Glossary/Index
A axis an imaginary line through the centre of
the Earth about which the Earth spins 154
acids solutions that react with many metals to
produce a salt and hydrogen, and with alkalis
to produce a salt and water 66 B
adapted plants or animals that have balanced forces forces whose sizes and
characteristics that make them suitable directions cancel out each other’s effects 138
for where they live 36 battery two or more cells connected together 132
adolescence a time of physical and emotional
biomass recent material from living things
change, when a person is no longer a child
used as an energy source 120
but is not yet an adult 26
birds vertebrates with feathers 54, 56
alkalis solutions that react with an acid to
produce a salt and water 66 Brownian motion random movement of
particles 100
ammeter device used to measure electric
current 130 bulb a device that transforms electrical
amniotic fluid the liquid that surrounds and energy into light energy 128
supports the fetus in the uterus 23 burning when substances react with oxygen
amperes, amps, A electric current is and release energy; also called combustion 80
measured in units called amperes 130
C
amphibians vertebrates that live on land and
in water but have to lay their eggs in water 56 camouflage colouring to hide something
against its background 38
antenna ‘feeler’ on the head of an animal
such as an insect 52 carbonates compounds that react with acids
to produce carbon dioxide 84
anomalous a measurement or observation in
an experiment that does not fit in with the carbon dioxide a gas in the air produced
pattern you expect; this does not always mean by animals and combustion or burning,
that the result is wrong but it does mean that and when an acid reacts with a carbonate 74, 84
it is worth checking 88
carnivore an animal that eats flesh 42
arthropods invertebrates with an outer
skeleton and jointed legs 56 cells (in biology) building blocks of plants
and animals 2
asteroid belt rock fragments orbiting the Sun
between the orbits of Mars and Jupiter 152 cell (in physics) uses a chemical reaction to push
electric current around an electric circuit 132
atomic weapons weapons based on the
energy stored in atoms that can be released cell cycle the repeated division and growth
when atoms split up 150 of unspecialised cells 8
180 Glossary/Index
cell membrane the outer layer of the living conduction in heat conduction, energy
part of a cell 4 passes along a solid as its particles heat
up and vibrate faster 98
cell wall outer supporting layer of a plant cell 4
conservation of mass a scientific law
characteristics the special features of any
stating that no loss of mass happens in a
plant or animal 48, 54
chemical reaction 106
chemical energy energy stored in fuels
consumers animals that cannot make their
and food 116
own food but eat plants and other animals 42
chemical reaction a reaction between
control variables things that are kept the
chemicals; it produces a new substance 80
same in an experiment to make it a fair test 112
chloroplast tiny structure inside a plant
corrosion the disappearance or change of
cell that contains chlorophyll 4
substances such as metals when they react
chromatogram the separated substances with chemicals such as water, oxygen or acids 82
that are the result of chromatography 68
corrosive substances such as acids and alkalis
chromatography a way of separating a that dissolve or eat away other materials 66
mixture of dissolved solids 68
current the flow of electricity round an electric
ciliated epithelial cells cells with tiny hairs circuit; measured in amperes (amp or A for
called cilia, e.g. found lining the windpipe 6 short) 130
circuit a path for an electric current to flow cytoplasm the contents of a cell excluding the
round 128 nucleus; the place where most chemical
reactions happen 4
circuit diagram a diagram showing how an
electric circuit is made up 128
D
classification sorting things into groups 56, 60
dependent variable the variable you measure
classify sort things into groups 60 as the output of an experiment 112
climatic stresses difficult environmental diffusion the spreading out of a gas or a
conditions caused by the climate 38 dissolved substance because its particles
are moving at random 98
coal a fossil fuel 118
dilute (i) a dilute solution is a weak solution
compete when several plants or animals are
containing very little dissolved substance 66
all trying to get the same things 42
dilute (ii) to dilute a solution, you add more
components devices used in electric circuits 130
solvent 66
compressing squeezing into a smaller space 96
dissolves when the particles of a substance
condensation when a gas cools and changes completely mix with the particles of a liquid
into a liquid 108 to make a clear solution 104
condenser a cold tube that cools a gas down distillation boiling or evaporating a liquid
so it condenses into a liquid 108 and then condensing it to get a pure liquid 108
