Term | Definition |
motion | an object's position changes when compared to another object |
reference point | a place or object used for comparison to determine whether something is in motion |
force | a push or a pull |
newton | the unit used to measure the strength of a force |
friction | a force between an object and the surface it is moving over (contact) |
gravity | a force that pull objects toward each other as a result of their masses |
net force | the combination of all forces acting on an object |
speed | how fast an object is moving; the distance the object moves per unit of time; s=d/t |
slope | the angle of a line on a graph |
velocity | the speed at which an object travels in a given direction; for example: the storm is moving 25 km/h eastward |
acceleration | the rate at which velocity changes; (final speed - initial speed) / time |
inertia | an object's resistance to change |
Newton's 1st Law of Motion | law that states an object at rest will remain at rest, and an object that is in motion will keep moving (in a straight line) until acted upon by an outside force |
Newton's 2nd Law of Motion | law that states an object's motion depends on its mass; force = mass x acceleration |
Newton's 3rd Law of Motion | law that states that for every action there is an equal (in strength) but opposite (in direction) reaction |
weight | a measure of the force of gravity on an object |
potential energy | the energy that is stored in an object or system |
kinetic energy | the energy that an object has because it is moving |
generator | a machine that can convert kinetic energy into electrical |
transfer | to move from one object to another or one place to another |
energy | the ability to make something move or change |
collision | the moment when two objects hit each other |
exert | to apply a force |
mass | the amount of matter that makes up an object |
matter | anything that has mass and takes up space |
infer | to reach a conclusion using evidence and reasoning |
cause | an event or process that leads to a result or change |
effect | a result or change that happens because of an event or process |
claim | a proposed answer to a question about the natural world |
convert | to change from one type to another |
evidence | information about the natural world that is used to support or go against (refute) a claim |
model | an object, diagram, or computer program that helps us understand something by making it simpler or easier to see |
reasoning | the process of making clear how your evidence supports your claim |
scientific argument | a claim supported by evidence |
system | a set of interacting parts forming a complex whole |
hypothesis | A possible explanation about an observation that can be tested by scientific investigations and includes both independent and dependent variables.
example: The cotton t-shirt will dry the fastest compared to the wool, polyester, and denim shirts. |
independent variable | The variable that is changed or manipulated by the scientist
Example: the type of mentos added to a Diet Coke Bottle |
dependent variable | The variable that is measured by the scientist
Example: How high the soda spews up into the air |
control | a standard of comparison
example: the plants that receive water are the CONTROL group |
constants | what you keep the same in an experiment to make it a fair test |