A state of matter that contains particles that are very close together.  A solid has a certain shape and volume.

A state of matter where the particles have some space between them.  A liquid takes the shape of its container, but has a certain volume.

A state of matter where the particles have a lot of space between them.  A gas does not have a certain shape or volume and will spread out to fill up an entire container

The point at which a liquid is cooled down enough that it freezes - 32 degrees for water.

The temperature at which a solid will begin to melt.

to soak something up or take something in.

the gases that surround Earth or another planet.

a white or gray mass of water droplets or ice crystals floating in the sky.

to change from a gas or vapor to a liquid.

to turn from liquid to vapor or gas.

water found within the earth that supplies wells and springs.

water that falls from the sky to the ground as rain, snow, sleet or hail.

 rain or precipitation that is not absorbed by the earth and so flows into streams and rivers.

 a substance that is in its gaseous state, like water that has been turned into steam.

the process of water passing through Earth's atmosphere, land and oceans. It includes condensation, precipitation and evaporation.

The process of a plant or tree absorbing water through its roots and releasing it as water vapor through holes in its leaves.

Living - plants, animals.

Non-living - air, water, pencils.

Anything that has weight and takes up space.

Tells us that the amount of matter stays the same even when a substance changes form.

a measurement that indicates how heavy a person or thing is - can change according to gravitational pull.

 Mass is a measurement of how much matter is in an object - NEVER changes.

is a kind of action that occurs as two or more objects have an effect upon one another.

To mix in with another substance. For Ex: when salt is added to water, it forms saltwater.

a change to the physical properties of a substance, like a change in siz

a change in how the atoms of one or more substances are arranged. It leads to the formation of a new substance and is usually not reversible.

a pure chemical substance that cannot be physically split into a more simple substance. Each is made of one type of atom. Carbon, mercury and hydrogen are examples.

a substance made of atoms from two or more elements.

in chemistry, the change that happens when two or more substances act on each other to form a different substance.

a mixture in which substances are distributed evenly.

a combination of two or more components that each keep their own properties.

a substance that is the same throughout.

a substance that is not the same throughout.

is a heterogeneous mixture of a fluid that contains solid particles sufficiently large for sedimentation.

 in a solution, a substance that dissolves another.

 in a solution, a dissolved substance.

is the property of a solid, liquid or gaseous chemical substance called solute to dissolve in a solid, liquid or gaseous solvent.

the way in which something is put together from different parts.

A property of matter that measures how close together the particles are inside a substance. This can determine things like if something will float or sink.

relating to or caused by heat.

the ability to do work, have power or produce change.

 heat or light energy is sent out in the form of waves - transfer happens without direct touch.

 the transfer of thermal energy

the movement of heat or electricity through a material - transfer happens with direct touch.

The transfer of heat through air or fluids.

a substance or object that allows energy (such as heat or electricity) to move through it efficiently.

a substance or object that does not allow energy (such as heat or electricity) to move through it efficiently.

to bounce heat off instead of absorbing it.

a measurement that indicates how hot or cold something is.

the tool used to measure temperature.

when an object becomes bigger, larger or longer - almost all matter expands when it is heated.

when an object becomes smaller or shorter - almost all matter contracts when heat is removed.

The central body of the  solar system around which the planets revolve - provides light and heat.

the third planet from the sun, the planet on which we live.

a regular repeating path that one object in space takes around another.

To move in a circular orbit around something.

To move in a circle around an axis - the Earth does one full rotation every 24 hours, or 1 day.

An imaginary line about which a body rotates on its axis.

An imaginary circle around the Earth that divides it into two equal parts - the Northern and Southern Hemispheres.

 Half of a sphere - Northern hemisphere includes us (North America), Europe, Northern South America, Northern Africa, and Asia. The Southern Hemisphere includes Southern South America, Southern Africa, and Australia.

Summer, Fall, Winter, and Spring - caused by which part of the Earth is tilted towards the sun and receiving its most direct waves.

The day to day state of the atmosphere - varies by the minute or the week.

The weather of a place averaged over a period of time, often 30 years.

An instrument used to measure the air pressure; considered very important in weather prediction.

 An instrument used to measure the speed of the wind.

How much moisture is in the air.

When air is less dense and on the rise...low pressure usually means that bad weather is coming soon because the rising air is cooling off and making clouds.

When air is more dense and causes the air to sink - high air pressure is usually associated with nice weather and not many clouds in the sky.

A scientist who studies the weather and usually presents a forecast.

Large body of air that has the same temperature and moisture levels.

When two air masses meet and cause weather.

When a cold air mass collides into a warm air mass, it creates bad weather, such as snow and storms.

Warm air mass stretches over a cold front - causes gentle weather.

When a warm air mass gets caught between 2 cold air masses and is forced upward, often causing precipitation.

When a warm front and a weak cold front come together. But neither is strong enough to move on.

Clouds are thin and wispy and really high - usually means pleasant weather.

Clouds that look like big cotton balls - usually means fair weather.

 Low clouds that are long {straight} and thick and usually means light rain - turn gray before rain begins - fog is stratus .

Tall {vertical} clouds that usually bring

 A large rotating storm with high speed winds that form over warm waters in the tropical climate zone. They must have sustained winds at least 74 mph and an area of low pressure in the center called the eye.

A mobile, destructive vortex of violent, rotating winds that have the shape of a funnel.They touch the storm cloud and the earth at the same time. tornadoes occur when warm, moist air collides with cold dry air.

A winter storm that causes considerable amounts of falling or blowing snow, for it to be a blizzard it must be blowin 35 mph at the least and at least for 3 hours.

When water covers land that is usually dry - a flash flood happens very quickly.floods are caused by various events such as hurricanes, melting snow, excessive rain, etc.

A period of prolonged dryness that causes damage to crops,animals, and sometimes people - usually caused by not getting enough precipitation for a long period of time.

When cool wind {or air} blows from the sea to the land - this usually occurs on the beaches during the day.

When cool wind (or air) blows from the land towards the sea - this usually occurs on the beaches at night.

A  prediction of what the weather will be like in the future.

Arrangement of symbols and numbers that show the weather conditions recorded at the weather station.

 Move across small distances and are close to Earth's surface

Move great distances across the globe - predictable and stable.

Winds that occur between 30 degrees North and 30 degrees South of the equator - blow from east to west towards the equator.

Winds that occur between 60 and 90 degrees in both hemispheres - blow from east to west and away from the poles.

Occur between 30 and 60 degrees in both hemispheres - blow from west to east and towards north and the south poles - These winds are the kind that affect the United States.

A very strong wind found high above the atmosphere - they steer the movement of air masses and weather systems.

A warm swift ocean current that flows from the Gulf of Mexico up the east coast of the US in the Atlantic Ocean and towards Europe - causes movement of air masses over NC that gives us summer storms.

Widespread warming of the Pacific Ocean in the winter - causes wetter weather in NC.

Widespread cooling of the Pacific Ocean in the winter - causes drier weather in NC.