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Science: Middle School: Grades 6, 7 and 8 Quiz - Physical Processes Vocabulary (Questions)

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A physical processes vocabulary is one which includes words used when describing such processes. Isaac Newton was the English scientist who discovered some of the most basic laws about how things work in nature - the 'Three Laws of Motion'. The first law says that an object at rest will stay at rest and a moving object will continue moving at the same speed and direction UNLESS another force acts on either object. In order to talk about physical processes, such as force, you need to know the right scientific words, or vocabulary, to use.

1. What do we call a push or a pull upon an object which is caused by another object?
[ ] A particle
[ ] A wave
[ ] A force
[ ] An energy
2. Which word means to bounce off a surface, without being absorbed?
[ ] Vibrate
[ ] Deflect
[ ] Traverse
[ ] Reflect
3. Which force pulls everything towards the center of the Earth?
[ ] Magnetism
[ ] Gravity
[ ] Air resistance
[ ] Friction
4. What do we call friction that is caused by air or water?
[ ] Newton
[ ] Temperature
[ ] Gravity
[ ] Resistance
5. What do we call something which produces its own light?
[ ] A wave
[ ] A ray
[ ] A producer
[ ] A light source
6. Which word describes the 'highness' or 'lowness' of a sound?
[ ] Vibration
[ ] Pitch
[ ] Transmission
[ ] Tune
7. Which force is caused by the pull of gravity on an object?
[ ] Weight
[ ] Mass
[ ] Air resistance
[ ] Volume
8. What do we call a material which allows heat or electricity to pass through it?
[ ] An insulator
[ ] A circuit
[ ] A conductor
[ ] A thermometer
9. Which of these words means to spin on an axis?
[ ] Evolve
[ ] Rotate
[ ] Orbit
[ ] Attract
10. Which force is exerted by a surface when it rubs against another surface?
[ ] Friction
[ ] Gravity
[ ] Newtons
[ ] Forcemeter
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Science: Middle School: Grades 6, 7 and 8 Quiz - Physical Processes Vocabulary (Answers)
1. What do we call a push or a pull upon an object which is caused by another object?
[ ] A particle
[ ] A wave
[x] A force
[ ] An energy
All forces are either pushes or pulls
2. Which word means to bounce off a surface, without being absorbed?
[ ] Vibrate
[ ] Deflect
[ ] Traverse
[x] Reflect
Mirrors reflect light
3. Which force pulls everything towards the center of the Earth?
[ ] Magnetism
[x] Gravity
[ ] Air resistance
[ ] Friction
All large bodies, such as the Sun or the Moon, exert gravitational force
4. What do we call friction that is caused by air or water?
[ ] Newton
[ ] Temperature
[ ] Gravity
[x] Resistance
If an object has a 'streamlined' shape it has less resistance with water or air
5. What do we call something which produces its own light?
[ ] A wave
[ ] A ray
[ ] A producer
[x] A light source
Things like the Sun or a light bulb are light sources. The Moon and mirrors don't produce light - they merely reflect it
6. Which word describes the 'highness' or 'lowness' of a sound?
[ ] Vibration
[x] Pitch
[ ] Transmission
[ ] Tune
Some sounds are high pitched, like a whistle. Others are low pitched, like thunder
7. Which force is caused by the pull of gravity on an object?
[x] Weight
[ ] Mass
[ ] Air resistance
[ ] Volume
Weight changes if the force of gravity changes - objects do not weigh the same on the Moon as they do on Earth
8. What do we call a material which allows heat or electricity to pass through it?
[ ] An insulator
[ ] A circuit
[x] A conductor
[ ] A thermometer
Insulators are the opposite of conductors - they stop or slow down heat and electricity
9. Which of these words means to spin on an axis?
[ ] Evolve
[x] Rotate
[ ] Orbit
[ ] Attract
The Earth rotates on its own axis
10. Which force is exerted by a surface when it rubs against another surface?
[x] Friction
[ ] Gravity
[ ] Newtons
[ ] Forcemeter
Friction slows things down. It also generates heat