Glossary
Summary: Tags: science oxford-science student-book-7 Created: 2026-05-19 Last Updated: 2026-05-19
Glossary
To take into a material. The amount by which Speed increases in one second. Data that is close to the true value of what you are measuring. A solution with a pH value less than 7. Rain that has a non-metal dissolved in it. The structure and features of a cell that allow it to carry out a particular job. Chemical reaction where glucose reacts with oxygen to release Energy, carbon dioxide, and water. The force on an object moving through the air that causes it to slow down (also known as drag). A depressant substance that contains the chemical compound ethanol. Green unicellular or multicellular organisms that carry out Photosynthesis and live underwater. A soluble base. A structure inside the lungs where gas exchange takes place with the blood. A unicellular organism. To increase the amplitude of a Sound so that it sounds louder. The distance from the middle to the top or bottom of a wave. Chemical reaction that takes place without oxygen. Glucose is converted into lactic acid and energy is released. The process of looking at data and writing about what you have found out. The angle between the incident ray and the normal line. The angle between the reflected ray and the normal line. A result that is very different from the other repeats of that measurement. A pair of muscles that work together to control movement at a joint – as one muscle contracts, the other relaxes. The part of a flower that produces pollen. A ring of muscle through which faeces pass out of the body. The hole at the front of a camera. A condition where triggers, such as dust, cause the airways to swell up and get smaller. This makes it difficult to breathe. Pressure caused by the collisions (hits) of air Molecules that produce a force on an area. The smallest part of an element that can exist. The range of frequencies that you can hear. The passage in the ear from the outer ear to the ear drum. An electrical signal travels along the auditory nerve to the brain. The total distance travelled in the total time taken for a complete journey. Tiny unicellular organisms that are important for digestion. They make vitamins our body needs to stay healthy. Forces acting on an object that are the same size but act in opposite directions. Eating food containing the right nutrients in the correct amounts. A way of presenting data when one variable is discrete or categorical and the other is continuous. A substance that neutralizes an acid. A blue liquid that turns orange-red when heated with sugar solution. A substance that breaks down fat into small droplets. When a unicellular organism divides into two identical Cells. The study of muscle and joint movement. A pale blue solution that turns purple when added to protein. The change of state from liquid to gas. It occurs when bubbles of the substance in its gas state form throughout the liquid. The temperature at which a substance boils. Made up of living tissue that forms a hard structure. It protects important organs and allows the body to move. A soft tissue inside bones that makes red and white blood cells. A device that produces an image. An enzyme that breaks down carbohydrates into sugar molecules. A nutrient that provides energy. A gas that is needed for photosynthesis, but is a waste product of Respiration. A poisonous gas that stops the blood from carrying oxygen. The female reproductive part of a flower. The strong, smooth tissue that covers the end of bones so that they do not rub together. A substance that speeds up reactions. It does not get used up in a reaction. A variable that has values that are words. The smallest working unit in an organism – the building block of life. The cell part that controls which substances can move into and out of the cell. The plant cell part that surrounds the cell, providing support. The point in an object where the force of Gravity seems to act. The point in an object where the mass of the object seems to act. When a substance changes from one state to another. A grid of pixels at the back of a digital camera. It absorbs Light and produces an image. A formula that shows the relative number of Atoms of each element in a compound. How a substance behaves in Chemical Reactions. A one- or two-letter code for an element. A green pigment (dye) that absorbs light for use in photosynthesis. The plant cell part where photosynthesis takes place. A system of organs that help to transport substances around the body in the blood. A tube in the inner ear with the sensory cells that detect sound. A substance made up of atoms of two or more Elements, strongly joined together. To press into a smaller space. Squashed into a smaller space. The part of a longitudinal wave where the air particles are close together. A solution is concentrated if it has a large number of solute particles per unit volume (litre or cubic metre). A measure of the number of particles of a substance in a certain volume. A written summary of what you have