condensing a gas changing to a liquid when drag the friction force acting on an object
it cools 96 moving through air or water 146
Glossary/Index 181
E evidence observations and measurements
on which scientists and others base theories 10
East a direction on the earth’s surface; 90° to
right of the line pointing from the South to expansion when a substance gets bigger
the North; the opposite direction to West 154 because its particles speed up and move
further apart 98
egg cell female sex cell; also called an ovum 16
experimenting one way of investigating or
elastic potential energy stored in things
finding out what happens 10
which are stretched or squashed 116
experiments investigations to find out
electrical energy the energy in wires
information, in which variables are controlled
when electric current flows 116
and measured to make the investigation fair 150
embryo a baby in the uterus before all its
experimenting one way of investigating or
organs have started to grow 19
finding out what happens 10
energy energy is needed to make things
happen 116 F
energy transfer energy moving from one family tree a diagram to show how people are
place to another 42 related to each other 50
engineering applying science to improve fertilisation when a male sex cell joins with
something 138 a female sex cell to start a new plant or
animal 16, 19
environmental conditions conditions such
as light and temperature in the environment 28 fetus a baby in the uterus whose organs
are all growing 19, 23
environmental variations differences within
a species caused by the environment 50 filtration separating a liquid from an
undissolved solid by passing it through
errors results or observations that are wrong;
small holes, usually in paper 104
this can happen because of a mistake by the
person doing the experiment, because there fire triangle the three things, fuel, heat and
is something wrong with the equipment or oxygen, needed to make a fire 86
because of a fault in the design of the
fish a group of vertebrates that lives in water
experiment 88
and gets oxygen through its gills 56
ethical relating to ethics 124, 164
food chain a diagram showing what animals
ethics a set of principles and values that may eat 42
show how to behave in a particular situation 28
food web a diagram showing what eats what
evaluation a statement of the strengths and in a habitat 42
weaknesses of something; for an investigation,
force a push or a pull 142
it might include considering how well the data
supports what has been found out and any fossil fuels a fuel formed from the remains
improvements that could be made 76 of plants and animals from millions of
years ago 86, 118
evaporating a liquid changing into
a gas 96, 104, 108 freezing when a liquid cools and
becomes solid 96
182 Glossary/Index
friction a force when two surfaces rub past hormones a group of chemicals secreted in
each other; it acts in the opposite direction to small amounts that control the growth and
the direction in which something is moving 146 activities of living things 22, 26
fuels substances that burn to release energy 86, 116 hydro-electric a renewable energy resource 120
fuse (in biology) join together; the nucleus hydrochloric acid an acid produced by
of a sperm fuses with the nucleus of an egg dissolving hydrogen chloride gas in water 66
cell during fertilisation 16
hydrogen a flammable gas; it burns to
fuse (in physics) a device that melts if too form water 82
great an electric current passes through it 134
I
G implantation the settling of an embryo in
gas a substance that spreads out (diffuses) to the lining of the uterus 19
fill all the space available, but can be
independent variable the variable you decide
compressed into a smaller volume 92
to change and measure as the input of your
genus a classification group; it consists of a experiment 112
number of species; the first part of a scientific
indicators substances that change colour to
name is the name of the genus 60
indicate whether a substance is an acid, an
geothermal a renewable energy resource 120 alkali or neutral 68
gravitational potential energy energy stored indigestion an uncomfortable feeling in the
in objects high up 116 stomach region as a result of there being too
much acid present 74
gravity the attraction of bodies towards each
other as a result of them having mass 144, 150 inherited variations differences that parents
pass on to offspring 50
H
inherit have a feature passed on from a parent 19
habitats the places where animals and
insoluble a substance that will not dissolve 110
plants live 34
instinctive inbuilt behaviour of an animal;
harmful a substance that will damage
behaviour that does not have to be learned 38
your body 66
investigation activity for finding out either
hazards dangers 34, 66, 76, 138
information or what happens 38
heat energy energy given out by hot objects 116
invertebrates animals without a backbone 56
