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Words Definition
Science A study of natural phenomena
The systematic study of nature and how it affects us and our environment.
Scientific knowledge The information produced from the study of science.
Technology The application of scientific knowledge for the use of mankind.
Laboratory The place where a scientist works.
Hazard warning
symbols
Placed on the labels of dangerous substances to warn us of their danger.
Scientific
Investigation
A series of steps done systematically to study a problem or an event.
Hypothesis A statement that relates the manipulated variable and the responding variable.
Period of oscillation Time taken for one oscillation
Physical quantity A quantity that can be measured
International system
of units (SI Units)
A standard set of units
Prefix Used to express a physical quantity that is either very big or very small
Weight The weight of an object is the pull of gravitational force acting on it.
Force of gravity/
Gravitational force
The pull of Earth on all objects to its centre.
Mass The mass of an object is the amount of matter contained in the object.
The quantity of matter in the object.
Length The distance between two points
Parallax error Inaccurate reading of measurement due to inaccurate position of the eye.
Area The surface covering an object
Volume The space occupied by an object.
Meniscus The level of a liquid in any measuring tool is curved.
Water displacement
method
To measure the volume of both regular and irregular solids.
Cells Small units that make up a living organization
A basic unit of organisms which can function on their own.
Protoplasm Consists of a nucleus and cytoplasm
Unicellular
organisms
Organisms that consist of many cells
Multicellular
organisms
Organisms that consist of many cells.
Tissue A group of similar cells working together as a unit to perform a specific
function.
Organ A few different types of tissue grouped together form an organ
System A group of organs which work together to perform a specific function forms a
system
Organisation All systems in the body work together to produce an independent organism.
Matter Anything that has mass and occupies space.
Living matter All living things including humans.
Non-living matter All non-living things such as air, water and soil.
Brownian
movement
The random movement of particles in matter
Density Density of a substance is the mass per unit volume of the substance.
Natural resources Resources that are provided by nature
Soil The topmost layer of the Earths crust
A mixture of sand particles, clay, humus, minerals, water, air, organisms and
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microorganisms.
Minerals Elements or compounds which occur in the Earhts crust naturally
Fossil fuels Formed from partially decayed living things that died millions of years ago.
Element The simplest form of nature.
A pure substance that cannot be split up into smaller substances by physical or
chemical processes.
Only one type of particle
Atom The smallest particle in an element
Molecules Atoms of the same type which combine in some elements.
e.g. oxygen, ozone, hydrogen
Compound Formed when two or more elements combine chemically in a chemical
reaction. Its smallest particles are molecules.
e.g. Water
Mixture Made up of two or more substances which are mixed physically (by stirring,
shaking, mixing or dissolving)
Preservation of
resources
The act of keeping the resources in their original state.
Conservation of
resources
The sustainable use and management of the natural resources to prevent
waste, loss or damage of the resources.
Atmosphere The layer of air that surrounds the Earth.
Respiration A process by which our body obtains and uses oxygen to oxidise food for the
production of energy. Carbon dioxide and water vapour are released as the by-
products.
The mechanism of
respiration
Involves the breathing in of air (inhalation) and the breathing out of air
(exhalation).
Breathing Involves the exchange of gases between an organism and its environment.
Combustion A chemical process whereby fuel burning in oxygen gives out heat and light
energy.
The principle of
combustion
Combustion only takes place in the presence of oxygen, heat, and fuel.
Fuels Substances which are burnt to produce energy.
Carbon fuels Contain carbon atoms only
e.g. coal, charcoal and firewood
Hydrocarbon fuels Compounds which contain hydrogen and carbon
e.g. petrol, kerosene, candles
Air One of the basic needs of life.
Nicotine A drug that acts upon the brain and the nervous system.
Tar Damages the cilia of the air passage and blocks the tiny air passages lading to
the alveoli.
Carbon monoxide A deadly gas which tends to combine with the haemoglobin in red blood cells,
thus reducing the amount of oxygen that the blood can carry.
Energy The ability to do work.
Measured in Joules (J)
Working energy The form of energy that involves work being done. The effects of energy
changes can be seen.
Kinetic energy The energy of an object due to its motion.
Potential energy The energy stored by an object due to its position or its condition.
Gravitational
potential energy
The energy stored by all objects above the ground because of their raised
position.
Elastic potential The energy stored by all elastic substances when stretched or compressed
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energy because of their stretched or compressed condition.
Energy of motion A body having mechanical energy possesses both kinetic energy and potential
energy.
Chemical energy The energy stored in substances such as food and fuels.
Sound energy Produces by vibrating objects.
Heat energy The energy found in hot objects
Thermal energy
Light energy The energy radiated (spread out) by luminous objects (objects that give out
light)
Radiant energy/ electromagnetic radiation
Solar energy Light energy from the sun.
Electrical energy Consists of electric charges, which travel through electrical conductors or wires.
Nuclear energy The energy stored in the nucleus of an atom
Nuclear reaction Nuclear energy is released when a particle penetrates a larger nucleus and
causes it to split into many smaller nuclei.
Nuclear fission A process in which a particle (neutron) penetrates a heavy nucleus and causes it
to split into two or more lighter nuclei with energy stored.
Nuclear fusion A process in which light nuclei fuse or combine together to form a heavier one
with energy released.
Solar radiation Consists of light energy and heat energy.
Law of conservation
of energy
Energy can be changer from one form to another but it cannot be created or
destroyed.
Renewable energy
sources
Energy sources that cannot be replaces after being used.
Non-renewable
energy sources
Energy sources that cannot be replaced after being used.
Conservation of
energy
To find out ways in which we can use less energy and not waste energy.
Efficient use of
energy
Getting the most use of energy with the minimum waste of energy.
Heat A form of energy
The amount of energy that can flow from a hot body to a cold body.
Temperature Used to describe how hot a body is.
Measures the degree of hotness or coldness of a body.
Expansion The increase in size of objects when they are hot.
Contraction The decrease in size when they are cooled.
Conduction The transfer of heat energy through solids such as metals by direct contact.
The transfer and distribution of heat energy from atom to atom within a
substance.
Convection The transfer of heat by actual movement of the warmed matter (liquid or gas)
Convection current A flow of fluid caused by a change in density, in which the whole medium
moves and carries heat energy with it.
Radiation The process where hear energy travels through empty space or vacuum.
Radiant heat Heat which is transferred by radiation
A part of electromagnetic waves, which can travel in vacuum at the speed of
light.
Is absorbed by all objects and surfaces causing a temperature rise/fall.
Sea breeze During the day, both land and sea are heated by the sun. The land gets heated
up faster than the sea. When the air above the land surfaces is heated, it
expands and rises, being lighter than the surrounding air. To replace the rising
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air, cooler air is drawn in from the surface of the sea.
Land breeze At night, the land cools faster than the sea. When this happens, the air over the
warmer surface of water is heated up and rises, pulling in air from the cooler
land surface to replace it.
Conductors Materials that allow heat to pass through them rapidly.
Insulators Bad conductors of heat.
Melting point The temperature at which a solid melts.
Freezing The change of a substance from liquid to solid.
Freezing point The temperature at which a substance freezes.
Evaporate When a liquid changes to the gaseous state.
Condensation The change from gaseous form to liquid form.
Boiling When a liquid is heated to a certain temperature, it changes into gas.
Boiling point The temperature at which a liquid boils.
Sublimation The direct change of substances from the solid state to vapour state.
Deposition The direct change of substances from the vapour stare to solid state.



































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