found out during an investigation. The change of state from gas to liquid. How sure you are of your conclusion based on the data. Stays the same. Mass is conserved in chemical reactions and in Physical Changes. An organism that eats other organisms as food. A force that acts when an object is in contact with a surface, air, or water. A variable that has values that can be any number. Something you put in place to reduce the risk of a hazard causing harm. A variable that you keep the same in an investigation. Bringing rays of light together. A lens that produces converging rays of light. The transparent layer at the front of the eye. A substance that can burn your skin or eyes. The top of a wave. A substance found in cells, where all the chemical reactions take place. Words or numbers that you obtain when you make observations or measurements. A unit of sound intensity or loudness (dB). A lack of minerals that causes poor growth. To change shape. The mass of a substance in a certain volume. A variable that changes when you change the independent variable. A drug that slows down the body’s reactions by slowing down the nervous system. The sheet of muscle used in breathing. The part of a microphone that vibrates when a sound wave hits it. Reflection off a rough surface. The movement of liquid or gas particles from a place of high concentration to a place of low concentration. The process where large molecules are broken down into small molecules. A system of organs that break down food into smaller molecules and then absorb them. A solution is dilute if it has a small number of solute particles per unit volume (litre or cubic metre). A variable that can only have whole-number values. The splitting up (dividing) of a ray of light of mixed wavelengths by refraction into its parts. A graph that shows how far an object moves each second. The force acting on an object moving through air or water that causes it to slow down. The force that is pushing or pulling something. A chemical substance that affects the way your body works. A membrane that transmits (carries) sound vibrations from the outer ear to the middle ear. A reflection of a sound wave off an object. The point beyond which a spring will not return to its original length when the force is removed. The force acting between two charged objects. A substance that cannot be broken down into other substances. To give out. Energy is needed to make things happen. A special protein that breaks down large molecules into small molecules. Balanced. A colourless liquid that turns cloudy when added to a food solution containing lipids. Ethanol is a chemical compound also found in alcohol. A unicellular organism that carries out photosynthesis. To discuss the quality of data collected during an investigation and suggest improvements to the method. A discussion of the quality of data collected during an investigation and suggested improvements to the method. The change of state from liquid to gas. It occurs when particles leave the surface of the liquid only. It can happen at any temperature. Breathe out, to remove carbon dioxide. The amount by which an object gets longer when a force is applied. Solid waste of undigested food. A chemical reaction used by microorganisms to convert glucose into ethanol, carbon dioxide, and energy. The process where the pollen nucleus joins with the ovule nucleus. A chemical containing minerals, normally added to soil. Provides bulk to food to keep it moving through the digestive system. A special region in which something experiences a force. The part of a flower that holds up the anther. A piece of material that allows some colours of light through but absorbs the rest. A tail-like structure that allows euglenas to move. The distance from the lens to the focus when the incident rays are parallel. The point at which the rays refracted by a convex lens cross over. Another name for the focal point. A chemical test to find out if there are particular nutrients in a food. The change of state from liquid to solid. The number of complete waves or vibrations produced in one second (measured in hertz, Hz). The force that resists movement because of contact between surfaces. The part of a plant that contains seeds. Reproductive cell. In plants, the male gamete is a pollen cell and the female gamete is an ovule. In the gas state, a substance can flow and be compressed. The transfer of gases between an organism and its environment. A system of organs that absorb oxygen into the blood and remove carbon dioxide from the blood. The pressure produced by gas particles when they collide with (hit) a surface. The period of time when a seed starts to grow. A sugar (type of carbohydrate) in the blood that you get from the food you eat. A major source of energy for the body’s cells. Glucose is a reactant of respiration and a product of photosynthesis. The force of gravity that acts on each kilogram of mass. A non-contact force that acts between two masses. A vertical column of the Periodic Table. The elements in a group have similar