SCIENTIFIC METHOD

1. Hypothesis: An educated guess as to what's going to happen (If... Then... Because...)

2. Prediction: Something you think will happen, but that you don't know for sure
3. Research: Things you find out by examining other things, that help you make a prediction or hypothesis
4. Problem: Something that you want to fix, or something you want to find out
5. Experiment: A series of steps you go through to answer a question
6. Observation: Something you notice about a picture/situation/problem
7. Inference: Something you guess about a picture/situation/problem, based on observations, common sense, and prior
knowledge
8. Data: Information you collect about your experiment, such as results or your research
9. Analysis: Kind of like conclusion, it is a written summary of what you expected, what happened, and what you did
10. Conclusion: A written summary about the experiment that is in this form (RERUN):
1. R-- recall, what did you do (the experiment)?
2. E-- explain, why did you do the experiment (purpose)?
3. R-- results, what happened (which hypothesis is supported)?
4. U-- uncertainty, was anything uncertain (did you do anything differently)?
5. N-- new, what did you learn (any new information)?
11. Control Group: A group in your experiment that you do not change, or do not perform the experiment on
12. Experimental Group: The group in your experiment that you do perform on, or change
13. Independent Variable: Something that a scientist changes, such as the amount of food a rabbit is getting
14. Dependent Variable: Something that might change, and is dependent on the independent variable, such as the
rabbit's weight
15. Controlled Variable (constant): A variable that is left the same in the experiment
16. Quantitative: An observation that has to do with how much of something there is (QUANTITY)
17. Qualitative: An observation that has to do with what something's like (QUALITY)

CHEMISTRY
1. Atom: The smallest unit of mass, atoms make up everything
2. Molecule: A group of two or more atoms together (either atoms that are the same elements, or different ones)
3. Elements: Substances with different physical and chemical properties that work together to make things (they are in
atoms, for example, a hydrogen atom)
4. Compound: A molecule that has at least two different types of elements
5. Mixture: Two or more elements mixed together, that don't make a reaction and are able to be separated again
6. Heterogenous: Something composed of different substances
7. Homogenous: Something composed of the same substances
8. Proton: Part of an atom that has a positive charge, found in nucleus
9. Neutron: Part of an atom that has a neutral charge, found in nucleus
10. Electron: Part of an atom that has a negative charge, orbits around nucleus
11. Periodic Table: A chart of all the different elements that are organized by groups and periods
12. Boiling Point: The temperature at which a substance boils
13. Solubility: The ability of a substance or element to dissolve in a different substance
14. Metal: An element that has a certain position on the periodic table, and has several chemical and physical properties
that make it metal
15. Nonmetals: Elements made up of halogens and noble gases. Nonmetals are poor conductors, and are highly reactive
(Groups 13-18 on periodic table)
16. Metalloid: Elements that can act as a metal or nonmetal, depending on what it's reacting with
17. Halogens: A group of 5-6 elements that have certain reactivities and chemical/physical properties
18. Noble Gas: Colorless, odorless, tasteless gases that are in a certain area of the periodic table
19. Transition Metal: Elements that are very hard, and have a high melting and boiling point (it takes a lot to boil/melt
them). They are malleable and not very reactive.
20. Group Number: Tells which category a certain element is in (metal, metalloid, nonmetal, etc.)
21. Group: Columns on the periodic table
22. Period: Rows on the periodic table
23. Physical Property: Something about an object or something that just affects arrangements of things, and not the
chemical structure of it
24. Chemical Property: Something about an object that changes the chemical structure or molecular structure.
25. Flammability: The ability of a certain element or object to catch on fire
26. Reactivity: The ability of a certain element or object to react with another.
27. Melting Point: The temperature at which a certain element/object melts because of heat
28. Physical Change: Something that changes about an object that has to do with where it is, or something physical.
Example: a hydrogen element is moved from Point A to Point B
29. Chemical Change: Something that changes about an object that has to do with its chemical or molecular structure.
Example: An atom is joined with another atom and becomes a molecule.
30. Phase Change: A change from liquid, gas, or solid, to a different one. Ex: Evaporation
31. Density: The ratio of mass to volume- how much stuff is in a certain area.
32. Product: Something that is the product of a chemical change
33. Reactant: Something that undergoes a chemical change
34. Precipitate: A solid that is made from a liquid solution
35. Subscript: A type of writing that is small, and at the bottom of a line (used for how many atoms of an element there
are or the atomic number of an isotope)
36. Superscript: A type of writing that is small, and at the top of a line (used for exponents and mass number)
37. Coefficient: A number that goes before a certain atom symbol, to show how many there are.
38. Valence Electron: The number of electrons on the outer ring of an atom.
39. Polarity: How positive or negative an atom is, determines how reactive it is to other elements or atoms

