5th Grade Science TAKS Vocabulary

 | A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M | N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W | X | Y | Z |

A

acceleration - change in motion caused by unbalanced forces or a change in velocity

acid rain-Precipitation resulting from pollution condensing into clouds and falling to Earth

action force- The first force in the third law of motion

adaptation-A structure or feature of an organism that helps it meet a particular need in its natural habitat

air mass- A large body of air that has nearly the same temperature and humidity throughout

air pressure- The weight of air

alveoli- Tiny air sacs located at the ends of bronchi in the lungs

amphibians- Animals that have moist skin and no scales

amplitude- The distance that any point on a wave has moved from its resting position; equal to half the wave height

analyze- to examine the parts of

angiosperm- A flowering plant

anthracite- A hard, black rock; fourth stage of coal formation

arachnid- An arthropod with eight legs and no antennae, such as a spider, scorpion, tick, or mite

asexual reproduction- Reproduction by simple cell division

asteroids- Chunks of rock that look like giant potatoes in space

asteroid- A chunk of rock and metal, smaller than a planet and larger than a meteoroid, that orbits the sun

asthenosphere- A zone of partially melted rock in the upper mantle of the Earth

astronomical unit (AU)- A measurement equal to the distance between Earth and the sun, a distance of about 150 million km (93 million miles)

atoll- A ring of islands around a shallow central lagoon

atmosphere- The layer of air that surrounds Earth

atom- The smallest unit of an element that has all the properties of that element

atomic number- The number of protons in an atom

axial tilt- The angle that a planet's axis is tilted from vertical

axis- An imaginary line that passes through Earth's center and its North and South poles

B

balanced forces- The forces acting on an object that are equal in size and opposite in direction, canceling each other out

bacteria- tiny living cells that “fix” nitrogen in the soil

biomass- Organic matter, such as wood, that is living or was recently alive

biome- A large-scale ecosystem

biome- A region of the world that is defined by its climate and the unique plants and animals that live there

bird- A warm-blooded animal that has feathers and lays eggs with hard shells

bitumen- A fairly hard, dark brown or black rock; third stage of coal formation

bone marrow- A connective tissue that produces red and white blood cells

buoyancy- The ability to float in a liquid or rise in a gas

C

capillaries- The smallest blood vessels

carbon dioxide-oxygen cycle- The process by which carbon and oxygen cycle among plants, animals, and the environment

carbon-oxygen cycle- The process by which carbon and oxygen cycle among plants, animals, and the environment

cell- The basic unit of structure and function of all living things

cell membrane- The thin covering that encloses a cell and holds its parts together

cellular respiration- The process by which cells release the energy in food to carry on life processes

chemical bonds- The forces that join atoms to each other

chloroplast- A kind of organelle in plant cells that contains chlorophyll, which enables the plant to make its own food

chlorophyll- A pigment, or coloring matter, that helps plants use light energy to produce sugars

chromosome- The threadlike strands inside the nucleus made up of DNA

classification- The grouping of things by using a set of rules

climate- The average of all weather conditions through all seasons over a period of time

climate zone- A region throughout which yearly patterns of temperature, rainfall, and amount of sunlight are similar

climax community- The last stage of succession

cold-blooded- Describes an animal whose body temperature changes as the temperature of the surroundings changes

combustibility- The chemical property of being able to burn

comet- Balls of ice and rock that circle the sun from two regions beyond the orbit of Pluto

community- All the populations of organisms living together in an environment

competition- The contest among organisms for the limited resources of an ecosystem

compound- A substance made of the atoms of two or more different elements

compound machine- A device that is made up of two or more simple machines

computer - a programmable machine that inputs, processes and outputs data

conclusion-a judgment supported by facts

condensation- The process by which a gas changes back into a liquid

conduction- The direct transfer of heat between objects that touch

conductor- A material that conducts electrons easily

conifer- A plant that grows cones that produce seeds

conserving- The saving or protecting of resources

consumer- An organism in a community that must eat to get the energy it needs

continental drift- A theory of how Earth's continents move over its surface

control- a feature that does not change in an experiment

convection- The transfer of heat as a result of the mixing of a liquid or a gas

convergent boundary- A boundary where crustal plates collide with each other

core- The center of the Earth

corona- The sun's atmosphere

cotyledons- The structures where food is stored in seeds

creep- the slow movement of soil downhill because of gravity

crust- The thin, outer layer of Earth

current- A stream of water that flows like a river through the ocean

cytoplasm- A jellylike substance containing many chemicals that keep a cell functioning

