Grades 6–8 Science Vocabulary
Energy & Energy Conservation
Kinetic and potential energy, the different kinds of stored energy, and how energy moves within open and closed systems without being lost.
Ohio science standards in this unit
- 6.PS.3 · Kinetic & potential energyThere are two categories of energy: kinetic and potential.
- 7.PS.3 · Energy in systemsEnergy can be transformed or transferred but is never lost.
- 8.PS.1 · Fields & potential energyObjects can experience a force due to an external field such as magnetic, electrostatic, or gravitational fields.
Definitions are written in plain language to support WIDA's Standard 4 (Science) English Language Development standard.
Practice 18 words
Flashcards
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Drag-and-Drop Match-Up
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Multiple Choice Quiz
Choose the correct meaning for each word.
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Type the Term
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Sort It Out
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Find the Word
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Crossword Puzzle
Solve a crossword using the meanings as clues.
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Spelling Practice
Hear each word, then spell it.
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Pronunciation Practice
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Focused practice sets
Shorter word sets on one part of this unit, with extra activities and beginner support.
Conservation of Energy
Open the focused set and its activities.
Open set
Study guide
Kinetic & potential energy (6.PS.3)
- potential energy
- Stored energy, based on an object’s position or condition.
- kinetic energy
- The energy of motion. Faster or heavier objects have more.
- gravitational potential energy
- Stored energy an object has because of its height above the ground.
- reference point
- A place or object you use to compare position or motion.
- electrical energy
- Energy carried by moving electric charges.
- thermal energy
- The energy of moving particles in a substance.
- sound energy
- Energy carried by vibrations moving through matter.
- medium
- The material a wave travels through, like air or water.
- elastic potential energy
- Energy stored in something that is stretched or squeezed, like a spring.
- chemical potential energy
- Energy stored in the bonds between atoms, like in food or fuel.
- compression
- Squeezing something so it takes up less space.
- chemical reaction
- A change in which substances turn into new substances.
Energy in systems (7.PS.3)
- system
- A group of parts that work together and that you study as a whole.
- closed system
- A system where matter cannot enter or leave. An isolated system does not exchange energy either.
- open system
- A system where matter and energy can move in and out.
- dissipated energy
- Energy that spreads out into the surroundings, usually as heat, and is hard to use again.
Fields & potential energy (8.PS.1)
- electrical potential energy
- Energy stored because of the position of electric charges in an electric field.
- magnetic potential energy
- Energy stored because of the position of magnets or magnetic materials in a magnetic field.
Warm-up words to review
Words from earlier grades that help with this unit.
- atom
- The smallest unit of an element.