properties. The noble gases in the far-right column of the Periodic Table. Group 0 elements include helium, neon, argon, and krypton. The elements in the far-left column of the Periodic Table. Group 1 elements include lithium, sodium, and potassium. The elements in the column second from the right of the Periodic Table. Group 7 elements include fluorine, chlorine, bromine, and iodine. Cells that open and close the stomata. The tube that food travels down into the stomach. Another name for your digestive system. The substance in blood that carries oxygen around the body. Another name for the Group 7 elements. Anything that can harm us or people around us. A sign that warns people of things that could cause harm. The unit of frequency. The point from which rays of light entering the eye appear to come. The ray coming from a source of light. The wave coming from a source of sound. Cannot be compressed (squashed). A variable you change that changes the dependent variable. A substance that changes colour to show whether a solution is acidic or alkaline. Sound below a frequency of 20 Hz. Breathe in, to take in oxygen. The semi-circular canals that help you balance, and your cochlea. The speed at a particular moment. When two objects interact, there is a force on each one. These forces are equal but opposite. A gap between measurements. Upside down. An experiment or set of experiments that produces data to answer a scientific question or test a theory. An orange-brown solution that turns blue-black when added to starch. The coloured part of your eye. Where two or more bones join together. The unit of mass. 1 kilohertz (kHz) = 1000 hertz (Hz). The organ where water passes back into the body, leaving a solid waste of undigested food called faeces. An object is in Equilibrium if the clockwise moments equal the anticlockwise moments. The angle of incidence is equal to the angle of reflection. A plant cell that contains chloroplasts, where photosynthesis takes place. A device made of shaped glass that focuses light rays from objects to form an image. Joins two bones together. Distance measured in terms of how far light travels in a given time. A way of presenting data when the independent and dependent variables are continuous (numerical values). A smooth line on a graph that travels through or very close to as many of the points plotted as possible. An enzyme that breaks down lipids into fatty Acids and glycerol. A nutrient that provides a store of energy and insulates the body. In the liquid state, a substance can flow but cannot be compressed. The pressure produced by liquid particles when the collide with (hit) a surface. An indicator. Blue litmus paper goes red on adding acid. Red litmus paper goes blue on adding alkali. The vibrations are in the same direction as the direction the wave moves. How loud you perceive a sound of a certain intensity to be. A substance that reduces Friction between surfaces when they rub together. Produces light. The volume of air your lungs can hold. The organ where gas exchange takes place. A mineral needed by plants to make chlorophyll. The force between two magnets, or a magnet and a magnetic material. Eating the wrong amount or the wrong types of food. The amount of matter (stuff) a thing is made up of. What things are made from. All materials are made up of particles. An average of a set of data. Add together all the values in the set, then divide by the number of values in the set. A drug that has a medical benefit to your health. The material that affects light or sound by slowing it down or transferring the wave. The change of state from solid to liquid. The temperature at which a substance melts. The elements on the left of the stepped line (often bold or in red) in the Periodic Table. Most elements are metals. They are good conductors of energy and electricity. The elements near the stepped line (often bold or in red) in the Periodic Table. The steps you must follow to carry out an investigation. A unit of speed. A tiny organism that can only be seen with a microscope. A device that changes sound into an electrical signal. A scientific instrument that magnifies (makes bigger) objects to see small details clearly. The ossicles and oval window. An important nutrient needed in small amounts to keep you healthy. The cell parts where respiration takes place. A material whose properties are not the same all the way through. Two or more substances are not joined together chemically. A group of two or more atoms, strongly joined together. A measure of the ability of a force to turn an object about a pivot. An organism made up of many cells. A body tissue attached to bones by tendons. It pulls on a bone (contracts) to produce movement. A specialized cell that can contract and relax. A system of organs and tissues that allow humans and animals to move. The system of muscles that works with the skeletal system to allow humans and animals to move. An animal cell that transmits (carries) electrical impulses around the body. A solution that is not an acid or an