GEOLOGY
1. Rock Cycle: The movement of rocks around the earth and in different forms
2. Compaction: The pushing together of rocks (metamorphic)
3. Intrusive: Igneous rocks formed below the earth's surface
4. Index Fossil: A fossil that helps to show when something was formed
5. Parent Material: The first things that make up soil
6. Principle of Original Horizontality: States that layers of soil are formed horizontally due to gravity
7. Weathering: The breaking down of rocks by wind, or water
8. Cementation: The binding together of sediments by cement
9. Extrusive: Igneous rocks formed above the earth's surface
10. Relative Dating: Dating rocks as older or younger
11. Law of Superposition: The rule that older rocks are at the bottom
12. Erosion: The breaking down of rocks through natural events
13. Igneous: Rocks formed with lava or magma
14. Sedimentary: Rocks formed through sediment layers
15. Half-life: The amount of time it takes for half of the activity to go away
16. Ice core: A sample of ice that scientists use to see what happened earlier
17. Uniformitarianism: Theory that processes and things that happened long ago are similar to the ones that are
happening now
18. Deposition: Removal
19. Magma: Molten rock found underground
20. Metamorphic: Rocks that go under extreme heat or pressure and are made into new rocks
21. Absolute Dating: Dating that shows exactly or approximately when the rock was formed
22. Carbon-14 Dating: Rock dating using a specific type of carbon
23. Fault: A crack in the earth's surface
24. Lava: Molten rock found above the ground



EVOLUTION:
1. Genetic Variation: Differences in people's genes that make them different
2. Natural Selection: A process in which animals that can adapt or survive better don't become extinct
3. Geologic Time Scale: This is an organization of different time periods since billions of years ago, that shows when
different things throughout Earth's history happened.
4. Evolution: Evolution is a theory in which different organisms (animals, plants, etc.) change to fit their needs and better
themselves, over hundreds, thousands, or millions of years. It is an alternative to extinction.
5. Vestigial Organs: Vestigial organs are organs in an animal's body that are not needed, but stay through evolution.
6. Mutation: A mutation is a change in a certain organism's DNA, that causes something about them to change.
7. Adaptation: This happens when animals change to fit their needs. It is sort of like evolution, but on a smaller scale,
with one species. It happens when an animal changes to adapt to their environment. One animal can adapt over their
life.
8. Biological Classification: The eight categories used to group animals and other organisms: Domain, Kingdom,
Phylum, Class, Order, Family, Genus, and Species.

MICROBES AND DISEASE:
1. Microbiology: A branch of science that has to do with microorganisms
2. Unicellular: An organism that only has one cell
3. Parasite: An organism that benefits from another, while the other's health diminishes
4. Resistance: The act of resisting or not letting something happen
5. Virus: A nonliving thing that can infect organisms, and has to reproduce in a cell
6. Host Cell: A cell that a virus overtakes to live in, and kills
7. Fungi: An organism that can infect people, and reproduces by letting out spores
8. Pathogen: Anything that can produce disease
9. Bacteria: An organism that is 100x larger than a virus, and can infect people with disease
10. Disease: A sickness
11. Epidemic: A disease or outbreak that spreads within a certain region, and not on a global scale
12. Antibiotics: Pills/injections/etc. used to get rid of bacterial diseases once they are already inside you
13. Pandemic: A disease or outbreak that spreads worldwide and globally
14. Vector: An organism that carries and delivers a disease to another organism
15. Outbreak: An eruption of a sickness that starts, and that is sudden and unpredicted
16. Vaccine: A shot or injection you get that prevents a certain disease before you can get it.

