Mission 4 Glossary
Mission 4 Glossary
absorb / to take in somethingannual / a plant that finishes its life cycle in one growing season and dies in the winter
biennial / a plant that takes two years to complete its life cycle (dies after 2 years)
circulation / movement in a circle or in a circuit
conduction / the act of energy from heated particles moving from an area of high temperature to an area of cooler temperature. This happens by the transfer of energy between the particles that make up those materials
convection / the act of a fluid, such as air or water, coming in contact with an object that is at a higher temperature. This contact causes convection currents to form as fluid of higher temperature moves to areas of cooler temperature.
eclipse / a shadow cast by one very large object on another
electromagnetic / relating to magnetism which is developed by the passage of an electric current
gravitropism / the response of plants to gravity; roots move towards the pull of gravity and shoots move away from the pull of gravity
image / an object as seen in a mirror or lens (When looking in a mirror, we see an image of ourselves)
infrared / invisible wavelengths of the spectrum, just longer than the color of red
lunar eclipse / occurs when the Moon passes through the Earth's shadow. The Moon then appears to be red in color.
opaque / does not let light pass through it
ozone layer / a part of the Earth's atmosphere, almost 20 miles up in the sky, that contains ozone. Ozone blocks harmful radiation from the Sun so that it will not reach the Earth.
perennial / a plant that lives for many years and comes back after resting each winter, such as grass and trees
phototropism / the response and movement of plants towards light
radiation / energy radiated or transmitted as rays, waves, in the form of particles
reflect / to throw or bend back light from a surface
refract / when a light ray traveling through air hits a different material. When the light ray hits the new material, its speed and direction will change. This can cause some things to look strange. For example, this happens if we look at a pencil through a glass of water.
shadow / an area where light cannot directly shine because an opaque object lies between the area and the source of light. A shadow is also the image cast by an object that is blocking rays of light.
solar eclipse / occurs when the Moon passes in front of the Sun during the day and casts its shadow onto the Earth
stratosphere / region of the atmosphere above the troposphere. The stratosphere is the region which contains the ozone layer.
translucent / able to transfer some light, but the light is distorted (paper is an example)
transparent / easily seen through; light can go through these objects with little distortion
tropism / the movement and response of plants as a result of light, gravity, water, or other causes
ultraviolet / invisible wavelengths of the spectrum, just beyond the color of violet