The key words for Grade 8 science and the Launch Control breakout — in plain language, with an example for each. Keep this open while you solve the locks.
⚗️ Matter & Reactions
atom
The tiny building block that all matter is made of.Example: water is made of hydrogen and oxygen atoms.
element
A pure substance made of just one kind of atom.Example: oxygen, iron, gold.
compound
A substance made of two or more kinds of atoms joined together.Example: water (H₂O) is a compound.
chemical reaction
A change where atoms rearrange to form new substances.Example: baking soda and vinegar fizzing.
reactants / products
Reactants are what you start with; products are what you end with.Example: vinegar + baking soda → gas + liquid.
conservation of mass
In a chemical reaction, atoms are only rearranged, so the total mass before equals the total mass after.Example: a sealed bag weighs the same before and after it fizzes.
sealed system
A container where nothing can enter or leave.Example: a zip-sealed reaction bag keeps every atom inside.
🚀 Forces & Motion
force
A push or a pull, measured in newtons (N).Example: a rocket engine's thrust.
net force
The total force left after adding up all the forces on an object.Example: thrust minus drag and gravity.
mass
How much matter is in an object.Example: adding cargo increases a rocket's mass.
acceleration
How quickly an object's velocity changes (speeding up, slowing down, or turning).Example: a rocket gaining speed at liftoff.
Newton's Second Law
Acceleration = net force ÷ mass (a = F ÷ m). For the same force, more mass means less acceleration.Example: a heavier rocket accelerates more slowly.
〰️ Waves
wave
A disturbance that carries energy from one place to another.Example: a radio wave carrying data.
amplitude
The height of a wave — how much energy it carries.Example: a taller wave carries more energy.
wavelength
The distance from one wave crest to the next.Example: radio waves have long wavelengths.
frequency
How many waves pass a point each second.Example: higher frequency means a shorter wavelength.
electromagnetic (EM) wave
A wave that can travel through empty space, like light, radio, or X-rays.Example: telemetry signals from a rocket.