D

decay- the slow, natural breaking down of plant and animal matter

deciduous forest- A biome in which the dominant plants are broad-leaved trees that shed their leaves each fall

decomposer- Consumers that break down the tissues of dead organisms

density- The concentration of matter in an object

deposition- The process of dropping, or depositing, sediment in a new location

desalination- The process of removing salt from sea water

diffusion- The process by which many materials move in and out of cells

direct development- A kind of growth where organisms keep the same body features as they grow larger

divergent boundary- A boundary where crustal plates move away from each other

DNA- A complex chemical that contains information about every part of an organism

dominant trait- A strong trait

E

earthquake- A shaking of the ground caused by the sudden release of energy in Earth's crust

eclipse- The passing of one object through the shadow of another

ecosystem- A community and its physical environment together

electric charge- The charge obtained by an object when it gains or loses electrons

electric circuit- The path along which electrons can flow

electric current- The flow of electrons from negatively charged objects to positively charged objects

electric force- The attraction or repulsion of objects due to their charges

electromagnet- A temporary magnet made by passing electric current through a wire coiled around an iron bar

electromagnetic waves- A wave of vibrating electric and magnetic fields

electron- A subatomic particle with a negative charge

element- A substance made up of only one kind of atom

El Niño- A short-term climate change that occurs every two to ten years

ellipse- An oval-shaped path

embryo- The tiny plant inside a seed

endangered- A population of organisms that is likely to become extinct if steps are not taken to save it

endoskeleton- A system of connected bones or plates that lie within the body of an organism

energy- The ability to cause changes in matter

energy pyramid- Shows the amount of energy available to pass from one level of a food chain to the next

epidermis- The outer layer of cells of a leaf

equinox- Point in Earth's orbit at which the hours of daylight and darkness are equal

erosion- The process of moving sediment from one place to another

estuary- The place where a freshwater river empties into an ocean

evaporation- The process by which a liquid changes into a gas

exoskeleton- A skeleton that is outside of the body of an invertebrate

exotic- An imported or nonnative organism

extinct- No longer in existence; the result when the last individual of a population dies and that organism is gone forever

F

fault- A break or place where pieces of Earth's crust move

fertilization- The joining of a male reproductive cell with a female reproductive cell

fiber- Any material that can be separated into threads

fish- Vertebrates that live their entire life in water

food chain- The ways in which the organisms in an ecosystem interact with one another according to what they eat

food web- Shows the interactions among many different food chains in a single ecosystem

force- A push or pull that causes an object to move, stop, or change direction

fossil- The remains or traces of past life found in sedimentary rock

fossil fuel- A fuel formed from the remains of once-living organisms

friction- A force that opposes, or acts against, motion when two surfaces rub against each other

front- The boundary between air masses

fungi- Living things that look like plants but cannot make their own food; example, mushrooms

fusion energy- The energy released when the nuclei of two atoms are forced together to form a larger nucleus

G

galaxy- A group of stars, gas, and dust

gas- The state of matter that does not have a definite shape or volume

gene- The DNA codes on chromosomes that contain all the traits an organism inherits

genus- The second-smallest name grouping used in classification

geothermal energy- Heat from inside the Earth

germinate- The sprouting of a seed

global warming- The hypothesized rise in Earth's average temperature from excess carbon dioxide

grafting- A form of artificial reproduction that can produce desirable characteristics in woody plants

grain- The seed of certain plants

grassland- A biome where the dominant plants are grasses

gravitation- The force that pulls all objects in the universe toward one another

gravitropism- A plant's response to gravity

greenhouse effect- Process by which the Earth's atmosphere absorbs heat

groundwater- Water that soaks into the ground

gymnosperm- Plants with unprotected seeds; conifers or cone-bearing plants

H

habitat- A place in an ecosystem where a population lives

hardness- A mineral's ability to resist being scratched

headland- A hard, rocky point of land left when softer rock is washed away by the sea

