-Human Body
biological - having to do with life or how living things work
carbon dioxide- a gas used by plants, expelled by animals, and produced in neutralization reactions
expand - enlarge, spread out
contract- become smaller
function- the job something doesdigestive - having to do with digestion, the process by which organisms use food to get energy
excretory system - the system responsible for removing wastes from the body, including urine and carbon dioxide (what you breathe out)
nervous system - the body's control system, including the brain, spinal cord, and nerves in the skininvestigate - examine to find information
reproductive system - the system responsible for ensuring continuation of the species
organ- a part of the body with a specific function
function- the job or purpose of something
investigation- the process of figuring something out by trying something out
experiment- a type of investigation using a fair test
procedure- a list of steps instructing someone on how to do something
process- a series of actions that causes something.
represent- stand for, work as a sign or symbol of
component- a part or piece of a whole
structure- something put together in a certain way
system- a group of parts working together
conclusion- an explanation of what we have figured out in an investigation
diagram - a picture that explains something
label- a word that names a part of a diagram
model- something used to represent a real object or system in order to better understand it or explain it
inference- something we figure out based on an observation
observation- something we notice
evidence- an observation that we use to convince someone of an idea
data table- a chart used to organize observations
data- observations, often numerical, made during an investigation
data point- one observation (often a number) in a data table
hypothesis- a possible explanation
variable- something in an experiment that can change
manipulated variable- something we try different ways in an experiment
Observed variable- something we look to see in an experiment
Controlled variable- something we keep the same in an experiment, in order to maintain a fair test.
Nervous System
robot- a machine that carries out a series of actions automatically
decoder - an electronic device for changing a signal into a form that allows it to be understood
friction- the force that resists motion between two objects in contact
inspect - examine carefully, look over to check for problems
load - weight supported by something
mechanical - having to do with the way things move
assistive device - any piece of equipment that enables people with disabilities to work, attend school, communicate, or do other important activities
prosthetic device - a machine that becomes part of a human, such as an artificial arm
quality control - activities, such as inspection for defects, done to ensure the quality of a product that is being manufactured (made)
rigid - stiff, not flexible
brain- the organ that controls the body and interprets input from the senses
spinal cord- the bundle of nerves in the spine that sends messages to and from the brain
nerve- a string-like organ that sends signals from one part of the body to another
spine- a series of bones in an animal's back that supports the animal
input- energy or information that enters into a system
output- something produced by a system, such as a material, motion, or information
component- a piece of a machine or system
Brain
cross-section - a diagram of something drawn from the inside as if it has been sliced open down the
center.
relative to- compared to
correlate with- match with, connect with
plasticity- the ability to change, the ability of one part of the brain to take over the function of another part
pattern- a repeated way in which something happens
rate - speed
region - an area of the world or universe
cerebrum- the largest section of the brain, responsible for thinking, learning, and communicating
cerebellum- back section of the brain, responsible for controlling muscle movement
brainstem- base section of the brain, responsible for controlling basic body functions, such as breathing, heart rate, and whether one is asleep or awake
dissect- to cut up in order to study internal parts
neuron- a cell that sends messages through the body
chemical- having to do with the characteristics of materials or changes in materials
neurotransmitter- a material that crosses the synapse (gap) between 2 neurons, allowing a signal to pass from one neuron to the next.
Cells
antibiotic- a material used to kill microorganisms
pathogen- something that causes disease, such as a type of bacteria or virus
vaccine- a substance put into someone’s body to protect them from a particular disease
virus- something very small that can cause disease
bacteria - single-celled microorganisms
cellular - having to do with cells, the smallest unit of living matter
Infection- a disease or condition caused by a micro-organism
locomotion - the act of moving from place to place
Micro-organism - An organism requiring magnification to see/study (microscopic).
organism - a living thing
Photosynthsis - The process by which plants convert carbon dioxide and water into carbohydrates and oxygen. The carbohydrates are then available for use as energy by the plant or other consuming organisms.
