42 scientific term with meaning
Answers
Acid
Any water-soluble compound having a sour taste and capable of turning litmus red and reacting with a base to form a salt. Acid has a pH-level of less than 7.0 (A pH of 7 is neutral).
1Acid rain
Rain which is unusually acidic (pH of less than the natural range of 5 to 6), caused mainly by atmospheric pollution with sulphur dioxide and nitrogen compounds.
2Air
A mixture of gases (especially oxygen) required for breathing; the stuff that the atmosphere consists of.
3Air pressure (Atmospheric pressure)
Air pressure is the weight of the atmosphere pressing down on the earth. It is measured by a barometer in units called millibars.
4Alkaline
Relating to or containing an alkali, hence having a pH greater than 7. Alkaline batteries have potassium hydroxide as its electrolyte and a zinc / manganese dioxide cell.
5Altitude
The height above sea level or above the earth’s surface.
6Ambergris
A sperm whale secretion. Sperm whales produce it to protect their stomachs from the beaks of the cuttlefish they swallow, and formerly valued greatly in the manufacturing process of perfumes.
7Ambient Temperature
The temperature of the surrounding air.
8Amplifier
An electronic device that changes, usually increases, the strength or amplitude of a signal passing through it.
9Amplifies
To make larger or more powerful; increase.
10Amplify
To increase the volume of or ‘amplify’ sound.
11Anemometer
An anemometer is a meteorological instrument that measures wind speed, either be gauging velocity or pressure.
12Astrolabe
An ancient circular instrument used to observe and calculate the position of celestial bodies.
13Atmosphere
The gases surrounding the Earth or any astronomical body of sufficient mass, held together by the gravity of the body.
14Atoms
The smallest component of an element or ‘matter’ having the chemical properties of the element.
15Bacteria
Very small living organisms made of only one cell which are present everywhere (the air, the soil, on the skin). Many types of bacteria can cause diseases, but others can be very helpful to humans.
16Balance
A state of equilibrium
17Balance point
The point along the length of the shaft at which it will balance itself when placed on a fulcrum.
18Barometer
An instrument for measuring atmospheric pressure, used especially in weather forecasting, but is also used to measure altitude.
19Barycentre
The point at the centre of a system; an average point, weighted according to mass or other attribute.
20Base
The opposite of an acid. A Base has a pH-level of more than 7.0 up to 14.0 (A pH of 7 is neutral)
21Berlese funnel
A device in which soil is placed; heat and light are applied from above, forcing bugs into a container below it. Named after Antonio Berlese an Italian entomologist.
22Bernoulli’s principle
The principle of conservation of energy applied to fluid flow: as the speed of a moving fluid increases, the air pressure within the fluid decreases. Named after Daniel Bernoulli, a Swiss mathematician and scientist, Bernoulli is famous for his work in the field of fluid dynamics. In 1738 he wrote a book called Hydrodynamica. In this book he explained his theories about how gases and fluids move, and how the speed at which they move affects the pressure they exert on objects they flow around.
23Biceps
The biceps of a human is a muscle located on the upper arm. The biceps has several functions, the most important being to rotate the forearm and to flex the elbow.
24Big dipper
A group of seven bright stars in the northern sky, near the pole – also called the constellation Ursa Major or the Great Bear.
25Binary code
Electronic data used in computers. The circuit is either on or off and is represented with either a 1 or 0. The system uses the digits 0 and 1 to represent a letter, numeral or other character in a computer.
26Binaural hearing
The perception of sound by stimulation of two ears affecting a listener’s ability to identify the location or origin of a detected sound in direction and distance.
27Biosphere
A ‘biosphere’, also called an ‘ecospheres’, is a mostly closed ecosystem of a specific size that contains a mix of plants and animals that is completely self-sufficient.
28Block and tackle
A block and tackle is a compound pulley where several pulleys are mounted on each axle, further increasing the mechanical advantage.
29Buoyancy
The ability of water to support weight allowing an object to float.