Science dictionary for kids

Contents

Introduction
ScientificEquipment
TheScientificProcess
MeasurementsandUnits
LifeSciences
PhysicalSciences
EarthSciences
SpaceSciences
QuickReferenceGuide
References
Index
AbouttheAuthor


Introduction
“Scienceisawayofthinkingmuchmorethanitisabodyofknowledge.”—CarlSagan

AsCarlSaganstated,thestudyofscienceismuchmorethanjustfactsandknowledge;yet
withoutthespecializedvocabularythataccompaniesthescientificconceptsandprocesses,a
personwillfindhimselfatadisadvantageashestrivestoexpresshimselfscientifically.That
iswhereScienceDictionaryforKidscomestotherescue.
Thisdictionaryismuchmorethanalistofwordswithdictionarydefinitions,althoughit
doescontainsciencewordsand,yes,definitions.Thevocabularyusedinscienceisvast;many
of the words resemble commonly used words, however, their scientific usage may be very
different. There also are many science words that are new and difficult for students to
remember.Thesearethewordsthatwillbefoundinthisdictionary,thosenewandseemingly
difficultwordsorthosethathavesignificantlydifferentdefinitionsthancommonlanguage.In
additiontodefinitionsofthesespeciallychosenwordswrittenineverydaylanguage(rather

thandictionarylanguage),readersalsowillfindcommonexamplesanddrawingsformany
ofthewordsinordertocreatebetterunderstanding.
Thisbookdoesnotstopatvocabularywordscommonlyincludedinsciencedictionaries.
Instead, it addresses other information that would be helpful to students on their way to
becoming scientific thinkers. Readers also will find diagrams and graphics of the different
cycles studied in the science classroom. The diagrams have the content presented in a basic
way.Itisnotintendedtoreplaceinstruction,rathertoserveasanintroductionorreminderof
whatwaspreviouslystudied.Itismeanttobeuserfriendly,soifparentswouldliketohave
theirchildrenworkahead,orteacherswouldliketheirstudentstohaveabasicunderstanding
of the content, these drawings will accomplish that. How many times do students read a
definitionormakeadrawingbeforeitisintroducedandnotunderstandwhattheyhavejust
drawn?
There also is a reference guide devoted to commonly used formulas and units used in
science. Science is filled with standard units (e.g., kilograms and meters) and derived units
(e.g.,Newtons,whichisakilogram•meter,andaJoule,whichequalsaNewton•meter)—
could it get any more confusing? Students can get more wrapped up in the units than the
content when they do not remember with what each unit is associated. And, what about the


multitudeofformulasthatexistinscience?Studentsoftenhaveaformulasheet,buttheyhave
to manipulate or change the formulas in order to finish the problem. In this book’s guide,
studentswillbeabletolocatethetargetword,readitsbriefdefinition,andreviewtheformula
foritscalculation(includingunits.)
Inordertoassistreadersinmovingbeyondthe“bodyofknowledge,”thisbookcontains
manyresourcestohelpthembesuccessfulwiththeirexperimentsinthelaboratory.Although
timeoftenistakentoexplainthepropernamesandusesforallofthescientificequipmentat
thebeginningoftheschoolyear,byMarchstudentsmighthaveforgottenaboutthedangersof
turning the eyedropper upside down to move liquids or have regressed to calling beakers
“those cup things” again! This book has an entire section devoted to the equipment and
glassware that students may work with in the science classroom, including a definition, but

