5th Grade

Science Vocabulary

booklet

Student Name: _______________

1

Word Definition

abiotic the nonliving elements in an environment

absorb to take something in a natural or gradual way

adaptation an inherited trait or learned behavior that helps an organism survive in its surroundings

alternative energy energy generated by natural process/resources that is renewable

axis a line, real or imaginary, around which something spins

balanced force forces on an object that are equal in size and direction

beaker cylinder shaped glass contained used to mix or heat liquids

biomass energy fuel made from plant or animal waste (biomass)

biotic the living elements in an environment

boiling point the temperature at which a substance changes states from a liquid to a gas (water=100oc)

bubble gas or air in a liquid

camouflage characteristics that blend in with the surrounding environment that increase chances of survival

carbon cycle the movement of carbon on earth by the process of respiration and photosynthesis

carbon dioxide a gas produced by animals during respiration that plants use to make food (glucose/sugar), water, and oxygen

2

Word Definition

carnivore an animal that gets its energy by eating other animals (consumers)

carry capacity the population sixe an environment can feed or support

Celsius a scale for measuring temperature and the only one used in 5th grade science~

cementation process by which sedimentary rock particles or fragments are cemented together after deposition

change to become or make different

chemical change make different by changing what the material is made of. example: burning

classify group together based on similar traits

climate average weather conditions of a region year after years (seasons, decades)

compaction pressure from top layers squeeze bottom layers together to help form sedimentary rocks

compass an instrument that shows direction and uses a small magnet to show north

complete metamorphosis

the type of development consisting of four distinct stages: egg, larva, pupa, and adult

conclusion an explanation based on your observation or measurement

condensation physical changes in matter from a gas to a liquid

3

Word Definition

condensation (water cycle)

the cooling of water in the atmosphere changing a gas t o a liquid

conductor material that allows electrical or heat energy to flow through easily

conservation the wide use and protection of natural resources

constant not changing, the same

consumer an organism that gets energy from eating other organisms

data pieces of information

day/night cycle day: earth faces the sun and is lighted. night: earth faces away from the sun

decay to rot and break down into small parts

decomposer an organism that gets energy from eating dead organism, non-living materials or waste

decrease to become smaller in size, amount, number, etc

delta a triangle-shaped (deposit) landform at the mouth a river as it empties into a body of water

deposition the buildup of land by depositing sediment and soil in a new location

dissolve to be absorbed in a liquid, mixed evenly

earthquake a sudden release of energy under the earth’s surface that makes the ground shake or crack

ecosystem all the organisms living in a place in addition to the environment

4

Word Definition

egg the first stage in the life cycle of many organisms

electrical circuit the pathway through which electrical current flows

electrical energy energy produced by the movement of electrons

electro-magnetism

magnetism created by an electric current

elodea an aquatic plant

emergency an event that needs immediate action or assistance

energy what is needed to do work or cause change

environment the living and nonliving things that are around an organism

erosion the movement of weathered material on the earth’s surface by wind, water, or ice

evaporation physical change in a matter from a liquid to a gas

evaporation (water cycle)

the process that occurs when water changes form a liquid to a gas, caused by heat

evidence a sign or proof

eye wash structure that flushes the eyes and face with water to remove chemicals and irritants

fire extinguisher a piece of equipment that sprays chemicals to put out uncontrollable fires

flow to move or travel smooth in a certain direction

5

Word Definition

food chain the path of food energy from one organism to another in an ecosystem

food web a connection of food chains with many food energy paths in an ecosystem

force a push or pull that causes an object to move, stop, or change direction

fossil preserved parts or traces of animals and plants that lived in the past

fossil fuel non-renewable flammable material made from the remains of plants and animals, buried, that is used for heat and power (ncop)

freezing point the temperature at which a substance changes states from a liquid to a solid (water= 0oc)

friction a force that slows or stops motion when objects rub together

gas a substance with no defined shape or volume (ex. air)

geothermal energy

energy made from heat inside the earth (ex. water inside earth turns into steam and turns a turbine)

glacier a slowly moving mass of ice formed by the accumulation and compaction of snows. makes u shaped valleys

goggles an accessory that protects eyes from chemical or biological splatters and spills

graduated cylinder

a contained used to measure the volume of liquid

6

Word Definition

gravity a force that pulls objects toward the center of the earth

green friendly to the environment

habitat a place or environment in which an organism naturally lives

herbivore an animal that gets its energy by eating only plants (producers)

heredity the passing of characteristics from one generation to another

humidity the amount of water vapor in the air

hydro electrical energy

energy produced from moving water

hypothesis an educated guess about the outcome of an investigation that can be tested

impact direct effect or change on

imprint a mark or depression made by pressure

inclined plane any slope or ramp that makes it easier to lift an object

incomplete metamorphosis

the type of development consisting of three distinct stages: egg, nymph, and adult

increase to become larger or greater in size, amount, number, etc

inertia the property of an object that resists movement by a force

ingredient a single part of a mixture or solution

inherited trait a characteristic that is passed from parents to offspring during reproduction

