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FSSA: Physical
FSSA Review - Vocabulary from Physical Science (MYP Y3)
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| independent variable | the variable that is deliberately manipulated |
| dependent variable | the variable/factor that changes as a result of the manipulation of one or more independent variables |
| hypothesis | a testable idea or explanation that leads to scientific investigation |
| circle graph | shows data as parts of a whole (often in percentages) |
| line graph | represents data by connecting individual data points with straight lines, showing trends and changes over time |
| data table | a way of organizing information in a grid of rows and columns |
| bias | refers to a known or unknown influence in the experimental process; an opinion that favors one point of view |
| repetition | the act of repeating an experiment or observation multiple times to confirm results |
| replication | conducting a new study with similar methods to see if the same results are obtained, thus confirming the reliability and validity of the initial research |
| scientific method | 1. observe 2. form a hypothesis 3. predict 4. experiment 5. analyze 6. conclude Scientists may revisit, reorder, or modify steps as needed. |
| matter | anything that has mass and takes up space |
| mass | a measure of the amount of matter in an object |
| weight | a measure of the gravitational force exerted on an object; its value can change with the location of the object in the universe |
| volume | the amount of space that an object takes up or occupies |
| density | the ratio of the mass of a substance to the volume of the substance |
| physical property | a characteristic of a substance that does not involve a chemical change, such as density, color or malleability |
| chemical property | a property of matter that describes a substances ability to participate in chemical reactions |
| physical change | a change of matter from one form to another without a change in chemical properties |
| chemical change | a change that occurs when one or more substances change into entirely new substances with different properties |
| element | a substance that cannot be separated or broken down into simpler substances by chemical means; all atoms of an element have the same atomic number |
| compound | a substance made up of atoms of two or more different elements joined by chemical bonds |
| mixture | a combination of two or more substances that are not chemically combined |
| pure substance | a single substance (either a single element or a single compound) that has definite physical and chemical properties |
| wave | a disturbance that transfers energy from one place to another |
| medium | the environment through which a wave travels |
| mechanical wave | a wave that requires a medium through which to travel (ex. sound waves, water waves) |
| electromagnetic wave | a wave that does not require a medium through which to travel (ex. ultraviolet waves, gamma rays, microwaves) |
| wavelength | the distance between two adjacent crests or troughs of a wave |
| frequency | the number of waves produced in a given amount of time, such as a second |
| wave speed | the speed at which a wave travels through a medium |
| Electromagnetic Spectrum | all of the frequencies or wavelengths of electromagnetic radiation (radio waves, microwaves, infrared, visible light, ultraviolet, x-rays, gamma rays) |
| transparent | describes matter that allows light to pass through with little interference, appears clear or see-through |
| absorption | the transfer of light energy to particles of matter |
| reflection | the bouncing back of a wave when it hits a surface that it does not go through |
| refraction | the bending of a wave as it passes from one medium into another and changes speed, causing it to bend |
| angle of incidence | The angle at which the light hits an object. It is equal to the angle of reflection. |
| plane | flat surface |
| concave | curved surface |
| prism | a transparent object, typically made of glass, that bends light when it passes through it, causing it to separate into different colors |
| visible light | the range of the electromagnetic spectrum visible to the naked eye. White light = all colors combined. |
| vacuum | another word for empty space |
| energy | the ability to do work or cause change |
| energy transformation | takes place when energy changes from one form to another |
| conduction | the transfer of energy as heat through a material |
| balanced forces | set of forces acting in equal and opposite directions, causing no motion. (net force = 0) |
| unbalanced forces | set of forces whose net force does not equal to zero, causing the object to accelerate and change its state of motion. |
| force | the motion of a body when only the force of gravity is acting on the body |
| gravity | a force of attraction between objects that is due to their masses |
| conduction | the transfer of energy as heat through a material |
| convection | the movement of matter due to differences in density that are caused by temperature variations; can result in the transfer of energy as heat |
| radiation | the transfer of energy as electromagnetic waves |
| conductor | a material that transfers energy easily |
| insultator | a material that reduces or prevents the transfer of energy |
| heat | the energy transferred between objects that are at different temperatures |
| thermal energy | the total kinetic energy of a substance’s atoms |
| temperature | the application of science for practical purposes; the use of tools, machines, materials, and processes to meet human needs |
| efficiency | a quantity, usually expressed as a percentage, that measures the ratio of work output to work input |
| proton | a subatomic particle that has a positive charge and that is located in the nucleus of an atom; the number of protons in the nucleus is the atomic number, which determines the identity of an element |
