Download Vocabulary Word List - Ms. Kiah`s Fifth Grade Class

Fifth Grade Science Terms
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Weather
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Evaporation-the change of phase from liquid
water into a gas, water vapor
Condensation-when water vapor forms small
drops of water
Precipitation-any form of water that falls
from the sky (rain, sleet, hail, snow)
Runoff-rain that falls on land and flows to
larger bodies of water
Weather-the state of atmosphere at a certain
time and place
Humidity-the amount of water in the air
Clouds- made up of millions of tiny water
droplets or ice crystals
High Air Pressure-dry weather and cooler
temperatures
Low Air Pressure-wet weather and warmer
temperatures
Wind-caused by differences in air pressure
and temperature (travels from west to east)
Cumulus cloud-fluffy, white clouds with flat
bottoms, means “heap” or “pile” (fair weather/
can produce light rain or snow showers)
Cumulonimbus clouds-clouds that bring
thunderstorms and sometimes hail
Nimbo- or –nimbus—clouds that bring
precipitation
Stratus clouds-flat, horizontal clouds—form
at low altitudes-overcast, gray weather
Nimbostratus clouds-dark stratus clouds that
bring light to heavy rain
Altostratus clouds-stratus cloud that forms at
middle altitudes
Cirrus Clouds-thin, wispy clouds—forms at
high altitudes-bring calm weather
Cirro-clouds that form at high altitudes
Air mass- large body of air that has the same
temperature and level of humidity throughout
Front-when two air masses meet
Cold front-a cold air mass moves under a
warm air mass(colder and drier)
Warm Front-warm air moves up and over a
cold air mass. (warmer and moist)
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Occluded Front-warm air mass is caught
between 2 cold air masses (rain/snow/cool
temperature)
Stationary Front-warm and cold air mass
meet but neither has enough energy to move
(many days of rain)
Climate-the average weather conditions in an
area over a long period of time (based on
temperature and rainfall in an area)
Meteorologists-scientists who study weather
Climate Zones-tropical zone, temperate zone,
and polar zone
Valley breeze-at day- warm air rises and
flows up to the mountain
Mountain Breeze-at night-cool air sinks and
flows down the mountain.
Sea Breeze-during the day-air flows from the
sea to the land
Land breeze-at night-air flows from the land
to the sea
Air pressure-the weight of the air in an area
(warm air rises, cool air sinks)
Thermometer-measures temperature
Barometer-measures air pressure
Rain gauge-measures precipitation
Hygrometer-measures humidity
Anemometer-measures wind speed
Wind vane-shows the direction of the wind
Forecast-a prediction of the weather for a
specific time in the future
Rain shadow effect-western side of the
mountain (lots of condensation and
precipitation) and the eastern side (very
dry/desert)
Global winds-the movement of air across
large distances, flow high up in Earth’s
atmosphere
Prevailing westerlies-global winds that blow
constantly from the same direction
Local winds-depend on local changes in
temperature, less predictable
Tornado- violent rotating column of air
extending from a thunderstorm to the ground
Hurricane-large rotating storm system that
forms in warm ocean water
Landforms
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Weathering- process of breaking down rock
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water
(turns rock into soil)
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Types of weathering-water, ice, wind, and
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gravity (water-most powerful)
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Ice Wedging-As water freezes, it expands
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Abrasion-grinding away of rock by other
rock or sand particles
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Gravity-force that pulls things toward Earth
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Erosion-the carrying away of loose
Valley-long depression in Earth’s Surface
Dams are used to create electricity. Also
prevent flooding.