heat- The transfer of thermal energy form one substance to another

humidity- A measure of the amount of water in the air

hydroelectric energy- Electricity generated from the force of moving water

I

igneous rock- A type of rock that forms when melted rock hardens

inclined plane- A flat, sloping surface

individual- A single organism in an environment

inertia- The property of matter that keeps it moving in a straight line or keeps it at rest

inherited trait- A characteristic that is passed from parent to offspring

insect- An arthropod with six jointed legs, such as a grasshopper

instinct- A behavior that an organism inherits

insulator- A material that does not carry electrons

intertidal zone- An area where the tide and churning waves provide a constant supply of oxygen and nutrients to living organisms

invertebrates- Animals without a backbone

J

jetty- A wall-like structure made of rocks that sticks out into the ocean

joints- A place where bones meet and are attached to each other and to muscles

K

kinetic energy- The energy of motion, or energy in use

kingdom- The largest group into which living things can be classified

L

landform- A physical feature on Earth's surface

lava- Magma that reaches the Earth's surface

law of universal gravitation- Law that states that all objects in the universe are attracted to all other objects

learned behavior- A behavior an animal learns from its parents

lens- A piece of clear material that bends, or refracts, light rays passing through it

lever- A simple machine having an arm that moves about a fixed point

life cycle- The series of distinct stages of life that most organisms grow and mature through

ligaments- One of the bands of connective tissue that hold a skeleton together

light-year- The distance light travels in one Earth year; about 9.5 trillion km

lignite- A soft, brown rock; the second stage of coal formation

liquid- The state of matter that has a definite volume but no definite shape

local winds- The winds dependent upon local changes in temperature

lunar eclipse- The hiding of the moon when it passes through the Earth's shadow

luster- The way the surface of a mineral reflects light

M

machine- Something that makes work seem easier by changing the size or the direction of a force

magma- A hot, soft rock from Earth's lower mantle

magnetism- The force of repulsion (pushing) or attraction (pulling) between poles of magnets

magnitude- Brightness of stars

main sequence- A band of stars that include most stars of average color, size, magnitude, and temperature

mammal- A warm-blooded vertebrate that has milk-producing glands

mammals- Animals that have hair and produce milk for their young

mantle- The layer of rock beneath Earth's crust

mass- The amount of matter in an object

mass movement- The downhill movement of rock and soil because of gravity

matter- Anything that has mass and takes up space

meiosis- The process that reduces the number of chromosomes in reproductive cells

metamorphic rock- A type of rock changed by heat or pressure but not completely melted

metamorphosis- A change in the shape or characteristics of an organism's body as it grows

meteoroid- A chunk of material smaller than an asteroid that orbits the sun

microclimate- The climate of a very small area

mid-ocean ridge- Where plates of the Earth's crust along the ocean floor are being split apart and molten rock pushes up to form new ocean floor and a mountain range

mimicry- An animal's imitation of another animal or of an object in order to avoid predators

mineral- A natural, solid material with particles arranged in a repeating pattern

mitosis- The process of cell division

mixture -A combination of two or more pure substances that are not chemically combined with each other

molecule- A grouping of two or more atoms joined together

momentum- A measure of how hard it is to slow down or stop an object

moneran- The kingdom of classification for organisms that have only one cell and no nucleus

motion- A change in position

mutualism- The symbiotic relationship that benefits both organisms involved

N

natural gas- A gas, methane, usually found with petroleum

natural resource- Any of the useful minerals and other materials that people take from the Earth

near-shore zone- The area beyond the breaking waves that extends to waters that are about 180 m deep

nephrons- One of the tubes inside the kidneys where urea and water diffuse from the blood

net force- The result of two or more forces acting together on an object

neuron- A specialized cell that can receive information and transmit it to other cells

neutron- A subatomic particle with no charge

Newton- The metric unit for forces including weight

niche- The role each population has in its habitat

nitrogen cycle- The cycle in which nitrogen gas is changed into forms of nitrogen that plants can use

nodules- small bumps on the roots of certain plants that “fix” nitrogen in the soil

nonrenewable resource- A resource that cannot be readily replaced once it is used

nonvascular- Not having xylem and phloem; said of some plants

nonvascular plants- Plants that do not have tubes

nuclear energy- The energy released when the nucleus of an atom is split apart

nucleus (atom)- The center of an atom

nucleus (cell)- The organelle that controls all of a cell's activities

nucleus (cell)- The control center of the cell it directs all the cell's activities

