4th Grade Glossary

conservation of energy: energy cannot be created or destroyed; energy can only transfer from one place to another, or be changed from one form to another

direct force: a force where objects are touching each other

energy: the potential to do work

energy transfer: energy shifting between kinetic and potential energy; when energy moves from place to place

force: a push or a pull on an object

function: the job of a structure; what a structure does

indirect force: a force where objects are not touching, but energy is still being transferred through forces

information processing: how information from our environments create a reaction; follows the steps sensory reception, integration, and response

integration: the brain interpreting information that is coming in by sensory receptors

kinetic energy: energy that exists due to motion

memory: ability to remember what a response to a stimulus will be

organism: any living plant or animal

potential energy: energy that depends on the position of an object; stored energy

response: a reaction to a stimuli, which comes after integration

sensory receptor: nerves in our body parts that detect stimuli in our environment

stimulus: anything that causes a reaction from a plant or animal

structure: a body part of a plant or animal

total mechanical energy: the addition of kinetic and potential energy; the total amount of energy

tropism: a plant's response to a stimulus