Nutrients- materials the body can use
Cell- a tiny unit that makes up all living things
Cell wall- a rigid layer on the outside of a cell
cell membrane - a cellular organelle which is a thin layer of fluid controlling what enters and exits the cell
chloroplast - an organelle (cell part) found in green plants containing the substance chlorophyll, which processes light energy for the plant's use
chlorophyll- A pigment contained in plants that is used to turn light energy into food. Chlorophyll also gives plants their green color.
cytoplasm - mixture of substances inside a cell
DNA - a long molecule containing the genetic information that tells an organism how to develop
nucleus - central part (The nucleus of an atom contains its protons and neutrons. The nucleus of a cell is the cell's control center.)
mitochondrion - a cellular organelle (cell part) found outside the nucleus that produces energy for the cell
organelle - any part of a cell that carries on a specific function
ribosome - a grain-like cellular organelle that processes proteins
Vacuole - a space inside a cell, usually containing fluid
Microscope- a tool for viewing details to small to see with the eye alone
Eyepiece- the part of a microscope through which a person looks
Lens- the part of a microscope that magnifies an object
Stage- the part of the microscope on which a slide is placed
Slide- a piece of glass used to prepare a specimen for viewing under a microscope
Coarse adjustment knob- the knob on a microscope first used to focus on a specimen
Fine adjustment knob- the knob on a microscope used to make tiny changes in focus
Specimen- an individual organism used as an example of its type
Water and Geology
Weathering- the wearing away of a material
Erosion- The movement of soil particles by wind, water, or ice, either occurring naturally or as a result of land use.
geology - the study of the earth, including its structure, composition, and physical properties
landform - a natural feature of a land surface like a mountain
plate - a large, rigid slab of rock that makes up Earth's crust
mantle - the layer of the earth outside the core, under the crust
sediment- matter that settles and accumulates on the bottom of a body of water or waterway.
tectonic - having to do with the crust (outer layer) of a planet and especially with folds and faults (spaces) in the crust
dissolve- to become incorporated into a liquid
landform- a natural feature of the earth's surface, such as a mountain or valley
canyon- a deep area between two cliffs
glacier- a large, slowly moving mass of ice
delta- a deposit of sediment occurring at a river mouth
deposition- laying down of earth materials
ice age- a period in the earth's history when the climate was colder
climate- the weather over a long period of time
kettle pond- a bowl-shaped pond formed by a glacier
topography- the shape of a landscape
drumlin- a low oval-shaped hill formed by a glacier
Hydrologic Cycle
Atmosphere - Layer of gases surrounding a star or planet
chemical (adj)- having to do with the properties and composition of substances (what they're made of)
characteristics - qualities, properties
climate - the weather in a certain area over a long period of time
composed of- made of
compound - a pure substance made of identical molecules with more than one type of atom
condense - to make or become more compact (so that the same amount of material takes up less space)
desalination - removal of salt
evaporate - change from a liquid to a gas by having molecules escape from the surface
measurement- a number we know because we measured something
melt - change from a solid to a liquid when heated
mixture - a substance made up of more than one pure substance
molecule - the smallest unit of a substance that retains the properties of that substance
atom - the smallest particle of matter that is still matter
physical change - a reversible change in which no new material is formed
property- characteristic
pure substance - a substance containing only one kind of molecule (a compound or element)
substance- material
water vapor - water in its gaseous state (in which it cannot be seen)
watershed- a region bounded at the periphery by physical barriers that cause water to part and ultimately drain to a particular body of water.