more importantly, a drawing (for easy identification) and if appropriate, specific directions
for the equipment’s use—such as how to transport liquid in an eyedropper without blowing
airintotheliquidandturningitupsidedown.Whatatimesavertonothavetoreviewall of
theequipmentthedayoftheexperiment.Italsoisveryeffectivetohavestudentsreviewthe
equipmentontheirownbeforeitisusedsoifareviewisneeded,itisaveryquickoneonthe
dayofthelab.
Inadditiontoequipment,therealsoisaquickreferencesectiontoassiststudentswiththe
variousstepsofthescientificmethodfromcreatingtestablequestionstowritingprocedures
andhowtovisiblypresentdatathroughthecreationofdifferenttypesofgraphs.Studentscan
quicklyfliptotheinstructionsonmultiplelinegraphsandbeontheirwaytoproducingtheir
own.Thesequickreferencepagesaremeanttoassistthereaderinthestepsofthescientific
methodinaquick,conciseway.
Fromequipmentusagetothestepsofthescientificmethod,thisbookismuchmorethan
a standard dictionary. It is intended to assist teachers in reinforcing their content as well as
parentswhoarewillingtohelptheirchildunderstandascienceconcept.Itisareadyreference
tofillthegaps,bringideasbacktomind,andallowstudentstobeevenmoreself-sufficientin
thescientificwayofthinking.


ScientificEquipment

Anemometer
Aweatherinstrumentusedtomeasurewindforceandspeed.

Barometer
Aweatherinstrumentusedtomeasureatmosphericpressure.Below29isconsidered
rainyorstormywhile30oraboveisconsideredfairweather.

Beaker
Acontainerusedtotransport,pour,ormixliquids.Itcannotmeasureanexactamountof

liquid.

BunsenBurner


Asmallburnerusedinthelaboratory.Itisconnectedtoagassourceandusesaveryhot
flame.Whenheating,thehottestareaisatthetopoftheinnercore.

Compass
Aninstrumentusedtofinddirection.Itusuallyismadeofamagneticneedlethatisfree
tomoveuntilitislinedupwithEarth’smagneticfield.

CompoundLightMicroscope
Alightmicroscopethathasmorethanonelensthatisusedtomagnifyasmallobjector
specimen.

ErlenmeyerFlask
Aflat-bottomed,cone-shapedflaskusedformixingandheatingliquid.Astoppercanbe
usedtosealit.


Eyedropper
Atubewitharubberbulbontheendthatisusedtopullliquidintothetube.Itisusedfor
transportingsmallamountsofliquid.

Eyewash
Safetyequipmentthatisusedtoflushtheeyesincasesomethinggetsintothemduringa
labexperiment.

Funnel

Autensilusedtopoursmallsolidsorliquidsintosmall-mouthedcontainers.Itisusually
madeofeitherplasticorglass.

Goggles
Safetyequipmentusedtoprotectyoureyesduringanexperiment.


GraduatedCylinder
Acylinderthathasbeenmarkedwithdifferent“graduations,”orlinesandnumbers,to
showtheleveloftheliquidputinit.Alwaysreadthemeniscus,orthebottomofthe
curvedliquid,whenusingaglassgraduatedcylinder.

HandLens
Ahand-heldmagnifyingglassthatallowsyoutolookcloselyatobjects.Thetypical
magnificationis10x;itmakestheobject10timesbigger.

HotPlate
Adeviceusedtoheatbeakersorflasks,ithaseithercoilsoraceramicplateforheating.
Alwaysbesurethecordistuckedawayforsafety!

HydrionPaper
AspecialkindoflitmuspaperthatturnsdifferentcolorsdependingonthepH(acidityor
alkalinity)ofthesubstancebeingtested.

LitmusPaper


PaperusedtodeterminepH.Thepaperchangescolordependingonwhetherithasbeen
putinanacid,base,orneutralsubstance.Redlitmuspaperwillturnbluewhenplacedin
abaseandbluelitmuspaperwillturnredwhenplacedinanacid.

Meniscus
Thelowestpartofthecurvecreatedbywaterwhenitisplacedinaglassgraduated
cylinder.Whenreadingtheexactamountinaglassgraduatedcylinder,youlookatwhere
themeniscuslies.

MeterStick
Acommoninstrumentformeasuringlengthintheclassroom.

PanBalance
Abalancethatusestwodifferentpanstofindthemassofanobject.

