Science Vocabulary
Quantitative- Data that is based on measurements (numbers)
Qualitative- Data that is based on observations (qualities)
Hypothesis- An educated guess based on observations and research
Independent Variable- The variable that you control
Reference Point- Where you start from
Dependent Variable- The variable that you measure
Controlled variable (constant)- Something that is kept the same in an experiment
Control- Something that is used as a standard of comparison for checking the results of an experiment
Air Pressure-How hard air molecules push on a surface
Altitude- The height above sea level or the earth’s surface
Barometer- An instrument used to measure atmospheric pressure
Density- How tightly packed together a substance is
Molecule- The smallest part in a chemical element or compound
Troposphere- The lowest layer of the atmosphere where temperature decreases as altitude increases.
Stratosphere- The layer of the atmosphere that is above the troposphere and in which temperature increases as altitude increases.
Mesosphere- The layer of the atmosphere between the stratosphere and the thermosphere in which temperature decreases as altitude increases
Thermosphere- The layer of the earth’s atmosphere directly above the mesosphere and directly below the exosphere
Exosphere- The uppermost region of the atmosphere as it gradually fades into the vacuum of space
Water Cycle- The continuous process of water moving from the earth's surface to the atmosphere and back
Evaporation- Occurs when the sun heats water and it becomes water vapor in the air
Condensation- Occurs when the air cools and the water vapor collects in liquid form; opposite of evaporation
Transpiration- The emission of water vapor from the leaves of plants
Precipitation- Condensation falling from clouds onto land in the form of rain, sleet, hail, snow and mist
Groundwater- Water that fills the cracks and pores in the underground soil and rock layers
Percolation- Vertical and lateral movements of water through space between soil and rock layers
Air mass- A huge body of air that has similar temperature, humidity and air pressure at any given height
Maritime- A humid (wet) air mass that forms over oceans
Tropical- Warm air masses that form in the tropics and have low air pressure
Continental- Air masses that form over land (dry)
Polar- Cold air masses that form over land or water in the higher altitudes- north of 50 degrees north and south of 50 degrees south in latitude(high air pressure)
Accumulation- The collection of water on land
Subsurface Runoff- water that flows in underground streams, drains, or sewers
Surface Runoff- Water that flows down hill on land in surface streams or canals
Front- The boundary between air masses
Cold Front- Forms when a cold air mass pushes a warm air mass and forces the warm air to rise(storm clouds)
Warm Front- Forms when a warm air mass pushes a cold air mass(stratus clouds)
Occluded Front- When a warm air mass is trapped in between two cold air masses and the warm air is forced up
Stationary Front- Occurs when two air masses push against each other without moving
Thunderstorm- A storm with lightning and thunder
Tornado- A violently rotating column of air stretching from a cloud to the air
Hurricane- A tropical low pressure system with sustained winds of 74 mph or more
Flood- A great flowing or overflowing of water
Blizzard- A blinding snowstorm with winds of at least 35 mph and usually has temperatures below 20 degrees fahrenheit
Weather Map- A map or chart showing weather conditions over a wide area at a particular time, compared with simultaneous observations in other places
Anemometer- An instrument that measures the speed of wind
Humidity- The amount of water vapor in the air
Quantitative- Data that is based on measurements (numbers)
Qualitative- Data that is based on observations (qualities)
Hypothesis- An educated guess based on observations and research
Independent Variable- The variable that you control
Reference Point- Where you start from
Dependent Variable- The variable that you measure
Controlled variable (constant)- Something that is kept the same in an experiment
Control- Something that is used as a standard of comparison for checking the results of an experiment
Air Pressure-How hard air molecules push on a surface
Altitude- The height above sea level or the earth’s surface
Barometer- An instrument used to measure atmospheric pressure
Density- How tightly packed together a substance is
Molecule- The smallest part in a chemical element or compound
Troposphere- The lowest layer of the atmosphere where temperature decreases as altitude increases.
Stratosphere- The layer of the atmosphere that is above the troposphere and in which temperature increases as altitude increases.
Mesosphere- The layer of the atmosphere between the stratosphere and the thermosphere in which temperature decreases as altitude increases
Thermosphere- The layer of the earth’s atmosphere directly above the mesosphere and directly below the exosphere
Exosphere- The uppermost region of the atmosphere as it gradually fades into the vacuum of space
Water Cycle- The continuous process of water moving from the earth's surface to the atmosphere and back
Evaporation- Occurs when the sun heats water and it becomes water vapor in the air
Condensation- Occurs when the air cools and the water vapor collects in liquid form; opposite of evaporation
Transpiration- The emission of water vapor from the leaves of plants
Precipitation- Condensation falling from clouds onto land in the form of rain, sleet, hail, snow and mist
Groundwater- Water that fills the cracks and pores in the underground soil and rock layers
Percolation- Vertical and lateral movements of water through space between soil and rock layers
Air mass- A huge body of air that has similar temperature, humidity and air pressure at any given height
Maritime- A humid (wet) air mass that forms over oceans
Tropical- Warm air masses that form in the tropics and have low air pressure
Continental- Air masses that form over land (dry)
Polar- Cold air masses that form over land or water in the higher altitudes- north of 50 degrees north and south of 50 degrees south in latitude(high air pressure)
Accumulation- The collection of water on land
Subsurface Runoff- water that flows in underground streams, drains, or sewers
Surface Runoff- Water that flows down hill on land in surface streams or canals
Front- The boundary between air masses
Cold Front- Forms when a cold air mass pushes a warm air mass and forces the warm air to rise(storm clouds)
Warm Front- Forms when a warm air mass pushes a cold air mass(stratus clouds)
Occluded Front- When a warm air mass is trapped in between two cold air masses and the warm air is forced up
Stationary Front- Occurs when two air masses push against each other without moving
Thunderstorm- A storm with lightning and thunder
Tornado- A violently rotating column of air stretching from a cloud to the air
Hurricane- A tropical low pressure system with sustained winds of 74 mph or more
Flood- A great flowing or overflowing of water
Blizzard- A blinding snowstorm with winds of at least 35 mph and usually has temperatures below 20 degrees fahrenheit
Weather Map- A map or chart showing weather conditions over a wide area at a particular time, compared with simultaneous observations in other places
Anemometer- An instrument that measures the speed of wind
Humidity- The amount of water vapor in the air