BIOTECHNOLOGY and MOLECULAR BIOLOGY:
1. Biotechnology: The science of microscopic organisms
2. Chromosome: Part of a cell, deals with genetics
3. Unicellular: An organism that is made up of one cell
4. Cellular Respiration: The way a cell "breathes"
5. Human Genome Project: USA project that deals with trying to find the genes and DNA pairs of the human genome
6. Chemical Energy: Energy that can be released in a chemical reaction
7. Photosynthesis: The way plants take in light to grow
8. Fermentation: When a male organism fertilizes a female egg so it can reproduce
9. DNA: Deoxyribonucleic Acid (holds your genetic information)
10. Glucose: Sugar-like substance found in plants
11. Chlorophyll: Part of a plant. Chlorophyll makes plants green
12. Genetically Modified: When someone modifies a genetic structure of an organism so it changes (GMOs)





Ecology:
1. Biotic Factors: Factors/organisms in an ecosystem that change the ecosystem, and are living (trees, humans, plants,
dogs, etc)
2. Density Independent: Population growth does not have to do with density of an ecosystem
3. Niche: The job of something in an ecosytem
4. Mutualism: A symbiotic relationship in which both organisms benefit
5. Symbiotic Relationship: A relationship between two organisms that is either mutualism, commensalism, or parasitism
6. Decomposer: Animal that breaks dead organisms down
7. Heterotroph: An animal or organism that cannot make its own food
8. Trophic Level: A level on a certain food pyramid, for example: consumer
9. Secondary Consumer: An animal that eats primary consumers
10. Carnivore: An animal that eats only meat, or has a meat centered diet
11. Energy Pyramid: A way of showing the passing along of energy in a food chain
12. Carbon Cycle: The cycle that moves carbon around in an ecosystem
13. Renewable Resource: A resource that does not run out
14. Solar: Having to do with the sun
15. Nuclear Energy: Energy released by reactions in an atom's nucleus
16. Conservation: The saving of something
17. Abiotic Factors: Factors that change or alter an ecosystem but aren't living (rock, mountain, stream, etc)
18. Oxidation: The process of being oxidized
19. Coexistence/Cooperation: When multiple organisms live in the same area, don't hurt each other, and share the area
20. Commensalism: A symbiotic relationship in which one organism benefits and one stays the same (isn't hurt, isn't
harmed)
21. Producer: A plant that absorbs sunlight and grows
22. Scavenger: An animal that scavenges for dead animal and eats it
23. Food Web: A diagram showing the moving of energy and food within an ecosystem
24. Rule of 10%: The theory that 10% of energy is transferred when one animal consumes another (down the food chain)
25. Tertiary Consumer: An animal that eats primary and secondary consumers
26. Omnivore: An animal that eats both plants and animals
27. Pyramid of Biomass: A diagram that shows the moving of animals/energy throughout an ecosystem
28. Nitrogen Cycle: The cycle in nature that cycles nitrogen around to different places and to organisms that need it
29. Phosphorous Cycle: The cycle in nature that cycles phosphorus around to different organisms that need it
30. Nonrenewable Resource: A resource that will eventually run out, and cannot be renewed
31. Hydroelectric: Having to do with getting electricity from water
32. Biomass: A type of energy/source derived from dead animals
33. Preservation: The saving of a certain area
34. Density Dependent: Population density does have to do with population growth
35. Habitat: A place where an animal lives and grows, their surroundings
36. Competition: Feuds between animals that want the same thing
37. Parasitism: A situation where one organism is a parasite and one is a victim
38. Consumer: An animal that eats plants/animals
39. Autotroph: An animal or plant that can make its own food
40. Food Chain: A way of organizing the food that animals eat to show the line of energy
41. Primary Consumer: An animal that eats producers (plants)