PetriDish
Ashallowdishapproximately10centimetersindiameter,usedforgrowingbacteria
culturesorevaporatingcrystals.


RingStand
Ametalstandthatusuallyincludesaringandisusedtosupportglasswareduringheating
orotherlabequipmentduringanexperiment.

SpringScale
Ameasuringdeviceorscalethatusesaspringtomeasuretheweightofanobject.The
mostcommonunitmeasuredusingaspringscaleisNewtons;4.45Newtonsequals1
pound.

Stopper
Acorkorplugthatisplacedinglasswaretosealit.Itcanbemadeofcork,plastic,or
rubberandcaneitherbesolidorhaveholesinittoallowglasstubingtopassthrough.

StreamTable
Alongtablethatisusedtoshowweathering,erosion,andwaterflowinstreamsand


bodiesofwater.

Telescope
Aninstrumentthatuseslensesandmirrorstoviewfarawayobjects.Therearethree
types:refracting,reflecting,andradio,whichdoesnothaveanylensesormirrorsbut
dependsonradiowavesgivenoffbyfarawayobjectsinspace.

TestTube
Alongglasstubethathasoneendopenwiththeotherendrounded.Itcanbeusedfor
heating,mixing,orcollectingchemicals.Becauseithasaroundedbottomandcannot
standonitsown,itusuallyneedstobekeptinarack.

TestTubeClamp


Aclampdesignedspecificallytoholdtesttubeswhiletheyarebeingheated.Toopenthe
clamp,squeezethemiddleloops.

TestTubeRack
Arackmadeoutofwoodorplasticspecificallydesignedtoholdtesttubeswhiletheyare
beingused.Somealsohavearowofrodsinthebackonwhichtoplacethetesttubes
upsidedownfordrying.

Thermometer
Adeviceusedtomeasuretemperature.Itcontainsmercuryorcoloredalcohol,which
expandsandrisesinthethermometerasthetemperatureincreases.Thermometers

measuretemperaturesinCelsiusorFahrenheit,orboth.Somecurrentthermometers
providedigitalreadings.

TripleBeamBalance
Abalancethatisusedtodeterminethemassofanobject.


TheScientificProcess

BarGraph
Agraphorchartthatshowsinformationusingbars.Itshouldbeusedtocompare
qualitiesofdata.

Conclusion
Asummarizationoftheresultsoftheexperimentandtheirimpactonthehypothesis.

Control(ControlledVariables)
Alloftheaspectsofanexperimentthatarekeptconstantandnotchanged.Inawellplannedexperiment,allofthefactorsshouldbecontrolledexcepttheindependent
(manipulated)variable.
Example:Whentestinghowtheheightofarampaffectsthetimeittakesacartogo
downit,thefollowingarecontrolled:sameramp,samecar,sametimer,sameperson
whotakesthetime,andsamereleasetechniqueofthecar.

Control(ControlGroup)


Whendesigninganexperiment,thisgrouporobjectremainsasitis;nochangesare
madetoit.

Data

Agroupoffactsormeasurementsgatheredeitherthroughresearchorexperimentation.

DataTable
Atablethatisdesignedtorecordquantitativeinformationgainedinanexperiment.

DependentVariable
Theoutcomeorresultsoftheexperiment;anothernamefortherespondingvariable.
Example:Whentestinghowtheamountofsunlightaffectstheheightofabeanplant,the
heightofthebeanplantisthedependentvariable.

Hypothesis
Aneducatedguessorprediction(basedoneitherresearchorpreviousexperience)about
theresultofanexperiment.
Examples:Ifarampisraisedhigher,itwilltakelesstimeforacartotraveldownit.
Basedonpreviousexperiments,thebiggerthewheelsonthecar,thefasteritwilltravel.

IndependentVariable
Thevariablethatischangedinanexperiment;anothernameforamanipulatedvariable.
Example:Whentestinghowtheamountofsunlightaffectstheheightofabeanplant,the
amountofsunlightistheindependentvariable.


