Page 104 - The Ontario Curriculum, Grades 9 and 10: Science, 2008 (revised)

THE ONTARIO CURRICULUM, GRADES 9 AND 10 | science
scientific investigation. Inquiry or research in which skills, habits of mind, concepts, and procedures that are fundamental to the develop- ment of scientific knowledge are systematically applied in order to advance scientific knowledge.
scientific literacy. The possession of the scientif- ic knowledge, skills, and habits of mind required to thrive in the science-based world of the twenty-first century.
scientific research. The process through which students locate, gather, record, analyse, and synthesize information to develop their knowl- edge and understanding of scientific concepts and theories.
series circuit. An electrical circuit in which the components are arranged one after another in a series. A series circuit has only one path for elec- tron flow.
SI. The international system of metric measure- ment (from the French Système international d’unités) in which the quantities of length, mass, time, electric current, temperature, luminous intensity, and amount of substance are assigned precisely defined base units from which all other units are derived by multiplication or division.
Snell’s law. When light travels from one me- dium to another, the product of the index of refraction of the initial medium and the sine of the angle of incidence is equal to the product of the index of refraction of the final medium and the sine of the angle of refraction.
solar system. The sun together with all the plan- ets and other celestial bodies that are held by its gravitational attraction and travel around it.
solar wind. A stream of fast-moving charged particles ejected by the sun into the solar sys- tem. The stream produces the aurora borealis when it collides with Earth’s atmosphere. The solar wind would destroy life on Earth if it were not deflected by Earth’s magnetic field.
soluble. A substance that is able to be dissolved.
static electricity. An electric charge that builds up on the surface of an object when it is rubbed against another object made of different material.
stem cell. An unspecialized cell that gives rise to various specialized cells.
stomate. The opening between guard cells in the epidermis of a plant through which gases pass.
subtractive colour theory of light. A theory that states that coloured matter selectively ab- sorbs different colours (wavelengths of light). When all colours are absorbed, no light is re- flected to the eye and the material appears black. For coloured material, the colours that are absorbed are “subtracted” from the reflec- tive light that is seen by the eye.
succession. The relatively predictable sequence of changes in the composition of communities following a natural or human disturbance of their environment. For example, following ac- tivity that leaves a clearing in the forest, the first trees to return (the “pioneer species”) are often fast-growing, shade-intolerant varieties. These are eventually replaced by shade-tolerant spe- cies that can grow beneath the pioneer species.
sustainability. A condition or process that can be maintained without interruption, weakening, or loss of valued qualities. Sustainability en- sures that a population remains within the carrying capacity of its environment. The term is often used in reference to the ability to meet the needs of the present generation without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their needs.
synthesis reaction. A process in which two or more simple substances combine to produce a more complex substance.
terrestrial ecosystem. An ecosystem based on land (e.g., a forest, sand dunes, grasslands).
transgenic organs. Organs that are transplanted into an organism from a different species.
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