Grade 8 Science Vocabulary

You will be given a daily vocabulary quiz on two of these words, selected at random. You are responsible for knowing all of the words on the list.
The words that are in italics have been "retired" from the daily quizzes. However, they still may appear in classwork from time to time and you are expected to know their meanings!

• Lift- An upward force, due to a difference in air pressure that is caused by moving air
• Thrust- A pushing force, usually generated by an engine, that moves a vehicle forward (or backward)
• Drag- A force that opposes motion in a fluid (gas or liquid)
• Balance- An instrument that is used to find the mass of an object
• Graduated Cylinder- A scientific tool used to measure the volume of a liquid
• Solid- Substance with definite shape and volume, with low energy particles
• Liquid- Substance with definite volume that takes the shape of the container, with medium energy particles
• Gas- Substance with no definite shape or volume, with high energy particles
• Melting Point- The temperature at which the particles in a solid gain enough energy to turn into a liquid
• Boiling Point- The temperature at which the particles in a liquid gain enough energy to turn into a gas
• Condensation- When a gas loses enough energy (cools) to become a liquid
• Evaporation- When a liquid changes to a gas at the surface of the liquid
• Proton- Particle in the nucleus of an atom with a positive charge
• Neutron- Particle in the nucleus of an atom with a neutral charge
• Electron- Particle in an atom with a negative charge
• Atomic Number- The number of protons in an atom
• Atomic Mass- The number of protons PLUS the number of neutrons in the nucleus of an atom
• Mixture- A combination of substances that can be separated by physical means
• Solution- A special kind of mixture where one substance is dissolved in another substance
• Volume- The amount of space an object takes up or contains
• Mass- The amount of matter in an object
• Density- The amount of matter per unit of volume (D= M/V)
• Matter- Anything that has mass and volume
• Ion- An atom of an element that has gained or lost electrons
• Isotope- An atom of an element that has a different number of neutrons
• Physical Change- An alteration of the properties of a substance without affecting the substance itself
• Molecular Formula- Identifies the number and type of atoms in a compound
• Malleable- Able to be hammered into thin sheets
• Ductile- Able to be drawn out to a fine wire
• Atom- The smallest particle of an element that still retains the properties of that element
• Element- Basic component of all matter that can't be broken down into simpler substances
• Chemical Change- A thorough change in a substance so that an entirely new substance is formed
• Compound- A pure substance made up of elements which are bonded together chemically
• Molecule- The smallest unit of a compound that still retains the properties of the compound
• Temperature- A measure of the AVERAGE kinetic energy of the particles of an object
• Absolute Zero- The temperature at which all molecular motion stops
• Thermal Energy- A measure of the SUM of the potential and kinetic energy of the particles of a substance
• Heat- The movement of thermal energy from an area with a higher temperature to an area with a lower temperature
• Conductor- A material through which heat passes easily
• Insulator- A material through which heat does not pass easily
• Conduction- The transfer of energy through matter (solids) by the direct contact of the particles
• Convection- The transfer of energy in a fluid by the movement of the heated particles
• Radiation- The transfer of energy through space by electromagnetic waves

Return to the Homework Calendar
Return to ThinkScience!