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Mountain-high, uplifted area with steep
slopes
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Canyon-deep narrow valleys with steep
sides. Often has streams or rivers
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Dune-a mound, hill, or ridge of wind-blown
sand
materials
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Dam-barrier built to contain the flow of
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Plain-nearly level area that has been eroded
or where material has been deposited
that usually contains a river
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Meander-curve or loop in a river
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Tributary- river or stream that does not
of water, washed by waves or tides, often
reach the ocean
covered by sand and pebbles
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Deposition-adding sand or soil to a new
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Beach-gently sloping shore next to a body
Aerial Photograph-pictures of the surface
location
of earth taken from planes and balloons
Delta- fan-shaped deposit at the mouth of a
(from the air)
river
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Satellite-objects that orbit earth in space
Floodplain-flat land near a river formed by
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Sediment-the rock or soil that comes from
deposition during floods (very fertile)
erosion and ends up as little chucks carried
Slope-degree of change in elevation over a
by water
length of land
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Logging-cutting of trees
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Plants can help slow down erosion
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Clear-cutting—to cut down all the trees
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Map-picture that shows the features and
details of an area
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standing in an area
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forest
Model-a representation that shows the
working of an object or system (physical
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Land clearing can make soil erode quickly
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Plant roots help hold soil in place (more
vegetation=less erosion. Less
Vegetation=more erosion)
Mouth of River-where a river flows into the
ocean
and computer models)
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Deforestation-the removal of trees in a
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Glacier-thick sheet of ice formed in areas
where more snow falls than snow melts
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Topographical map-shows the height or
elevation of land in a 2-dimensional way
Forces and Motion
 Motion is described by position and how
it changes over time (described by
 Kinetic energy-energy of motion or
energy in use (anything in motion)
 Potential energy-the energy an object
position and direction-using north, south,
has because of its place or its condition
east, south)
(has potential to move)
 Position-the object’s place or location
 Speed-distance divided by time (10
meters per second)
 Velocity-an object’s speed in a particular
direction (10 meters per second east)
 Compass-measures directions (north,
south, east, west)
 Force-a push or pull
 Acceleration-when an object starts,
stops, speeds up, or slows down, or turns
left or right
 Momentum-a measure of how hard it is
to slow down or stop an object
 The motion of any object depends on all
of the forces acting on it
 Energy-the capacity to do work
 Machine-something that replaces human
effort
 Friction-a force that opposes, or acts
against, motion when two surfaces rub
against each other
 Magnetism-Force of repulsion (pushing)
or attraction (pulling) between poles of
magnets
 Gravity-force that pulls objects on earth
towards the center of earth
 Balanced forces-forces that have a net
force of zero (not moving)
 Unbalanced forces-net force is not
equal to zero.(changes the motion of
the object)
 Inertia- the tendency of an object to
remain at rest in motion unless it is acted
on by a force
 Simple machine-a tool that makes work
easier (uses energy to work)
 Pulley-uses grooved wheels and a rope
to raise, lower, or move a load
 Lever-a stiff bar that rest on a middle
support (fulcrum) EX: see- saw
 Wedge-at least one slanted side that ends
in a sharp edge EX: door stop
 Wheel and axle-lifts or moves loads
(steering wheel or door knob)
 Inclined plane-slanted surface EX: ramp
 Screw- inclined plane that is wrapped
around a pole. Holds things together
Ecosystems
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Marine ecosystems-include the ocean areas and
Community-the interaction of all the living things
seas. Very high salt levels. Coral reefs, tide pools,
in an area
beaches, and the ocean floor
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Organisms-any living thing
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Population-a group of the same type of organism
(any plant)-gain energy from the sun to make their
existing in an area (humans or deer)
own food
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Ecosystem-living and non living things in an area
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Producers-make food for the entire community
Photosynthesis-process that allows plants to
and their habitat
produce their own energy (carbon dioxide, water
Habitat-a physical place where an organism lives;
and sunlight)
its shelter
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Consumers-living things in a community that eat
other organisms for energy (humans, animals)
Niche-an organisms lifestyle (habitat, climate,
food)
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Herbivores-consumers that eat only plants
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Biotic factors-living things (bio means life)
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Carnivores-consumers that eat only other animals
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Abiotic-non-living things (a-without, bio-life=
without life)
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(meat)
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animals
Tundra-near the north and south poles. Light
Rain fall. Reindeer, caribou, polar bears, arctic
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Temperate deciduous forest-medium rainfall.
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mostly summer and winter)
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Grasslands-low rain fall. Very high grass. Bison,
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Prey-the organism being eaten (insect)
antelope, zebras, burrowing rodents and prairie
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Parasite-organisms that live on or inside another
Tropical rain forest- lots of rainfall and is very
organism (tick)
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humid. Very tall trees, vines, ferns, orangutans,
insects, sloths and jaguars
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Canopy-top of the rain forest
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Understory-bottom part of the rainforest
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Desert- little rain fall and extreme high
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Host-the organism that a parasite infects (dog or
cat)
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Food chain-a picture that shows how each
organism gets energy
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Food web-a diagram of several connected food
chains
temperatures. Snakes, lizards, some birds, spiders,
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Pollution-an unwanted change in the environment
and insects.
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Pollutant-a substance that causes pollution
Freshwater ecosystems-streams, rivers, lakes,
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Biodegradable- things that can be naturally
marshes, swamps-low salt levels
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Predator-an animal that eats another animal for
food (spider)
dogs
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Limiting factors-factors that limit the number of
organisms living in an ecosystem
Coniferous Forest-areas north that are very cold
and dry (evergreen trees/also known as a TAIGA-
Competition-when organisms compete for
resources (food, water, shelter)
Leaves change color in autumn. Squirrels, deer,
foxes and bears. (North Carolina forests)
Decomposers-organisms that break down nutrients
in dead organisms
wolves, foxes, hares
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Omnivores-consumers that eat both plants and
Estuary- place where fresh and salt water meet in
a coastal area
broken down
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Recycling-used matter is broken down to make
new things