Download Heat, Electricity, and Magnetism Vocabulary

4th Grade Physical Science Unit 1:
Heat, Electricity, and Magnetism
Unit Vocabulary
1. Increase – To become or make greater in size or amount
2. Decrease – To become or make less in size or amount
3. Heat – The transfer of thermal energy from one object to another. Heat always moves from warmer
objects to cooler objects.
4. Temperature – The measurement of the average energy of particles in an object.
5. Celsius – Most scientists use this scale to measure temperature. Freezing point = 0:C, room
temperature =21:C, body temperature = 37:C, Boiling Point = 100:C
6. Fahrenheit – This measurement of temperature is mainly used in America. Freezing point = 32:F, room
temperature = 70:F, body temperature 98.6:F, boiling point 212:F.
7. Current Electricity – The flow of electrical charges through a circuit.
8. Simple Circuit – The path along which electric current flows.
9. Open Circuit – A circuit with gaps, so that it is not complete, and therefore, electricity will not flow
through it.
10. Closed Circuit – A complete, unbroken circuit to allow electricity to flow through it.
11. Power Source – An object to power the electric current, such as a battery.
12. Energy Transfer – When energy flows from one object to another.
13. Conductor – Objects that transfer heat and electricity very well.
14. Insulator – Objects that do not transfer heat very well.
15. Compass – A tool that uses Earth’s magnetic field to show direction. The needle of a compass is a thin
needle that will point to a magnetic field (usually the Earth’s).
16. Magnet – An object that attracts to iron, nickel, and cobalt.
17. Magnetic Field – The area of magnetic force around a magnet. Every magnet has a magnetic field that
wraps around it.
18. Magnetic Poles – The force of the magnet is strongest at the pole. A magnet has two poles, a north
end and a south end.
19. Attract – Two magnets pull toward each other.
20. Repel – Two magnets push away from each other.