8th Grade Science L to J
CHROMOSOME
structure found in the nucleus that carries the genetic information for an organism
ENDOCRINE SYSTEM
system of glands that make hormones to regulate the body
MUSCULAR SYSTEM
system that allows movement of an organism
REPRODUCTIVE SYSTEM
system that allows the production of offspring
DIGESTIVE SYSTEM
system that breaks down food into energy for the body
RESPIRATORY SYSTEM
system that brings oxygen into the body and releases carbon dioxide
INTEGUMENTARY SYSTEM
system that is the natural outer covering of an organism
IMMUNE SYSTEM
system that protects the body against infection
CIRCULATORY SYSTEM
system that provides a flow of nutrients throughout the body
NERVOUS SYSTEM
system that regulates the body's response to stimuli
EXCRETORY SYSTEM
system that removes excess, unneeded, or dangerous materials from the body
SKELETAL SYSTEM
system that supports and protects the body
ENERGY
the ability to do work (e.g. light, heat, sound)
HUMIDITY
the amount of water vapor in the air
REFRACTION
the bending of the path of light when it passes from one medium into another
ECLIPSE
the blocking of the light from one astronomical object by another
GRAVITATIONAL FORCE
the force of attraction between all masses in the universe
AIR PRESSURE
the force of the weight of air pushing on a surface
CORE
the innermost layer of Earth, located beneath the mantle
MANTLE
the layer of rock between Earth's crust and core
REVOLUTION
the motion of one body around another, like Earth's orbit around the Sun
REPEATED TRIALS
the number of times procedures are repeated, usually 3-5, during a scientific experiment in order to achieve a more accurate result
PHASE
the portion of a moon or planet that is illuminated
CONVERGENCE
the process of moving closer together
DIVERGENCE
the process of moving farther apart
ROTATION
the spinning of a body, like Earth, on its axis
CRUST
the thin, rocky outer layer of Earth, above the mantle
ABSORPTION
the transfer of light energy into an object through which it is passing
DEPENDENT VARIABLE (RESPONDING)
the variable, within a scientific experiment, which is affected by changes in the independent variable of the experiment
CONTROLLED VARIABLES
the variables in an experiment which are held constant to test the effect of the independent variable upon the dependent variable
BALANCED FORCES
two equal forces that act upon an object in opposite directions
EVAPORATION
vaporization of a liquid that occurs only on the surface of the liquid
MAGNETIC FIELD
a region where a magnetic force can be detected
MUTUALISM
a relationship between organisms where both benefit
RENEWABLE
a resource that can be replaced at the same rate at which it is consumed
NONRENEWABLE
a resource that is consumed much faster than the resource can be formed
PREDICTION
a statement about what may happen in the future based on prior experience or knowledge
GRADUATED CYLINDER
a tall, narrow container with a volume scale used to measure liquids
HYPOTHESIS
a testable statement about the natural world that can be used to develop inferences and explanations
INDEPENDENT VARIABLE (MANIPULATED)
a variable that is changed by the person conducting the experiment and not changed by other variables in the experiment
SCIENTIFIC CRITIQUE
an analysis of the strengths and weaknesses of a scientific investigation
PERIODIC TABLE
an arrangement tool of the known elements organized by properties
AXIS
an imaginary straight line running through Earth from pole to pole
PRECIPITATION
any form of water that falls to Earth's surface from the clouds; includes rain, snow, sleet, and hail
BIOTIC
any living part of the environment that affect organisms
ORGANISM
any living thing
ABIOTIC
any nonliving part of the environment that affect organisms
FOSSIL
any remains, impressions, or traces of a living thing found in Earth of a former geologic age
CELL
basic unit of life found in all living things
CONDENSATION
change in the physical state of matter from the gas phase to the liquid phase
DEPOSITION
change in the physical state of matter from the gas phase to the solid phase without passing through the liquid phase
SUBLIMATION
change in the physical state of matter from the solid phase to the gas phase without passing through the liquid phase
CHEMICAL PROPERTIES
characteristics of a substance that determines how it interacts with other substances
QUANTITATIVE OBSERVATION
characteristics of objects or events which can be measured using numeric values
QUALITATIVE OBSERVATION
characteristics of objects or events, other than actual numerical measurements
FOOD WEB
complex interactions of food chains that interact in an ecosystem
EXTINCTION
end of an organism or group of organisms
LAW OF CONSERVATION OF ENERGY
energy can neither be created nor destroyed in chemical and physical changes
RECESSIVE
form of a gene that is masked by the presence of another gene
POPULATION
group of organisms of the same species that live in the same area
CARRYING CAPACITY
largest number of individuals of a species that a particular environment can support
SCATTERING
light reflected in all directions by a rough surface
CONSERVATION OF MATTER
matter can neither be created nor destroyed in physical and chemical changes
SURVIVAL RATE
number of individuals alive after a given period
DOMINANT
one form of a gene that masks the presence of another gene
PREDATOR
organism that captures and feeds on another organism
PREY
organism that is captured and fed upon by another organism
HEREDITY
passing of traits from one generation to another
CELL GROWTH
process by a which a cell increases its size
CELL DIVISION
process by which a cell splits into two new cells
ASEXUAL REPRODUCTION
process by which a single organism can reproduce by itself
PHOTOSYNTHESIS
process by which organisms use light energy to make food energy
SEXUAL REPRODUCTION
process by which sex cells from two organisms join to create a new organism
CONSTANT SPEED
rate of motion where the same amount of distance is traveled in the same amount of time (speed = distance / time)
RESPONSE
reaction of an organism to a stimulus
ANATOMICAL
relating to the structure of the body
COMMENSALISM
relationship between organisms where one benefits and the other is unaffected
PARASITISM
relationship between organisms where one organism benefits and the other is harmed
METAMORPHIC
rock that forms from other rocks as a result of intense heat, pressure, or chemical processes
SEDIMENTARY
rock that forms from the weathering and erosion of other rocks (these sediments are deposited, compacted, and cemented)
IGNEOUS
rock that forms when magma cools and solidifies
STIMULUS
signal to which an organism responds
GENE
small part of a chromosome that determines a specific trait
COMPOUND
a pure substance composed of two or more elements chemically combined in a fixed proportion
PHASE CHANGE
a change in state of matter (e.g. solid to liquid, liquid to gas)
RUSTING
a chemical change in which a metal reacts with oxygen to form a different compound
BURNING
a chemical change in which the substance is decomposed and releases heat
SYMBIOSIS
a close, long-term interaction between species
INFERENCE
a conclusion drawn from evidence or reasoning
CONCLUSION
a decision made after considering relevant facts and evidence
LAW
a descriptive generalization about how some aspect of the natural world behaves under stated circumstances
SPECIES
a group of organisms that is capable of reproducing similar organisms
ORGAN SYSTEM
a group of organs that work together, within an organism, to carry out a specific function
EXPERIMENTAL GROUP
a group of subjects which receive the factor under study
CONTROL GROUP
a group of subjects, closely resembling the experimental group but not receiving the factor under study, which serves as a comparison to the experimental group
ORGAN
a group of tissues that work together to carry out a specific function
JET STREAM
a high speed wind current
AIR MASS
a large body of air with similar temperature and moisture throughout
DISSOLVING
a physical change in which particles of a substance are separated by water particles
ELEMENT
a pure substance that cannot be broken down by chemical or physical means
