4th Grade Science Vocabulary

Motion

The change in the position of an object

Gravity

An attracting force between any two objects with mass

Friction

A contact force acting against motion and slows objects down

Kinetic Energy

The energy that comes from the fact that an object is MOVING

Potential Energy

Energy in an object that is there when it is still

Electrons

Particles with a negative charge

Circuit

a route that starts and finishes in the same place

Energy source

Battery - where the energy starts

Resistor

The part of the circuit using the energy (Ex. Light Bulb)

Conductor

A material that allows electricity to pass through it easily

Insulator

A material that DOES NOT allow electricity to pass through it easily

Magnetism

the force that causes magnets to pull on objects

Repel

To go against

Attract

To pull closer

Electric Energy

Light Sockets

Light Energy

Sunshine

Heat Energy

Stove

Chemical Energy

Food

Mechanical Energy

Movement

Sound

Guitar Playing

Matter

Anything that takes up space and has mass

Property

A characteristic of an object

Observable Properties

Properties we can identify using our senses

Measurable Properties

Properties we can measure by using tools

Volume

The amount of space that matter takes up

Mass

The WEIGHT or the amount of matter that makes up an object

Density

How tightly packed molecules are within a specific space

Physical Change

Change in the state of matter (liquid, gas, solid) (Liquid evaporating or ice melting)

Chemical Change

Changes the chemicals in the substance (Fireworks, burning something)

Rotation

The spinning of earth on its axis

Revolution

The movement of the Earth around the sun

Axis

Imaginary Line that goes through the center of the Earth

Minerals

Natural, nonliving solid crystals that make up a substnace

Luster

How shiny a mineral is

Streak

The color of the powder streak left behind when scratched

Weathering

The process of earth's materials breaking down into smaller pieces

Erosion

The process of weathered bits being carried away

Deposition

The laying down of pieces of rock

Crust

The outermost layer of the Earth

Mantle

The second layer of the Earth

Outer Core

The third layer of the Earth

Inner Core

The most inner layer of the earth

Tectonic Plates

Plates that exist on the crust that create earthquakes and volcanoes

Earthquakes

Two tectonic plates rubbing against one another that creates a tremor on the Earth

Volcano

When magma comes to the surface of the Earth and erupts through the surface

Surface Water

Water that is above the Earth's Surface

Groundwater

Water that is below the earth's surface

Condensation

When vapor cools and changes into droplets of water

Precipitation

Any form of water that falls back to earth

Evaporation

energy from the sun heats liquid water and the water changes to water vapor

Runoff

Water that goes off of the land and collects in rivers, lakes, and the ocean

Liquid

0

Solid

0

Gas

0

Ecosystem

all living and nonliving things in an environment and the many ways that they interact with each other

Habitat

The area where an organism lives

Population

a group of living organisms of the same kind

Producer

Organisms that make their own food

Consumer

Organisms that eat other living things

Decomposer

Organisms that break down plant and animal remains

Herbivores

animals that mainly eat plants

Omnivores

animals that eat both plants and animals

carnivores

animals that mainly eat other animals

Food Chain

shows the transfer of energy from one energy to another

Fossils

The remains of a prehistoric organism

Extinction

the disappearance of a species from earth

Predator

an animal that eats another animal

prey

the animal that is eaten by the predator

Evolution

the development of living things over time from simple to complex

Photosynthesis

The combination of water, nutrients, sunlight, &carbon dioxide, and produces oxygen and sugar

Roots

soak up nutrients and water from the soil

Stem

supports the plant, carries water for the leaves and flower, and holds up leaves to sunlight

Leaf

makes food using the sunlight

Flower

Makes seeds for reproduction

Seed Dispersal

The movement of seeds via animals, water, or wind

Oxygen

What humans breathe

Carbon Dioxide

What plants breathe in

Pollination

the movement of pollen

Fertilization

when the seed is formed

Germination

when the seed begins to grow

Adaptation

a characteristic or behavior that helps a living thing survive

Camouflage

blending into an environment

Vertebrates

Organisms with bones

Invertebrate

Organisms without bones

Classify

To arrange or sort objects according to their shared characteristics

Mammals

Organisms with warm blood, who drink milk, and sweat when it's warm

Birds

Organisms with wings and who have shelled eggs and have feathers

Fish

Organisms that can breathe underwater, have gills, and have powerful tails

Reptiles

Organisms with scaly skin that are cold blooded and born and land and lay eggs

Amphibians

Organisms born in the water and have gills that become lungs

3 Reasons for Adaptations

1. Get Food 2. Reproduce 3. Protect Itself

Competition

When two or more living things need the same resources to survive

Senses

sight, hearing, taste, touch, smell

Smell

Nose

Hearing

Ears

Sight

Eyes

Touch

Fingers

Taste

Mouth

Protons

Positive particles

Neutrons

neutral particles

Migration

Moving

Learned Trait

Something that an animal IS NOT born with and learns throughout life to help it survive

Inherited Trait

A trait of an organism that is passed down from their mom or dad

Reproduce

make another copy of

Life Span

The length of time from an animal's birth to its death

Life Cycle

Series of changes in the life of an organism including reproduction