42. Herbivore: An animal that only eats plants
43. Detritivore: Organisms that feed off of dead or decomposing matter
44. Pyramid of Numbers: Pyramid that shows population size of animals in different trophic levels
45. Oxygen Cycle: A cycle in nature that cycles oxygen in and out of plants and animals
46. Resource: Something that can be used as a supply for an animal/plant
47. Fossil Fuel: Energy made from fossils below the earth (non-renewable)
48. Geothermal: Having to do with heat from the earth
49. Hydrogen Fuel: Fuel made from the element hydrogen
HYDROLOGY
1. Polarity: When something has one positive end and one negative end
2. Density: mass/volume: the amount of stuff within a certain space
3. Precipitation: Condensed water vapor that falls to the earth, as snow, hail, rain, etc.
4. Aquifer: Something natural in the earth that holds water
5. Sediment: Small pieces of sand, rock, or other organic material that can combine and form sedimentary rocks
6. Euphotic: The area in the sea that is light enough for photosynthesis to occur
7. Zooplankton: Plankton that live in the sea and closely resemble an animal-like organism
8. Pelagic: The area in the sea that is open, top layer
9. Shipping: Going on a boat or ship to another area
10. Eutrophication: Something in a lake that "enhances" it
11. Bioindicator: Something used to tell if an environment is healthy or safe
12. Potability: The ability to be safe to drink
13. Cohesion: When a water molecule sticks to another water molecule
14. Specific Heat: The amount of heat needed to raise a certain object by one degree Celsius
15. Transpiration: Transpiration occurs when the water from plants travel through it and are evaporated into the
atmosphere
16. River Basin: The area in which a certain river and its tributaries drains
17. Tide: The rise and fall of the current
18. Photic: Able to be seen, light-ful
19. Phytoplankton: Plankton that live in the sea and closely resemble plant-like organisms
20. Nekton: Tiny organisms that live in the water and can move independently of the current
21. Biotic Resource: A natural resource that is alive (fish,
22. Dissolved Oxygen: Oxygen dissolved in water, high amount=healthy, low amounts=pollution
23. Water Treatment: Process water goes through to be safe to drink
24. Water Quality: The safeness of water (healthiness)
25. Adhesion: A water molecule sticks to another molecule of a different type (for example, a water molecule sticks to a
hydrogen molecule)
26. Condensation: This happens when water vapor in the air collects to form clouds
27. Surface Runoff: When it rains, water goes down a hill or part of land
28. Watershed: Drainage area of a river
29. Brackish: Water that isn't all saltwater, but has more salt than regular freshwater
30. Aphotic: Area of the ocean that doesn't have a lot of light, but has some.
31. Benthic: The area at the bottom of a body of water
32. Ocean Tourism: Visiting of the ocean by tourists
33. Sonar: Relating to the sun
34. pH: pH stands for the German words for power of Hydrogen. It determines how basic or acidic a certain liquid
substance is. For example, pure water is a 7 on the pH scale.
35. Nitrate: Salt or ester of nitric acid
36. Surface Tension: When a water molecule can resist something
37. Evaporation: This happens when water vapor from a body of water rises into the air.
38. Groundwater: Water that is beneath the ground, source for wells and springs
39. Estuary: An area or body of water that is made up of saltwater and freshwater mixed together. It happens usually
when an ocean meets a river
40. Upwelling: The taking out of warm water and rising up of cold, nutrient-filled water
41. Plankton: Tiny creatures in the sea that are a source of food
42. Neritic: Region above continental shelf, very shallow
43. Fishery: Place where fish are bred
44. Sustainability: Quality of not being harmful to the environment
45. Turbidity: Cloudiness in water
46. Phosphate: Something of phosphoric acid