alkali. Its pH is 7. In a neutralization reaction, an acid cancels out a base or a base cancels out an acid. The unit of force. Equipment used to measure Weight in newtons. The unit of moment. A unit of pressure. An addictive drug that speeds up the nervous system. Nicotine is a stimulant. A mineral that contains nitrogen for healthy growth. Group 0 elements. A magnetic, electrostatic, or Gravitational Force that acts between objects not in contact. Does not produce light. The elements on the right of the stepped line (often bold or in red) in the Periodic Table. They are poor conductors of energy and electricity. An imaginary line at right angles to a surface where a light ray strikes it. The cell part that controls the cell and contains genetic material. An important substance that your body needs to survive, provided by food. Extremely overweight. Carefully looking at an object or process. Objects that absorb, scatter, or reflect light and do not allow any light to pass through. You cannot see through opaque objects. A paired sensory nerve that runs from each eye to the brain. A group of tissues working together to carry out a function (job). A group of organs working together to carry out a function (job). A living thing. A movement that goes backwards and forwards. A device that allows you to see electrical signals, like those made by a microphone. The small bones of the middle ear (hammer, anvil, and stirrup) that transfer vibrations from the eardrum to the oval window. The pinna, auditory canal, and eardrum. The membrane that connects the ossicles to the cochlea. The part of a flower that contains ovules. The female gamete of a plant. A gas that is needed for respiration and produced as a waste product during photosynthesis. Extra oxygen needed after anaerobic respiration to break down lactic acid. The same distance apart at every point. The tiny things that materials are made from. A way to describe how particles are arranged, move, and separate in a substance. A unit of pressure (Pa). 1 pascal = 1 newton per metre squared (N/m2). Breathing in other people’s smoke. When the results follow a predictable direction. The top of a wave. A row in the Periodic Table. A table of all the elements, where elements with similar properties are grouped together. The colourful part of a flower that attracts insects. A scale that shows whether a substance is acidic, alkaline, or neutral. An acid has a pH below 7. An alkaline solution has a pH above 7. A solution of pH 7 is neutral. A mineral that contains phosphorous for healthy roots. A specialized cell that is sensitive to light. A process where green plants make their own food (a sugar called glucose) using carbon dioxide, water, and sunlight. It takes place in the chloroplasts. A property of a material that you can observe or measure. A way of presenting discrete or categorical data as segments of a whole. The outside part of the ear that we can see. A property of sound determined by its frequency. The point about which a lever or see-saw balances. A picture element found at the back of a digital camera. An investigation design, including a scientific question, variables, equipment, method, and any control measures. A mirror with a flat, reflective surface. The liquid part of blood. It carries carbon dioxide to the lungs where it is exhaled. The male gamete of a plant. The transfer of pollen from the anther to the stigma. An idea about what might happen in an investigation. A force exerted on a certain area. The colours red, blue, and green. A piece of glass or Perspex used to produce a spectrum of light. It is the shape of a triangle. An organism that makes its own food using photosynthesis. A quality of a substance or material that describes what it looks like, feels like, or how it behaves. An enzyme that breaks down proteins into amino acids. A nutrient used for growth and repair. A type of force. The hole in the front of your eye where light goes in. A type of force. When an unexpected change affects your results. The smallest and largest values of the independent variable. The part of a longitudinal wave where the air particles are spread out. A line that shows a beam of light. A force that acts in the opposite direction to an action force. Easily takes part in chemical reactions. A substance is reactive if it reacts vigorously (strongly) with substances such as dilute acids and water. An image that you can put on a screen; the image formed in your eyes. A device that absorbs sound waves. Faeces are stored here, before being passed out of the body. An animal cell that carries oxygen around the body. To bounce off. The ray that is reflected off a surface. The wave that is reflected off a surface. The change in direction of a ray or wave after it hits a surface and bounces off. The change in direction of a ray or wave as a result of its change in speed. The difference between the speeds of two moving objects, or of a moving object and a stationary (still) object. The number of atoms of one type compared with the number of atoms of another