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Study Guide: Physical Science--Final Assessment
What is energy? What is thermal energy?
Energy- The ability to do work and cause a change in matter.
Thermal Energy- Heat energy
Temperature- The measure of thermal energy or how cool or warm things are.
Conduction- Process by which heat or electricity is transferred through an object.
Conductor- Materials where heat or electricity flows easily from molecule to molecule.
Insulator- Material where heat does not flow easily from molecule to molecule.
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Heat, light, and sound forces are different types of energy.
Temperature is measured in degrees Fahrenheit and/or degrees Celsius.
Temperature is measured using a thermometer.
Examples of good conductors: iron, aluminum, copper, some other metals, and water.
Examples of good insulators are plastic, rubber, air, wood, cork, chalk, etc.
Molecules speed up and move farther apart when heated.
Molecules slow down and move closer together when cooled.
How does electricity travel in a simple circuit?
Circuit- a complete path of electrical current.
Series Circuit- when 2 or more output devices are connected to a source in a single path.
Parallel Circuit- 2 or more output devices are connected to a source in multiple paths.
Electrical Current- moving electrical charges that can produce energy, light, sound, or
magnetic force.
Open/Closed Circuit- Broken or unbroken path formed by electrical conductors.
Conductor- Materials where heat or electricity flows easily from molecule to molecule.
Insulator- Material where heat does not flow easily from molecule to molecule.
Electromagnet- magnet made by winding a wire around an iron object and passing an
electric current through the wire.
Schematic Diagram- a diagram used to show a circuit on paper.
*A complete circuit is a series of wires and electrical components that form a closed
path through which electricity flows.
*Closed circuits allow electricity to flow, open circuits do not.
*Moving electric charges create a magnetic field.
*Schematic diagrams use symbols to represent circuits on paper.
*Electromagnets can be made stronger by increasing the amount of winds or tightening
the wires supplying the electrical current.
* A switch is used to open or close a circuit.
*In a circuit, the bulb, motor, or item doing the work is the receiver. When they work it
indicates a closed circuit. The battery, outlet, or item providing the electricity is the
source. Wires are needed to conduct the energy from the source to the receiver.
*All metal is a conductor, however, if the metal object has insulators in or around it, it
may be unable to conduct electrical current.
How does light travel?
*Transmission- when energy is passed through an object.
*Transparent- material that allows nearly all of the light to pass straight through it.
*Translucent- material that allows some light through but is scattered
*Opaque- material that allows no light to pass through. All light is either reflected or
absorbed by the material. Cast a shadow on the side of the object.
*Reflection- when light waves bounce off a surface.
*Absorption- when light waves enter a substance.
*Refraction- the change in direction of a light wave when it moves into a new medium,
which causes it to travel at a different speed.
*Convex lens- lens with at least 1 surface curving outwards.
*Concave lens- lens with at least one surface curving inwards.
*Light can be reflected, refracted, or absorbed.
*Light travels in a straight line until it hits an object.
*Different objects and materials transmit light differently.
*Objects can be transparent, translucent, or opaque.
*Color is the result of reflected light.
*Light moves faster through air than it moves through water.
*Light moves faster through water than it does glass.
How does sound travel?
*Sound- noise you hear when an object vibrates
*Amplitude- the loudness of a sound wave
*Pitch- highness or lowness of a sound. Depends on the frequency of vibrations.
*Frequency- number of cycles per second of a sound wave. Measured in hertz (Hz).
*Vibration- rapid movement back and forth
*Oscilloscope- instrument used to measure vibrations.
*Energy must be used to produce sound.
*Sound travels through solids, liquids, and gases
*Sound transfers energy away from the vibrating object.
*Sound travels in waves.
*Sound travels faster through solids because the molecules in solids are close together.
*Sound can reflect from the surface of an object creating an echo.
*Sound travels slower than light.
*The greater the frequency, the higher pitch; the lower the frequency, the lower the pitch.
*In order for sound to be heard, the vibrating material must move back and forth at least
16 times per second.
*Amplitude of a sound depends on the size of the sound wave.
*The bigger the vibration, greater the amplitude of the waves, and the louder the sound.
*The smaller the vibration, less the amplitude of the waves, and the softer the sound.
*Big vibrations transfer more energy than small vibrations.