Matter & Its Properties
What is the smallest unit of an element that still has the element’s properties?
Atom – The smallest unit of an element that retains its properties.
What type of change affects the form of a substance, but not its chemical identity?
Physical Change – A change in appearance without changing the chemical composition (e.g., melting, freezing).
What do we call the ability to do work or cause change?
Energy – The ability to do work or cause change.
What is a disturbance that moves energy from one place to another called?
Wave – A disturbance that transfers energy from one place to another.
What do we call a push or pull on an object?
Force – A push or pull acting on an object.
What is a substance made of only one type of atom called?
Element – A pure substance made of only one type of atom.
What type of change results in the formation of a new substance?
Chemical Change – A change that creates a new substance (e.g., rusting, burning).
What type of energy is associated with movement?
Kinetic Energy – The energy of motion.
What term describes how many waves pass a point in one second?
Frequency – The number of waves that pass a point in one second.
What force resists motion between two surfaces that are touching?
Friction – A force that opposes motion between two surfaces in contact.
What do we call a substance made by chemically combining two or more different elements?
Compound – A substance made of two or more elements chemically combined.
What type of energy is stored due to an object's position or condition?
Potential Energy – Stored energy based on position or condition.
What is the distance between two wave crests or troughs called?
Wavelength – The distance between two consecutive crests or troughs of a wave.
What is the tendency of an object to resist a change in motion?
Inertia – An object’s resistance to a change in motion (Newton’s First Law).
What is a combination of substances that can be physically separated?
Mixture – A combination of substances that can be physically separated.
What is the total of an object’s kinetic and potential energy?
Mechanical Energy – The total energy of motion and position of an object.
What do we call the height of a wave from its rest position?
Amplitude – The height of a wave, indicating energy level.
What term describes how quickly velocity changes over time?
Acceleration – The rate of change of velocity over time (Acceleration = (Final Velocity - Initial Velocity) / Time).
What property tells us how much mass is packed into a given volume?
Density – The amount of mass per unit of volume (Density = Mass/Volume).
What kind of energy is related to heat and the movement of particles?
Thermal Energy – The total kinetic energy of particles in a substance (heat).
What happens when a wave bounces off a surface?
Reflection – When a wave bounces off a surface.
What is the distance traveled per unit of time called?
Speed – The distance an object travels over time (Speed = Distance/Time).