4th Grade Science Vocabulary

deposition

• the process of eroding soil and rock

• the dropping off of eroded soil and bits of rock

• the movement of soil and rock to higher elevations

• the formation of new soil from organic matter

pole

• one of two ends of a magnet where the magnetic force is strongest

• a type of electrical connector

• a long, slender piece of wood or metal

• a unit of measurement for distance

noncontact force

• a force between two objects that are not touching

• a force that requires physical contact between objects

• a force that acts only in a vacuum

• a force that can be felt but not seen

erosion

• the process of breaking down rocks into smaller pieces

• the movement of weathered material from one place to another

• the formation of new soil from organic matter

• the chemical alteration of minerals in rocks

natural resource

• something that people use from nature

• a type of renewable energy

• a man-made product

• a financial asset

precipitation

• water that falls from clouds to the ground in the form of rain, sleet, hail, or snow

• a type of cloud formation that indicates a storm

• the process of water evaporating from the earth's surface

• a measurement of humidity in the atmosphere

water vapor

• water in the form of a solid

• water in the form of a liquid

• water in the form of a gas

• water in the form of ice

pourous

• to have many small spaces or holes

• to be completely solid

• to be very heavy

• to be easily breakable

impermeable

• allows liquid and gas to pass through it

• does not allow liquid or gas to pass through it

• only allows gas to pass through it

• only allows liquid to pass through it

gravity

• a noncontact force that pulls objects toward the center of the Earth

• a force that pushes objects away from each other

• a type of frictional force that occurs between two surfaces

• a force that only affects objects in motion