type in an element or compound. Similar repeat results mean that a method can be repeated (followed again in the same way). Any force that acts to slow down a moving object. A chemical reaction where food and oxygen become energy, water, and carbon dioxide. The layer of light-sensitive cells at the back of the eye. A chemical reaction or physical change that can return to its original state. The bones that protect the lungs. The chance that a hazard will cause harm. An explanation of what you must do – or not do – to avoid harming yourself or other people. A plant cell that takes in water and minerals from the soil. A compound where the hydrogen atoms of an acid are replaced by atoms of a metal element. A colour that is created by mixing two primary colours. The structure that develops into a new plant. The movement of seeds away from the parent plant. Part of the inner ear that contains fluid to help with balance. The special leaves under the flower, which protect unopened buds. a system of bones that gives the body shape, protects organs, and allows movement (with the muscular system). All the bones in an organism. The organ where small, digested molecules are absorbed into the bloodstream. In the solid state, a substance cannot flow and cannot be compressed. A substance that dissolves in a liquid to make a solution. Using ultrasound and reflections to find objects underwater. Something that emits (gives out) light or sound. A cell whose shape and structure allow it to carry out a particular function (job). A band of colours produced when light is spread out by a prism. Reflection off a smooth surface. A measure of how far something travels in a certain time. The distance light travels in one second (300 million m/s). The distance sound travels in one second (340 m/s in air). The difference between the highest and the lowest readings in a set of repeat measurements. The male reproductive part of a flower. A type of carbohydrate in plants, especially grains and potatoes. An extreme case of not eating enough food. The three forms in which a substance can exist – solid, liquid, and gas. The part of a flower that is sticky to catch grains of pollen. A drug that speeds up the body’s reactions by speeding up the nervous system. The organ where food is mixed with digestive juices and acids. Holes found on the bottom of a leaf. Stomata allow gases to diffuse into and out of the leaf. A smooth shape or structure that has very little resistance to the flow of air or water. To apply a force to an object to make it longer or wider. The part of a flower that holds up the stigma. The change of state from solid to gas. A material that is not a mixture. It has the same properties all the way through. A small, soluble molecule that your body needs for energy. When waves join together so that they add up or cancel out. The force a solid surface applies to a stationary (still) object that is resting on it. It balances out the weight of the object. When something affects all of your results in the same way. A sticky black substance in tobacco smoke that builds up in the lungs. Joins a muscle to a bone. A stretching force. A group of similar cells working together to carry out a function (job). A substance that contains many toxic chemicals. A large tube running down the throat and connecting the mouth and nose to the lungs. Objects that light can travel through, but the light scatters (spreads far apart) when it passes through. You cannot see clearly through translucent objects. When light or other radiation passes through an object. A device that gives out light or sound. Objects that light can travel through. You can see clearly through transparent objects. The vibrations are at right angles to the direction the wave moves. A certain direction in which something is changing. The bottom of a wave. The value you get in a perfect measurement (with no errors at all). Sound at a frequency greater than 20 000 Hz, beyond the range of human hearing. Opposing forces on an object that are not equal. A smooth up-and-down movement. An organism made up of just one cell. An indicator that changes colour to show the pH of a solution. It is a mixture of dyes. Takes part in few chemical reactions. An upward force that a liquid or gas exerts on a floating or submerged object. The plant cell part that contains cell sap and helps keep the cell firm. A space where there is no matter. Anything that can change during an investigation. Movement of the parts of a liquid or solid that goes backwards and forwards. Tiny structures in the wall of the small intestine that increase its surface area. This helps the small intestine absorb nutrients quickly. An image that cannot be focused onto a screen. An important nutrient needed in small amounts to keep you healthy. The amount of space an object takes up. The force on an object moving through water that causes it to slow down (also known as drag). The distance from the peak on one wave to the peak on the next wave. The force of Earth (gravity) acting on the mass of an object.