O

observation- gathering information using our senses

omnivore- An animal that eats both plants and other animals

open-ocean zone- The area that includes most deep ocean waters; most organisms live near the surface

orbit- The path one body in space takes as it revolves around another body; such as Earth as it revolves around the sun

organ- Tissues that work together to perform a specific function

osmosis- The diffusion of water and dissolved materials through cell membranes

ovary- The portion of a flower, at the base of the pistil, that contains the eggs

palisade layer- The layer of cells in a leaf where most photosynthesis occurs

P

Pangea- A supercontinent containing all of Earth's land that existed about 225 million years ago

parasite- An organism that survives by living on or in another animal and feeding on that animal

parasitism- A symbiotic relationship in which one organism benefits and the other organism is harmed

peat- A soft, brown material made up of partly decayed plants; first stage of coal formation

periodic table- The table of elements in order of increasing atomic number; grouped by similar properties

perspiration- moister that is given off through pores in the skins of animals

petal- The part of the plant that is usually the largest and most visible part of a flower and helps protect the other parts of the flower

phase- A stage in the changing shape the moon seems to have when it is viewed from Earth

phloem- The tubes that transport food in the vascular plants

photosphere- The visible surface of the sun

photosynthesis- The process by which plants make food

phototropism- A plant's response to light

physical properties- The characteristics of a substance that can be observed or measured without changing the substance

pioneer plants- The first plants to invade a bare area

pistil- The female part of a flower

pitch- An element of sound determined by the speed which sound waves move

planets- Large, round bodies that revolve around a star

planetary system- A system of planets revolving around a star

plate- The rigid blocks of crust and upper mantle rock

plate tectonics- The theory scientists use to explain the movements of plates on the Earth's surface

pollen- Flower structures that contain the male reproductive cells

pollination- The process by which pollen from the anthers of a flower land on the stigma of a flower

pollution- Waste products that damage an ecosystem

population- All the individuals of the same kind living in the same environment

position- An object's place, or location

potential energy- The energy an object has because of its place or its condition

power- The amount of work done for each unit of time

precaution- something that is done to prevent an accident

precipitation- Any form of water that falls from clouds; such as rain or snow

predator- An animal that feeds on other living animals

prevailing winds- The global winds that blow constantly from the same direction

prey- The animals predators eat

prism- A solid object that bends light

producer- Organisms that make their own food

protest- The kingdom of classification for organisms that have only one cell and also have a nucleus, or cell control center

proton- A subatomic particle with a positive charge

pulley- A wheel that has a groove along its edge

R

radiation- The transfer of thermal energy by electromagnetic waves

reaction force- The force that pushes or pulls back in the third law of motion

reactivity- The ability of a substance to go through a chemical change-

receptors- Nerve cells that detect conditions in the body's environment

recessive trait- A weak trait

reclamation- The process of restoring a damaged ecosystem

recycle- Recovering a resource from an item and using the recovered resource to make a new item

recycling- The process of taking a resource from a product and making it into a new product

reduce- To cut down on the use of resources

reflection- The light energy that bounces off objects

refraction- The bending of light rays when they pass through a substance

renewable resources- Resources that are replaced as they are used

reptiles- Animals that have dry, scaly skin

resistor- A material that resists the flow of electrons in some way

respiration- The process that releases energy from food

respiration- glucose combines with oxygen to form carbon dioxide and water releasing energy

reusable resources- Natural resources that are renewed by natural cycles and can be used more than once; inexhaustible resources

reuse- To use items again; some times for a different purpose-

revolve- The closed path an object such as the Earth makes as it moves around another object

revolution- The movement of one object in an orbit around another object

rock- A material made up of one or more minerals

rock cycle- The slow, never-ending process of rock changes

root- The part of a plant that holds the plant in the ground and takes in water and minerals from the soil

rotate- The spinning of Earth on its axis

rotation- The turning of an object on an axis

S

salinity- Saltiness of the ocean

satellite- A natural body, like the moon, or an artificial object that orbits another object

scavenger- An animal that eats the remains of animals that have died

scientific method- a collection of steps used to explore questions and investigate the natural world

screw- An inclined plane wrapped around a cylinder or cone

scuba- Underwater breathing equipment; the letters stand for self-contained underwater breathing apparatus