Gas: a substance with no par4cular shape or volume
Water Vapor: water in its gas phase
Condense: change from a gas to a liquid
Condensation: the process of changing from a gas to a liquid or the droplets of liquid created by this process
Hydrologic cycle: the process through which water moves and changes on Earth
Phase change: any change from one phase (solid, liquid, or gas) to another
Runoff: water that flows downward along the ground
Precipitation: rain, snow, sleet, or hail
Evaporate: change from liquid to gas
Evaporation: the process of changing from liquid to gas
Turbidity- the cloudiness of water
pH- a measure of how acidic a liquid is
reservoir- a lake used as a water supply
sample- a small amount of a material used as an example of that material
scale- a tool used to measure how much something weighs
filter- a device used to purify a substance
electrolysis- a process in which electricity is used to separate out water into hydrogen and oxygen
beaker- a cup-like tool used to measure liquid
graduated cylinder- a tube-shaped tool used to measure liquid
capillary action- the ability of a liquid to flow in narrow spaces without being pushed or pulled by something else
adhesion- a property in which a material sticks to itself
cohesion- a property in which a material sticks to something else
How the Ocean Works
Particle (atom or molecule) - the smallest amount of a type of material you can have that is still that material
Pressure – the force of one material pressing on another
characteristics - qualities, properties
Convection - Transfer of heat through movement of a gas or liquid.
dense - compact, having a high mass per unit volume (if the same volume weighs more, it's denser.)
density -mass of a certain amount of space
elevation - the height of something above sea level, altitude
mass - amount of matter
salinity- A measure of the salt concentration of water. Higher salinity means more dissolved salts.
Sample- a small amount of something to be used as an example to show what it is like
Tides - Periodic movement of water resulting from gravitational attraction between the earth, sun, and moon. (We get high tide every 12 hours when we face directly toward or away from the moon.)
Current- a body of water moving within another body of water
Wave- a change in the position of water that travels from one place to another
volume - the amount of space something takes up
marine- having to do with the ocean
continental shelf- the part of a continent located beneath the ocean's surface
ridge- a mountain range in the ocean
trench- a valley in the ocean
Marine Ecology
zooplankton- plankton that are animals
phytoplankton- plant-like plankton
plankton- organisms that float and are carried with the water
organism- a living thing
temperature- how warm or cold something is
pressure- a continuous force exerted against something
depth- distance beneath the surface
density- the amount of material in a particular volume of that material
prey- an organism eaten by other organisms
competitor- an organism that needs the same limited resource as another organism in its ecosystem
commensal relationship- a relationship between two organisms in which one benefits and the other is not affected
symbiotic relationship- a relationship between two organisms in which each one benefits from the other
mutual relationship- a relationship between two organisms of different species in which each one benefits.
Consumer- Any organism which must consume other organisms (living or dead) to satisfy its energy needs.
decomposer- any organism that breaks down organic (once living) material so that it can be reused in its ecosystem
direct- without anything else in between
indirect- having something else in between
Consumer- an organism that consumes food
Predator- Organism which hunts and eats other organisms
producer - an organism, such as a plant, that produces food that can be used by other organisms
Scavenger- An animal that feeds on decaying plants and animals or scraps of food abandon by other animals.
intertidal zone- the area of the seashore that is covered at high tide and uncovered at low tide
field study- an investigation in which data is collected through structured observations
interval - a space of time between events or a space between objects
method- way of doing something
remain - to be the part that is not destroyed or used up
relative- as it is compared to something else
brine
congregate- come together
hatchery- a place made for the hatching of eggs
Biodiversity- the variety of life in the world or in a particular area
chemical change- a non-reversible change in which a new material is formed
Contaminant- Anything that to make something impure, unclean, or polluted, especially by mixing harmful impurities into it or by putting it in contact with something harmful.
decline- become less in amount
decrease- become less in amount
Ecosystem- All the organisms in a particular region and the environment in which they live. The elements of an ecosystem interact with each other in some way, and so depend on each other either directly or indirectly.
Environment- The place in which an organism lives, and the circumstances under which it lives. Environment includes measures like moisture and temperature, as much as it refers to the actual physical place where an organism is found.
Food Web- the network of feeding relationships in an ecosystem
Increase- become more
Decrease- become fewer
oxygen - an element that makes up 21 percent of the atmosphere, is the part of the air that keeps us alive when we breathe, and makes burning possible
population - a group of organisms of one species living in a certain area
Species- A category of similar individuals that are able to reproduce