Science Basics · View all words

to watch carefully in order to learn

“Students observe the reaction in the experiment.”

to find the size, amount, or degree of something

“Use a ruler to measure the length of the object.”

facts that show whether something is true

“The report gives evidence for the new theory.”

a basic part of something or a simple chemical substance

“Oxygen is an element needed by most living things.”

a series of actions or changes

“Photosynthesis is a process used by plants.”

something that can change in an experiment

“Temperature was the main variable in the test.”

a type of material with particular qualities

“The substance changed color when heated.”

the force that pulls objects toward each other

“Gravity pulls the ball back to the ground.”

a test done to learn or prove something

“The students conducted an experiment to test the hypothesis.”

a chemical or physical change caused by substances

“Mixing the two chemicals caused a strong reaction in the beaker.”

the ability to do work or cause change

“The battery stores energy that powers the flashlight.”

a push or pull on an object

“Gravity is the force that pulls objects toward Earth.”

the amount of matter in something

“The scale measures the mass of the object in kilograms.”

the amount of space something takes up

“The volume of this container is two liters.”

how much mass exists in a certain volume

“Lead has a higher density than water.”

how hot or cold something is

“The temperature dropped sharply overnight.”

force applied over an area

“The pressure at the bottom of the ocean is enormous.”

the smallest basic unit of life

“A cell is the basic unit of all living organisms.”

a living thing

“Every organism depends on others in its environment.”

a group of atoms joined together

“A water molecule contains two hydrogen atoms and one oxygen atom.”

the smallest unit of a chemical element

“An atom is made up of protons, neutrons, and electrons.”

a substance made from two or more elements

“Water is a compound made of hydrogen and oxygen.”

a mixture where one substance dissolves in another

“Salt dissolves in water to form a solution.”

two or more substances combined physically

“Trail mix is a mixture of nuts and dried fruit.”

a substance with a sour taste and low pH

“Lemon juice is an acid that gives it a sharp, sour taste.”

a substance that can react with an acid

“Sodium hydroxide is a common base used in the lab.”

energy caused by moving charged particles

“The storm knocked out the electricity for several hours.”

force caused by magnets or moving electric charges

“Magnetism allows the iron filing to stick to the magnet.”

to examine something to learn the truth

“We will test the pH level of the solution tomorrow.”

to write down information

“We record all the temperatures during the experiment.”

to put things into groups

“Scientists classify animals into different species based on their characteristics.”

to look for similarities and differences

“The teacher asked the class to compare the two experiments.”

to say what is likely to happen

“Scientists tried to predict the path of the approaching storm.”

to decide based on evidence

“After reviewing the results, the scientists concluded that the medicine was safe.”

to mix into a liquid until no longer seen

“The sugar will dissolve when you stir it into hot water.”

to change from liquid to gas

“Puddles evaporate in the sun after it rains.”

to change from gas to liquid

“Water vapor will condense on the cold glass surface.”

to take in liquid, heat, or another substance

“The sponge will absorb the water quickly.”

related to science or based on evidence

“The scientific method helps researchers test their hypotheses.”

related to substances and their changes

“The chemical reaction produced heat and a yellow gas.”

related to matter, energy, or the body

“Physical changes like melting don't create new substances.”

related to living things

“The textbook covers various biological processes in cells.”

correct and exact

“The measurements were accurate to within one millimeter.”

able to be seen

“The visible light spectrum includes colors from red to violet.”

unable to be seen

“Oxygen is invisible but necessary for our survival.”

firm and keeping its shape

“Ice is solid at temperatures below zero degrees Celsius.”

flowing and taking the shape of a container

“Water is liquid at room temperature.”

in the form of gas

“Water in gaseous form is called steam.”

not changing easily

“The old bridge felt stable enough to walk across.”

likely to change or react

“The unstable compound decomposed after a few days.”