Science Terminology

• Longitudinal wave- a compression wave in which the particles of the medium oscillate to-and-fro along the axis of energy transfer.
• Mechanical wave- a wave form in which the particles of the medium oscillate in order to transmit the energy.
• Medium- The material space in which a wave travel
• Sonar- Acronym for sound navigation and ranging; a technique in which reflected sound waves are used to measure distance.
• Spectrum- A range of frequencies or wavelengths
• Vibration- An oscillation or shaking motion (a to-and-fro)
• Acceleration- A type of motion in which the speed continues to increase (unit=m/s^2)
• Deceleration- A type of motion in which the speed continues to decrease (unit=m/s^2)
• Force- A push, pull or twist that changes the motion or shape of an object on which it acts (unit=newton, N)
• Friction- A force that opposes motion when surfaces move over each other.
• Mass- The amount of speed in a fixed direction (unit m/s)
• Weight- A force acting on a body due to gravity (unit=newton, N)
• Battery- A portable electrical source consisting of a number of electrical cells in series
• Current- The flow of electric charge (measured in ampsz0
• Electric cell- A device that produces electrical energy by chemical reactions
• Resistance- A property of a conductor that restricts current flow (measured in ohms)
• Resistor- A device that exhibits resistance to the flow of current
• Voltage- The electrical pressure that causes currents to flow.
• Converge- To come together
• Diverge- To spread apart
• Opaque- Describes a material that does not allow light to pass through it.
• Transmission- Passage of light rays into a medium and out the other side.
• Translucent- Describes a material that partially transmits and partially scatters light rays
• Transparent- Describes a material that allows light to pass through it without scattering
• Alpha particle- Radiation consisting of a positive particle composed of two protons and two neutrons.
• Beta particle- Radiation consisting of a fast electron
• Gamma rays- High energy electromagnetic rays
• Fission-Splitting of large nuclei into smaller nuclei by neutron bombardment with the release of energy
• Fusion- Joining of the nuclei of lightweight elements to form a heavier element with the release of energy
• Radioactivity- Emission of rays and/or particles due to the decay of an unstable nucleus
• Gravitational acceleration- The acceleration experienced by a mass in a gravitational field.
• Mass- The amount of matter in a body
• Weight- The force of gravity acting on a mass.