Visionlearning Glossary

The radian is the SI unit for angular measure. One radian is equal to the angle at the center of a circle made by a slice of that circle in which the distance around the circumference is equal to the radius of the circle (one arc length). One complete circle equals 2π radians. For more information, see Radian at the Wikipedia. Radian image courtesy of Wikipedia.

Used in the following modules: Wave Mathematics

Scottish chemist born in Glasgow (1852-1916). Ramsay began his career working in organic chemistry. In the 1880’s he became more interested in physical chemistry, working mainly in stoichiometry and thermodynamics. In the late 1880’s, Ramsay investigated nitrogen oxides and discovered argon, helium, neon, krypton and xenon. He was awarded a Nobel Prize in chemistry in 1904. For further information see William Ramsay.

Used in the following modules: Chemical Reactions

English naturalist, philosopher and theologian, born in Black Notley, Essex (1625-1705). Ray developed a classification scheme for organisms based on physical traits, and was the first to differentiate by monocotyledonous and dicotyledonous plants. For further information see John Ray.

Used in the following modules: Taxonomy I, Taxonomy II: Nomenclature

A type of seismic wave with a retrograde
elliptical motion that travels along the surface of the earth or along a subsurface interface.

Used in the following modules: Waves and Wave Motion

The initial material that participates in a chemical reaction. Written on the left side of a chemical equation. Compare to product.

Used in the following modules: Chemical Equations, Matter

The change in direction and usually speed of a wave as it crosses a boundary between two different media, for example, a solid and a liquid.

Used in the following modules: Light I, Scientific Communication: Understanding Scientific Journals and Articles

In science, quality research studies are designed such that the exact procedures and methods followed by the scientists are clear and can be replicated, allowing other scientists to recreate the investigation under similar conditions to test whether similar results are obtained. For more information, see: Data: Statistics

Used in the following modules: Data: Statistics, Scientific Ethics, Scientists and the Scientific Community

The physical and chemical processes by which an organism supplies its cells and tissues with the oxygen needed for metabolism and relieves them of the carbon dioxide formed in energy-producing reactions, or any of various energy-yielding oxidative reactions in living matter.

Used in the following modules: Data: Uncertainty, Error, and Confidence, Earth's Atmosphere, The Carbon Cycle

In science, retrospective research refers to the study of events that have already occurred, or data that have already been set or collected. Retrospective studies are common in fields that study historical data or events, for example, paleontology. For more information, see: Research Methods: Comparison

Used in the following modules: Research Methods: Comparison

Ribonucleic Acid. A single-stranded nucleic acid containing the sugar ribose. In most organisms, a molecule responsible for transfer of the genetic information encoded in DNA to the manufacture of proteins. In some organisms such as viruses RNA is the primary carrier of genetic information.

Used in the following modules: DNA I, The Nitrogen Cycle

The longest continuously existing scientific society, established at Cambridge University in 1660. More information about the Royal Society is available on their website (http://royalsociety.org/ ).

New Zealand-English physicist born in Nelson, New Zealand (1871-1937). Rutherford classified radiation into three types: alpha, beta, and gamma ray. In 1903, he experimentally showed that alpha rays could be deflected with both electric and magnetic fields. Rutherford also described and named the half-life, the way in which radioactivity decreases over time. Rutherford was awarded a Nobel Prize in Chemistry for his work in 1908. In 1917, he experimentally discovered the proton, having predicted and named it three years earlier. For further information, see Ernest Rutherford.

Used in the following modules: Atomic Theory I, Atomic Theory II, Research Methods: Modeling, Teaching Effectively with Multimedia