Inference
Usinganobservationtocometoaconclusion.
Example:Inthepicturewecanobserveabrokenwindowandabaseballonthefloor.
Basedontheobservations,wecouldmakeaninferencethatthebaseballbrokethe
window.

LineGraph
Agraphthatshowsinformationusinglines;usuallyusedtoshowdatathatwerecollected

overtime.

ManipulatedVariable
Thevariablethatischangedinanexperiment;anothernameforanindependentvariable.
Example:Whentestinghowtheamountofsunlightaffectstheheightofabeanplant,the
amountofsunlightisthemanipulatedvariable.

Observation


Theactofgatheringdatabyusingoneormoreofthefivesenses.

Problem
Thequestiontobeconsideredandaddressedinanexperiment.Thehypothesisusually
answersthisquestion.
Examples:Howdoesthenumberofbatteriesaffectthestrengthofthecurrentina
circuit?Doeswatertemperatureaffectthebreathingrateofgoldfish?

Procedure
Thestepsorplansthatneedtobefollowedtocompleteanexperiment.

QualitativeObservations
Characteristicsorqualitiesthatdescribewhatisbeingobserved;basedonaperson’s
opinion.Donotinvolvenumbersormeasurements.
Examples:Color,texture,taste,likesordislikes,comparisons(e.g.,Stanistallerthan
me.)

QuantitativeObservations
Observationsthatcanbemeasuredandrecordedusingquantitiesornumbers.
Examples:Mass,length,volume,numberofsomething,recordedtime

RespondingVariable
Theoutcomeoftheexperiment;anothernameforthedependentvariable.
Example:Whentestinghowtheamountofsunlightaffectstheheightofabeanplant,the
heightofthebeanplantistherespondingvariable.

ScientificMethod


Atoolusedbyscientiststofindtheanswertoaquestionorproblem.Thestepsofthe
scientificmethodare:
1.IdentifytheProblem
2.ConductResearch
3.CreateaHypothesis
4.PerformanExperiment
5.AnalyzetheData
6.DevelopaConclusion

Theory
Ageneralprincipleorideathatexplainsfactsorpasteventsorthatcanbeusedtopredict
futureevents.

Trial
Atestthatisconductedmorethanonceduringanexperiment.


MeasurementsandUnits
Ampere(A)
Theunitforelectriccurrentortheamountofelectronspassingapointinacertain
amountoftime.

AstronomicalUnit(AU)
Theunitusedtomeasurelongdistancesinspace.ItisequaltothedistancefromtheEarth
tothesun.
1AU=149,597,870,691km(149.60×109km)
1AU=93millionmiles(9.3×106mi)

Calorie(cal)
Aunitofenergy;kilocalories(1,000calories)arecommonlyusedtodescribethe
amountofenergyfoundinfood.
1,000calories=1kilocalorie
1calorie=4.18joules

Celsius(°C)
Themetrictemperaturescaleonwhichwaterfreezesat0°andboilsat100°.

Fahrenheit(°F)
Thestandardtemperaturescaleatwhichwaterfreezesat32°andboilsat212°.

Gram(g)
Thebasicmetricunitusedtomeasuremass.


1gram=1,000milligrams
1,000grams=1kilogram

GravityConstant(gc)
ThespeedatwhichanobjectwillaccelerateasitfallstowardEarth(untilitreaches
terminalvelocity).Itisalsocalledtheacceleration(duetogravity).
g c=9.8m/sec2

Hertz(Hz)
Themetricunitforfrequency.Itisthenumberofwavesthatpassacertainpointinone
second.
1Hertz=1wave/second

Joule(J)
Themetricunitforenergyandheat.
1joule=1Newtonofforce•1meter
1joule=1watt/1second
4.18joules=1calorie

Kelvin(°K)
Thetemperaturescalethatbeginsatabsolutezero,wherethereisnomolecular
movement.Waterfreezesat273°Kandboilsat373°K.
°Kelvin=°Celsius+273

LightYear(ly)
Theamountofdistancelightcantravelthroughspaceinoneyear.Itisusedtomeasure


longdistancesinspace.Alightyearequalsabout9.461trillion(9.461×1012)kilometers
or5.879(5.879×1012)trillionmiles.
Example:Ourneareststaris4.4lightyearsaway,soittakeslightfromthatstar4.4years
toreachtheEarth.