| neutron | a subatomic particle that has no charge and that is located in the nucleus of an atom |
| electron | a subatomic particle that has a negative charge |
| nucleus | in physical science, an atom’s central region, which is made up of protons and neutrons |
| average atomic mass | the weighted average of the masses of all naturally occurring isotopes of an element |
| atom | the smallest unit of an element that maintains the properties of that element |
| atomic number | the number of protons in the nucleus of an atom; the atomic number is the same for all atoms of an element |
| Periodic Table | an arrangement of the elements in order of their atomic numbers such that elements with similar properties fall in the same column, or group |
| period | in chemistry, a horizontal row of elements in the periodic table |
| group | the energy transferred between objects that are at different temperatures |
| electron cloud | a region around the nucleus of an atom where electrons are likely to be found ( |
| law of conservation of mass | the law that states that mass cannot be created or destroyed in ordinary chemical and physical changes |
| law of conservation of energy | the law that states that energy cannot be created or destroyed but can be changed from one form to another |
| metal | an element that is shiny, conducts heat and electricity well, and is malleable |
| nonmetal | an element that conducts heat and electricity poorly, is usually dull and brittle |
| metalloid | an element that has properties of both metals and nonmetals |
| net force | the combination of all of the forces acting on an object |
| calorie | the amount of energy needed to raise the temperature of 1 g of water 1 °C; the Calorie used to indicate the energy content of food is a kilocalorie |
| Hertz (Hz) | a unit of frequency equal to one cycle per second (used to describe waves) |
| Joule (J) | a unit for measuring energy, work, or the amount of heat produced |
| Gram (g) | a unit for measuring mass |
| degree | the units of a temperature scale |
| heterogeneous | describes something that does not have a uniform structure or composition throughout |
| homogeneous | describes something that has a uniform structure or composition throughout |
| solution | a homogeneous mixture composed of two or more substances, where a solute (solid, liquid, or gas) is uniformly dissolved into a solvent |
| empirical evidence | the observations, measurements, and other types of data that people gather and test to support and evaluate scientific explanations |
| data | information gathered by observation or experimentation that can be used in calculating or reasoning |
| observation | a material that reduces or prevents the transfer of energy |
| transverse wave | a wave in which the particles of the medium move perpendicularly to the direction the wave is traveling |
| longitudinal wave | a wave in which the particles of the medium vibrate parallel to the direction of wave motion |
| amplitude | the maximum distance that the particles of a wave’s medium vibrate from their rest position |
| speed | the distance traveled divided by the time interval during which the motion occurred |
| vector | a quantity that has both size and direction |
| velocity | the speed of an object in a particular direction |
| acceleration | the rate at which velocity changes over time; an object accelerates if its speed, direction, or both change |
| centripetal acceleration | acceleration in circular motion |
| ultraviolet | electromagnetic wavelengths immediately outside the violet end of the visible range |
| infrared | electromagnetic wavelengths immediatley outside the red end of the visible spectrum |
| motion | a change in position over time |
| law | a descriptive statement or equation that reliably predicts events under certain conditions |
| theory | the explanation for some phenomenon that is based on observation, experimentation, and reasoning; that is supported by a large quantity of evidence; and that does not conflict with any existing experimental results or observations |
| chemical symbol | a one-, two-, or three-letter abbreviation of the name of an element |
| engineering | the application of science and mathematics to solve real-life problems |
| technology | the application of science for practical purposes; the use of tools, machines, materials, and processes to meet human needs |
| prototype | a test model of a product |
| experiment | an organized procedure to study something under controlled conditions |
| control variable | any factor that is held constant or does not change between the control group and the experimental group (ex. all plants received the same amount of water) |
| free fall | the motion of a body when only the force of gravity is acting on the body |
| inertia | the resistance of an object to change in the speed or direction of its motion ( |
| Newton's 1st Law (Law of Inertia) | states that objects in motion stay in motion and objects at rest stay at rest, unless acted on by an unbalanced force |
| Newton's 2nd Law (Law of Acceleration) | states that force, mass, and acceleration are all related through the equation F = M x A |
| Newton's 3rd Law (Law of Action-Reaction) | states that for every action there is an equal and opposite reaction |
| kinetic theory of matter | a theory that states that all of the particles that make up matter are constantly in motion |
| potential energy | the energy that an object has because of the position, shape, or condition of the object |
| kinetic energy | the energy of an object that is due to the object’s motion |
| mechanical energy | the amount of work an object can do because of the object’s kinetic and potential energies |
| position | the location of an object |
| reference point | a location to which another location is compared |
| Newton (N) | a unit for force, such as gravity or weight |
Created by:
Ms. Wilhjelm
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