hemisphere half a sphere; on the Earth,
irritant a substance that will cause itching
the section above the equator is called the
or slight sores on your body 66
northern hemisphere 156
IVF (in vitro fertilisation) fertilisation of
herbivores animals that eat plants 42
egg cells in a dish 28
hibernate go into a deep sleep through
the winter 38
Glossary/Index 183
J mathematics the study and use of numbers
and quantities including shape and space 150
jointed leg leg with moveable joints; in
arthropods, you can see the joints of the matter the name for all the different
outside skeleton of the legs 52 substances that there are 92
joules, J energy or work is measured in units melting when a solid heats up and changes
called joules 116 into a liquid 96
menstrual cycle the monthly cycle in the
K human female reproductive system 22
kilojoule 1000 joules 122 menstruation a monthly bleed in women
kinetic energy energy in a moving object 116 when the lining of the uterus is lost; also
called a monthly period 22
kinetic theory the theory used to explain how
matter behaves in terms of particles; also methane the main gas in natural gas; used
called the particle model of matter 94 as the fuel for Bunsen burners 80, 86
microscopes instruments for magnifying 2
L migrate what animals do when they move
light energy energy given out by to other places with the seasons 38
luminous objects 116
mixture a substance in which two or more
lime water a solution used to test for carbon substances are mixed but not joined together 104
dioxide; carbon dioxide turns the clear moral concerning whether things are good
solution cloudy 84 or bad, right or wrong 124
liquid a substance that has a fixed volume moral and ethical questions questions about
but takes the shape of its container 92 whether things are right or wrong or whether
lubricant something, usually a liquid, that they have a good or bad effect 138
reduces the friction between moving parts 146
N
luminous gives out its own light 158
natural gas a fossil fuel 118
lunar to do with the Moon 158
nerve cells cells that carry nerve impulses 6
lunar eclipse the Moon passing into the
neutral a solution that is neither acidic nor
Earth’s shadow 160
alkaline; it has a pH of 7 68
M neutralisation when an acid reacts with an
alkali to make a neutral solution of a salt
mains electricity electricity supplied to
in water 72
our homes 136
newtons, N force is measured in units
mammals vertebrates with fur and whose
called newtons 142
young develop inside the uterus 56
nocturnal active at night 38
mammary glands milk-producing glands;
in the breasts in humans 24 non-renewable a fuel that cannot be used again 118
mass the amount of stuff something is nucleus the part of a cell which controls
made of 144 what happens in the cell 2
184 Glossary/Index
O placenta the organ through which a fetus
gets food and oxygen and gets rid of waste 23
observing investigating an item or what
happens using your senses 10, 38 planets bodies that orbit a star 158
oil a liquid mixture of many compounds pollination transfer of pollen from the anther
mostly made from hydrogen and carbon (male part) to the stigma (female part) of a
found in the Earth’s crust; oil was formed from flower of the same species 16
the remains of plants and animals that died
power supply pushes the electric current
millions of years ago; a fossil fuel 118
around an electric circuit 130
orbit the path of a satellite around a planet;
predators animals that kill and eat other
the path of a planet around a star 154
animals 42
organs structures in a plant or animal made
prediction saying what you think will happen 38
of several different tissues 1, 6
prey an animal that is eaten by another animal 42
ovary where egg cells are made 19
producers a name given to green plants
oviduct the tube that carries an egg cell from
because they produce food 42
an ovary to the uterus 19
products new substances made in a chemical
ovulation the release of an ovum from an
reaction 82
ovary about once a month 19
puberty when boys and girls first make
oxide compound of oxygen and another
sex cells and are able to reproduce 26
element 80
pulls the plural of pull; used to refer to forces
oxygen a gas in the air 80
in a particular direction; opposite in
directionto a push 142
P
pushes the plural of push; used to refer to
parallel an electric circuit in which there are
forces in a particular direction; opposite in
two or more different routes for the electric
direction to a pull 142
current 134
partial eclipse a view of the Moon or Sun R
in which only part of it is dark, owing to
reactants a substance that you start off with
an eclipse 160
in a chemical reaction 82
particle model of matter a way of picturing
reacts what substances do when they take
matter as made up of moving particles;
part in a chemical reaction 72
also called the kinetic theory 94, 100
red blood cells blood cells that carry oxygen 6
particles very small pieces of matter that
