one light goes out or is removed, they all go out |
Parallel Circuit | A circuit where the electricity has more than one path to take. If one light is removed the other lights may still work and may even get brighter. |
Complete/Closed Circuit | A circuit that has a complete path for electrons to flow. The circuit will work. |
Incomplete/Open Circuit | A circuit that does not have a complete path for electrons to flow. The circuit will not work. |
Reflection/Reflect | The bouncing back of light waves off a surface. Ex. mirror/shiny metal, still water. |
Refraction/Refract | The bending of light waves as they move through one medium into another. Ex. prism, looking at something through water. |
Prism | A glass or transparent object that bends light and separates white light into the visible spectrum of colors, ROYGBIV. |
ROYGBIV | Red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, and violet. The colors of the visible light spectrum |