Liter(l)
Ametricunitforvolume.
1,000liters=1cubicmeter(m3)
1liter=1,000milliliters

1,000liters=1kiloliter

Meter(m)
Thebasicmetricunitoflength.
1meter=1,000millimeters
1meter=100centimeters
1,000meters=1kilometer

Newton(N)
Themetricunitforforce.Itisequaltotheamountofforceneededtoaccelerateamass
ofonekilogramatarateofonemeterpersecondpersecond.
1Newton=1kg•m/s2
4.45Newtons=1pound

Ohm(Ω)
Themetricunitforresistance.


1ohm=1volt/1ampere

Volt(V)
Thestandardmetricunitforvoltageortheforceofelectricity.
1volt=1ohm•1ampere

Watts(W)
Thestandardmetricunitforpower.Itisequaltoonejouleofenergypersecond.
1watt=1joule/1sec
1,000watts=1kilowatt
1,000,000watts=1megawatt

LifeSciences
AcquiredTraits
Abilitiesthatarehelpfultoanorganismbutarenotpassedonfromaparent.
Example:Largearmmusclesdevelopedbytrainingforasportingevent

Allele
Aletterthatrepresentsagenetictraitandamemberofapairofgenesonachromosome.
WritteninpairsandusedinPunnettSquares.

Amphibian
Acold-bloodedvertebratethatisbornunderwater,usingitsgillstobreathe,thenspends
therestofitslifeonland,usinglungstobreathe.
Examples:Frogs,toads,newts,salamanders

Anaphase
Thestageofmitosisandmeiosiswhenthechromosomesareseparatedfromeachother.


Anther
Thepartoftheflowerthatproducesandcontainsthepollen.

Biome
AlargegeographicalareaoftheEarth’ssurfacethathasacertainsetofcharacteristics.
Examples:Tundra,taiga,grassland,freshwater,saltwater,deciduousforest,desert,
tropicalrainforest

Camouflage
Anadaptationthathelpsananimalblendintoitssurroundingandhelpsitavoid
predators.

Example:Thearcticfoxhaswhitefurinthewinterandbrownfurinthesummer.

Carbon(Dioxide)Cycle
Thewayinwhichcarbon(intheformofcarbondioxide)isremovedfromthe
atmospherebylivingthingsandultimatelyreturnedtotheatmosphere.


Carnivore
Anylivingthingwithadietconsistingmostlyofmeat.
Examples:Lion,venusflytrap,bear

Cell
Thesmallestfunctionalunitofalllivingthings.

CellMembrane
Thebarrieraroundacell’scytoplasm(seecell).

Cold-Blooded
Alivingthingthatcannotcontrolitsbodytemperature.Itstemperatureisdeterminedby
itsenvironment.
Example:Inordertogetwarm,alizardorsnakewilllayonwarmsandorindirect
sunlighttobringupitsbodytemperature.

Commensalism
Asymbioticrelationshipbetweenorganismsinwhichoneofthembenefitsfromthe
relationshipandtheotherisnotaffected.


Example:Barnaclesthatattachthemselvestowhales(andships)

CompoundLightMicroscope
Alightmicroscopethatisusedtocreateanenlargedimageofanobject.

Consumer
Anorganismthatfeedsonplantsorotheranimals.

Decomposer
Anorganismthatbreaksdowndeadanimalsanddecayingmatterintoothersubstances.
Examples:Bacteria,fungi

DichotomousKey
Akeythatallowsyoutoidentifyanitembasedonaseriesofchoices.