7

Word Definition

innate behavior an inherited trait, such as a baby crying

insulator material that slows down or stops energy from flowing

landform features on the surface of the earth such as mountains hills, dunes, oceans and rivers

learned behavior a behavior that develops from observation or instruction rather than being passed down by heredity

lens a clear curved piece of glass or plastic that is used in eyeglasses, cameras, telescopes, etc., to make things look smaller or bigger

lever a rod balanced on a fixed point that can help lift a heavy weight with less effort

life cycle the stages of an organism’s life from birth to death

light energy radiant energy that your eyes can see from the visible part of the electromagnetic spectrum

light spectrum the small part of the electromagnetic spectrum that the human eye can see (roygbiv)

liquid a substance with no defined shape but has a defined volume (ex. water)

magnetism a physical property of certain metals (mainly iron) that attracts magnets

magnify to increase in size

8

Word Definition

mass the amount of matter in an object

matter anything that has mass and takes up space

mechanical energy

energy produced by a machine of moving part

melting point the temperature at which a substance changes states from a solid to a gas (water= 0oc)

microscope an instrument that uses a lens to make tiny objects look larger

mimicry the resemblance of an organism to another organism or to its surroundings that gives it a better chance to survive

mixture a combination of two or more substances where each keep their own properties and can be easily separated

movement a change in position or location

natural gas a flammable material, with a definite form, produced from (ocean) organic matter buried under layers of sediments for millions of years

natural resource materials in the environment that are useful to people

newton the standard unit of force

Newton’s 1st law an object at rest//in motion tends to stay at rest//in motion unless acted upon by an outside force

Newton’s 2nd law the greater the mass (of the object being accelerated) the greater the amount of force needed (to accelerate the object)

9

Word Definition

Newton’s 3rd law for every action there is an equal and opposite reaction

niche the function or role of a species within an ecosystem

nocturnal active at night

non-renewable resource

materials from the earth that cannot be replaced within a reasonable amount of time (ex. coal)

offspring new organisms that come from parents that have reproduced

oil a flammable liquid produced from (ocean) organic matter buried under layers of sediments for millions of years

omnivore an animal that gets its energy by eating both plants and other animals (producers and consumers)

opaque all light is either absorbed or reflected, so no light passes through

organic matter the waste of remains of plants and animals

organism a living thing

oxygen a gas produced by plants during photosynthesis that animals used for respiration

parallel circuit a closed circuit in which the electrical energy follows multiple paths

10

Word Definition

photosynthesis the process by which plants and use sunlight to make energy from carbon dioxide and water. Sugar (glucose) and oxygen are products of photosynthesis

physical change make different without changing what the material is made of. example: melting

physical state the classification of matter as a solid, liquid, or gas

planet a celestial body moving in an orbit around a star

population all living things that belong to the same group and live in the same area

precipitation water droplets fall from the atmosphere in the form of rain, sleet snow or hail

predator an animal that hunts and feeds on another organism

pressure the action of force by one object against another

prey an organism that is hunted by another organism

prism a transparent object, made of glass or plastic that breaks light into a spectrum

producer an organism that used sunlight to make its own food for energy

properties appearance of an object including: mass, magnetism, physical state, relative density, solubility, and the ability to insulate or conduct

11

Word Definition

protective gloves an accessory that protects hands from heat, chemical or biological splatters or spills

pulley uses wheels and a rope to raise, lower, or move a load

pupa the stage of complete metamorphosis during which the organism seems to be at rest and new body parts are forming

recycle convert trash or waste into reusable material

reflection energy waves bouncing off the surface of an object

refraction energy waves that bend (change direction and speed) as they pass from type of object to another type

relative density objects that are more dense sink in water, less dense objects will float in water

renewable resource

materials from the earth that can be replaced by nature in a short period of time ex. trees)

reproduction the act of making something new

respiration a process by which animals use oxygen and food to make energy and carbon dioxide

rotation the time it takes the earth to make one complete rotation on its axis (24 hours)

run-off rainfall that is not absorbed by soil and travels to the ocean

safety prevention against hurt, injury, or loss. #1 priority in the classroom

12

Word Definition

satellite a celestial or artificial body orbiting the earth or another planet

scavenger a special type of consumer that feeds on dead organisms, especially a carnivorous animal that eats dead animals. vultures, hyenas are scavengers

screw an inclined plane wrapped in a spiral

sediment small pieces of rock

sedimentary rock rock made of compressed organic and inorganic sediments

seedling a young plant grown from seed

series circuit a closed circuit in which the electrical energy follows one path

shadow a dark area caused when a object blocks light falling on a surface

simple machines a device that makes work easier; 6 types of machines” the inclined plane, the wedge, the screw, the lever, the wheel and axle and the pulley

solar energy energy that comes the sun

solid a substance with a defined shape and volume (ex. shoe)

solubility the amount of a substance that will dissolve in a given amount of another substance

solution a mixture of one substance dissolved evenly into another

sound energy energy produced from vibration that you can hear

13

Word Definition

species a group of organisms with similar characteristics that allow them to reproduce

spring scale an instrument that measures earth’s gravitational pull on an object

stages specific times during life or growth

sun the star at the center of our solar system that supplies light and energy to earth

sundial an instrument that measures time of day using the position of the sun

temperature how hot or cold something is

thermal energy energy that causes a transfer of hear or temperature between materials

thermometer a tool that measures temperature

trait a characteristic of an organism

translucent some light is absorbed and some light lasses through

transmit to pass through a substance or object without being absorbed

transparent allows most or all light to pass though

transpiration the passage of water vapor to the atmosphere

triple beam balance

a tool used to measure mass that features three beams with sliding mass

typical usual, average

14

Word Definition

unbalanced force forces that cause a change in motion

variable a factor that can change in an experiment

volume the amount of space an object takes up

volume (sound) the loudness or softness of a sound

water cycle the changes to water when it evaporates in the air, condenses into clouds, and then precipitates back down to earth

weather describes the daily conditions of the air outdoors such as temperature, cloud cover, wind, and precipitation

weathering the breakdown of rock into smaller particles (sediments) from the effects of wind, water, and ice

weathering the breakdown of rock into smaller particles from the effects of wind, water and ice

wedge a plane used to push objects

wheel and axle used to carry loads around easily for long distances with less effort

wind energy energy that comes from changing the power of moving air into an useful form (ex. windmill turns turbines producing electricity)

Worley Your Science Teacher!