Praxis 2 Middle School Content: Science – Flashcards
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Plate Tectonics
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the branch of geology studying the folding and faulting of the earth's crust
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Soil
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material in the top layer of the surface of the earth in which plants can grow (especially with reference to its quality or use)
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Minerals
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The most common form of solid material found in the Earth's crust
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Hydrosphere
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All the water at and near the surface of the earth, 97% of which is in oceans
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Water Cycle
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A series of movements of water above, on, and below the surface of the Earth.
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Tides
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Describe the alternating rise and fall in sea level with respect to the land, produced by the gravitational attraction of the moon and the sun.
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Waves
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Curving swells of water caused by wind, tides, and earthquakes
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Current
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An ocean movement; a large stream of water that flows in the ocean
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Weathering
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The breaking down of rocks and other materials on the Earth's surface.
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Erosion
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Condition in which the earth's surface is worn away by the action of water and wind
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Photosynthesis
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Process by which plants use the sun's energy to convert water and carbon dioxide into sugars
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Food Chain
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Series of steps in an ecosystem in which organisms transfer energy by eating and being eaten
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Ecosystem
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A system formed by the interaction of a community of organisms with their physical environment
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Populations
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Groups of individuals that belong to the same species and live in the same area
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Evolution
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Change in a kind of organism over time; process by which modern organisms have descended from ancient organisms
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Viruses
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Tiny particles, smaller than bacteria and other pathogens, which must invade living cells in order to reproduce; when they invade, the cells are damaged or destroyed in the process releasing new particles to infect other cells
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Bacteria
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Single celled, no nucleus, live everywhere
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Structure of Cells
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The basic unit of living organisms and the simplest living unit of life; two types: Eukaryote and Prokaryotic
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Diffusion
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Process by which molecules tend to move from an area where they are more concentrated to an area where they are less concentrated
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Osmosis
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The diffusion of water through a selectively permeable membrane
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Active Transport
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The movement of materials through a cell membrane using energy
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Transpiration
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The process by which water is lost through a plant's leaves
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Respiration
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The process by which cells break down simple food molecules to release the energy they contain
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Organs
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Structures that carry out specialized jobs within an organ system
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Organ Systems
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A group of organs that work together in performing vital body functions
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Asexual Reproduction
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Reproduction that does not involve the union of gametes and in which a single parent produces offspring that are genetically identical to the parent
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Sexual Reproduction
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Process by which cells from two different parents unite to produce the first cell of a new organism
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Growth Development
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All living things grow (produce more cells or replace cells by mitosis) and develop throughout their life
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DNA
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Deoxyribonucleic acid, the material that contains the information that determines inherited characteristics
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Genes
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The biochemical units of heredity that make up the chromosomes; a segment of DNA capable of synthesizing a protein
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Chromosomes
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Threadlike structures made of DNA molecules that contain the genes
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Life Cycle
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The generation-to-generation sequence of stages in the reproductive history of an organism.
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Migration
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the periodic passage of groups of animals (especially birds or fishes) from one region to another for feeding or breeding
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Hibernation
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A long period of rest or inactivity by an animal, usually in the winter, to conserve energy
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Adaptation
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Inherited characteristic that increases an organism's chance of survival
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Natural Selection
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Process by which individuals that are better suited to their environment survive and reproduce most successfully; also called survival of the fittest
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Chemical Change
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A change that occurs when one or more substances change into entirely new substances with different properties
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Physical change
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A change from one state (solid or liquid or gas) to another without a change in chemical composition
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Parts of an Atom
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Protons, Neutrons, Electrons
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Convection
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The transfer of heat through a fluid (liquid or gas) caused by molecular motion
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Radiation
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The transfer of energy by electromagnetic waves
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Conduction
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The direct transfer of heat from one substance to another substance that it is touching
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Properties of Matter
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Help us identify and classify matter; physical properties; chemicals properties
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Mixtures
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A physical combination of substances that can still be separated, not chemically combined
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Solutions
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A mixture where substances are distributed evenly; has a solvent & solute.
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Elements
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A molecule composed of one kind of atom; cannot be broken into simpler units by chemical reactions.
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Speed
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Distance travelled per unit time
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Distance
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The length of a path between two points
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Acceleration
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The rate at which velocity changes
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Newton's Law of Motion
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An object in motion will remain in motion unless acted upon by another force
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Law of Gravitation
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The scientific law that states that every object in the universe attracts every other object
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Laws of Thermodynamics
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The physical laws that define the basic properties and behavior of energy
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Periodic Table
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A table that shows the elements, their atomic number, symbol, and average atomic mass; elements with similar chemical properties are grouped together.
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Arrangement of the Planets
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Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter Saturn, Uranus, Neptune, Pluto
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Galaxies
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A huge group of single stars, star systems, star clusters, dust, and gas bound together by gravity
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Solar System
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Sun, planets, and all the other objects that revolve around the sun
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Earth
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The 3rd planet from the sun; the planet on which we live
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Sun
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A typical star that is the source of light and heat for the planets in the solar system
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Moon
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Any natural satellite of a planet
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Comet
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Space object made of dust and rock particles mixed with frozen water, methane, and ammonia that forms a bright coma as it approaches the Sun
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Meteor
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A streak of light in the sky at night that results when a meteoroid hits the earth's atmosphere and air friction causes the meteoroid to melt or vaporize or explode
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Nutrition
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Obtained from food and used by our bodies for growth and maintaining good health.
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Exercise and Fitness
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The activity of exerting your muscles in various ways to keep fit; good physical condition
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Safety and Well-Being
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A state of being free of danger and injury; a contented state of being happy and healthy and prosperous
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Communicable Diseases
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Illnesses that are easily passed from one person to another
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Substance Abuse
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Excessive use of drugs
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Variable
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A factor that can change in an experiment
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Independent Variable
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The experimental factor that is manipulated; the variable whose effect is being studied
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Dependent Variable
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The outcome factor; the variable that may change in response to manipulations of the independent variable
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Big Bang
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The cosmic explosion that is hypothesized to have marked the origin of the universe
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Paleomagnetism
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The study of changes in Earth's magnetic field, as shown by patterns of magnetism in rocks that have formed over time
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Scientific Method
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A series of steps followed to solve problems including collecting data, formulating a hypothesis, testing the hypothesis, and stating conclusions
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Galileo
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Italian astronomer and mathematician who was the first to use a telescope to study the stars; demonstrated that different weights descend at the same rate; perfected the refracting telescope that enabled him to make many discoveries (1564-1642)
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Copernicus
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Polish astronomer who produced a workable model of the solar system with the sun in the center (1473-1543)
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Newton
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This physicist developed the law of universal gravitation and further caused the decline of the old system of science
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Darwin
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English natural scientist who formulated a theory of evolution by natural selection (1809-1882)