everything is made of 94 renewable energy resources that are constantly
being replaced and won’t get used up 120
pH scale a scale, 0–14, that tells you how
acid or alkaline a solution is 70 reproduction when living things produce
young of the same kind as themselves 10, 19
phases the different stages in the appearance
of the Moon every lunar month 158 reptiles vertebrates with scaly skin and
eggs with tough shells 56
Glossary/Index 185
resistance slowing down of electric current 130 sodium hydroxide a compound that
dissolves in water to make an alkali 66
respiration the process in all living cells that
produces energy from oxygen and food 84 solar to do with the Sun 158
risk the chance of a hazard causing harm 34 solar eclipse the Sun being blocked out by
the Moon moving between the Sun and the
risk assessment considering how high
Earth 160
a risk there is of a hazard causing harm 34, 76
Solar System the Sun and the nine
root hair cells plant roots absorb water and
planets in orbit around it 158, 164
minerals mainly through these 6
solid a substance that stays a definite shape 92
S
solubility a measure of how soluble a
salt (i) the everyday name for common salt or substance is 110
sodium chloride 72
soluble able to dissolve 110
salt (ii) a product of neutralising an acid
solute how we describe a substance that
with an alkali 72, 82
is dissolved in a liquid 104
sample take a small part, or collect data about
solution a mixture formed when a solute
a small part, to get an idea of the whole 34
dissolves in a solvent 104
satellites bodies orbiting a planet 158, 164
solvent a liquid in which other substances
saturated solution a solution in which will dissolve 104
no more solid will dissolve 110
sound energy energy given out by anything
scale something is drawn to scale when it that makes a noise 104
is drawn smaller or bigger than in real life 2
species we say that plants or animals which
seasons the different parts of each year can interbreed belong to the same species 48, 60
(spring, summer, autumn, winter) 38
speed distance travelled in a certain time 148
secondary data information that has been
sperm male sex cell 16
collected by other people 34
stars bodies in space that give out their
secondary sexual characteristics differences,
own light 158
apart from the sex organs, between males
and females 26 states of matter solids, liquids and gases
are the three states of matter 92
segments similar divisions or sections of the
body of an arthropod or a segmented worm 52 streamlined designed to keep the drag to
a minimum 146
series a circuit with components connected
in just one loop 130 strong used to describe acids with a low
pH number or alkalis with a high pH number 66
sexually transmitted diseases certain
infections that are spread during sexual surveys a way of collecting data, for example
activity 28 by asking people questions or by looking at
populations and recording details about them 34
sodium chloride common salt; a compound
of sodium and chlorine 106 switch used to break or complete an electric
circuit 128
186 Glossary/Index
T V
technical involving the application of a vacuole space filled with cell sap in the
scientific idea or way of working 124 cytoplasm of a plant cell 4
technology the use of scientific ideas or variables in an experiment, things that can
techniques to solve problems 138 be changed to affect the result 34, 112
technological culture the use of technology variations differences between members of
in everyday life 150 a species 48
telescope a device that magnifies objects in vary are different 48
the distance 164
vertebrates animals with a skeleton made
testis where sperm (male sex cells) are made of bone inside their body 56
in animals; the plural is testes 19
vibrate move backwards and forwards very
theories ideas to explain evidence 10, 92 quickly 94
thinking distance the distance a car travels
W
between the driver seeing the stop sign
and putting on the brakes 148 wave a renewable energy resource 120
tides the rising and falling of the sea on the weak used to describe acids and alkalis that
Earth’s surface owing to the gravity of the have a pH close to neutral 66
Moon; a possible renewable energy source 120
weight the force of gravity on a mass 144
tilted at an angle to something; the axis that
West a direction on the Earth’s surface; 90°
the Earth spins around is tilted compared
to left of the line pointing from the South
with the axis of its orbit around the Sun 156
to the North; the opposite direction to East 154
tissues groups of cells with the same shape
wind a renewable energy resource 120
and job 1, 6
word equation a way of writing down what
U happens in a chemical reaction 80
umbilical cord contains the blood vessels that
carry food, water, oxygen and waste between
the placenta and the fetus 24
universal indicator an indicator that has many
different colours depending on the pH of the
solution that it is in 70
Glossary/Index 187
