Glossary
     nbeelen@eup.k12.mi.us

Class Links

Useful Stuff

Other Links

Welcome to the Glossary. Here I attempt to express scientific terms in as plain English as possible. If any definition seems confusing or, worse yet, wrong, please let me know.

Acceleration: The rate of change in the speed of an object. Or how fast something speeds up. The result of a force being applied to an object.

Accuracy: In measurement to be accurate means that your answer is right. It does not mean that I have the best answer. It is like playing darts with a cannon. I can get a bulls eye every time, but that is not all I hit. If I shot the cannon and miss the target I am not very accurate. (See also consistency and precision)

Balanced Forces: When the pushes and pulls on an object cancel each other out.

Conduction: The transfer of energy by way of direct contact between two particles. (Example: Touching a hot stove)

Conductor: A material that allows the easy transfer of energy. (Example: Electrical wire allows easy transfer of electrical energy)

Consistency: In measurement it means that every time I measure I get the same results. It is like playing darts and always hitting five. It does not imply that that is the right answer or that I hit the exact same spot on five every time, only that I come up with the same result each time. (See also accuracy and precision)

Constants: These are all the parts of the experiment that the experimenter tries to keep the same in every trial and test.

Control: This is the part of an experiment where the experimenter makes no changes. It is used to determine if the changes made really are responsible for the outcome.

Convection: The transfer of energy by way of movement from one place to another. (Example: Warm air being blown out of a hair dryer)

Density: A measure of how compact something is.

Dependent Variable: This is the variable that changes as a result of the changes the experimenter made. It is often what is measured at the end of the experiment.

Energy: The ability of an object to do work.

Force: A push or pull between two objects

Friction: The resistance in an object to any motion due to moving parts rubbing together or pushing against the air or water.

Gravity: The force of attraction between two objects. It is the forces that pulls things toward the earth.

Heat: The transfer of thermal energy through conduction, convection, or radiation

Hypothesis: This is the experimenters best guess about the results of the experiment based on current knowledge.

Independent Variable: This is the variable that the experimenter has direct control over. Often there will be several levels of this variable.

Inertia: When an object that is not moving is hard to get started but once it is moving is hard to stop without applying a lot of force. Inertia gets greater as the object has a higher mass.

Insulator: A material that slows or stops the transfer of energy. (Example: Insulation in a house stops loss of Thermal Energy)

Kinetic Energy: The energy of motion. You have this kind of energy when something is moving.

Law of Conservation of Energy: Says that energy cannot be created or destroyed by normal means. It can only be converted into other types of energy. When we say energy is lost it just means that it is converted to a less useful form.

Law of Conservation of Mass: Says that under normal chemical reactions the mass that goes into the reaction must equal the mass that comes out.

Mass: A measure of how much of something you have.

Mechanical Energy: The total amount of Kinetic and Potential Energy in a system.

Momentum: The property of a moving object that keeps it moving. The greater the speed and mass of the object the greater momentum it will have. If it has a large momentum it will require a large force to stop it.

Net Force: When the pushes and pulls on an object do not cancel each other out.

Newton's Second Law: Says that the more mass an object has the more force it is going to need to get it to accelerate. If it has a small mass it will accelerate easily.

Potential Energy: Stored energy. The object currently isn't doing any work but could.

Precision: In measurement it means that your measurement is very specific or detailed. To be precise is the difference between playing darts with a cannon (not precise) and using a dart (small point, very precise). It does not mean that you actually hit what you are aiming at just that you hit a very narrow point. (see also accuracy and consistency)

Radiation: The transfer of energy usually in waves without the need for particles of any kind. (Example: Microwave oven cooking food)

Speed: How fast something is going. Or the rate of change in the position of an object.

Temperature: A measure of the average speed of the particles that make up something.

Thermal Energy: A measure of the average speed and mass of the particles that make up something. Or a measure of the average Kinetic Energy of the particles that make up something.

Variable: Part of the experiment that changes in some way. A good experiment will limit these as much as possible.

Volume: A measure of how much space something takes up.

Work: When you apply a force over a distance. Usually is seen when something moves.