sea-floor spreading- A process in which magma is slowly pushed up through cracks in a rift and then cools to form new sea floor

season- A period of the year with a certain level of temperature and type of weather

sedimentation- The process of building up layers of sediment over millions of years

sedimentary rock- A type of rock formed by layers of sediments that were squeezed and stuck together over a long time

seedling- The stage when a germinated seed begins growing and making its own food

sexual reproduction- The form of reproduction in which cells from two parents unite to form a zygote

shore- The area where the ocean and land meet and interact

solar eclipse- The hiding of the sun that occurs when the moon passes between the sun and Earth

solar energy- The energy of sunlight

solar flare- A brief burst of energy from the sun's photosphere

solar system- The sun, and the objects that orbit around it

solar wind- A fast-moving stream of particles thrown into space by solar flares

solid- The state of matter that has a definite shape and a definite volume

solstice- Point in Earth's orbit at which the hours of daylight are at their greatest or fewest

solubility- The ability of one substance to be dissolved in another substance

solution- A mixture in which the particles of each substance are mixed evenly

sonar- A device that uses sound waves to determine water depth

space probe- A robot vehicle used to explore deep space

species- The smallest name grouping used in classification

speed- A measure of the distance an object moves in a given amount of time

spore- A single reproductive cell that grows into a new plant

stamen- The male part of a flower

star- A hot ball of glowing gases, like our sun

stem- A plant part that connects the roots with the leaves of a plant and supports the plant above ground; it carries water from the roots to other parts of the plant

streak- The color of the powder left behind when you rub a mineral against a white tile called a streak plate

submersible- An underwater vehicle

succession- A gradual change in an ecosystem, sometimes occurring over hundreds of years

sunspot- A dark spot on the photosphere of the sun

suspension- A mixture that contains particles that are large enough to be seen and can be separated from the mixture by using filter paper

symbiosis- A long-term relationship between different kinds of organisms

system- Organs that work together to perform a function

T

taiga- A biome where winters are very cold and long and the dominant plants are conifers

telescope- An instrument that magnifies distant objects, or makes them appear larger

temperature- The average kinetic energy of all the molecules in an object

tendons- Tough bands of connective tissue that attach muscles to bones

theory- an explanation of why something happens in nature

thermometer- A tool used to measure temperature

threatened- Describes a population of organisms that are likely to become endangered if they are not protected

tidal energy- A form of hydroelectric energy that produces electricity from the rising and falling of tides

tide- The repeated rise and fall in the level of the ocean

tide pool- A pool of seawater found along a rocky shoreline

tissue- Cells that work together to perform a specific function

tissue culture- Process that grows plants artificially in laboratories

topsoil- The top layer of soil made up of the smallest grains and the most humus

transpiration- The process in which plants give off water through their stomata

tropical rain forest- A hot, wet forest where the trees grow very tall and their leaves stay green all year

tropism- A plant's response to a stimulus

U

unbalanced forces- Forces that are not equal

universe- Everything that exists—planets, stars, dust, gases, and energy

V

variable- the characteristic that is tested during an experiment

vascular- Plants with xylem and phloem

vascular plants- Plants that have tubes

vegetative propagation- A form of asexual reproduction; without seeds

velocity- An object's speed in a particular direction

vertebrates- Animals with a backbone

vibrate- To move quickly back and forth, producing sound

villi- The tiny tubes sticking into the small intestine

volcano- A mountain formed by lava and ash

volume (measurement)- The amount of space that an object takes up

volume (sound)- The loudness of a sound

W

warm-blooded- An animal whose body stays the same temperature regardless of the temperature of its surroundings

water cycle- The cycle in which Earth's water moves through the environment

water pressure- The weight of water pressing on an object

wave- The up-and-down movement of surface water

weathering- The process of breaking rock into soil, sand, and other tiny pieces

wedge- A simple machine composed of one or two inclined planes

weight- A measure of the pull of gravity on an object

wetlands- The water ecosystems that include saltwater marshes, mangrove swamps, and mud flats

wheel and axle- A simple machine that has a central pivot around which a wheel moves

work- The use of a force to move an object through a distance

X

xylem- The tubes that transport water and minerals in vascular plants

Other vocabulary words may be added later.

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