Cerium
Cerium is a shiny metal. It looks like silver. It is found in the ground. It helps make white lights. It even helps polish glass! We use it every day. Do you see bright lights?
Early Reader · Change the reading level on the articlePhysical Science articles — Page 4
Explore matter, energy, chemistry and the physical laws that help explain everyday life. Choose an article below; its reading controls let you move between the available levels.
2,727 public articles · Page 4 of 57
Charcoal
Charcoal is a black material. It comes from wood. People heat wood to make it. It can help us cook food. It is very useful. Do you like to cook outside?
Early Reader · Change the reading level on the articleChemical equation
Scientists use signs to show changes. These signs show how things mix. They show what you start with. They also show what you make. It is like a map for science. Can you find a sign like this?
Early Reader · Change the reading level on the articleChemical formula
Scientists use signs to show things. These signs show tiny parts. They tell us how many parts are there. This helps us know what things are made of. It is like a secret code. Can you find a code?
Early Reader · Change the reading level on the articleChemical kinetics
Some things change fast. Other things change slow. Heat can make things go faster. Small bits can help too. This helps things move quick. Do you see things change?
Early Reader · Change the reading level on the articleChloride
Salt is in the sea. It is in your body too. It helps your nerves work. It also helps your stomach. We need it to stay well. Do you like salt on your food?
Early Reader · Change the reading level on the articleChristiaan Huygens
Christiaan was a great thinker. He looked at the stars. He found a moon near Saturn. He also made a special clock. It helped tell time well. We can learn from him. Do you like stars?
Early Reader · Change the reading level on the articleCitric acid
Some fruits are very sour. Lemons and limes have this sourness. It helps make food taste good. It also helps keep food fresh. We use it in many treats. Do you like sour candy?
Early Reader · Change the reading level on the articleCloud chamber
A special box shows tiny things. It uses mist to see them. Tiny bits fly through the air. They leave white lines like clouds. These lines help us see. Can you see the white lines?
Early Reader · Change the reading level on the articleCobalt
Cobalt is a hard gray metal. It can make things look bright blue. We use it in many batteries. It also helps us stay healthy. It is in a vitamin for animals. Do you like the color blue?
Early Reader · Change the reading level on the articleCondensation
Water can turn into a gas. It looks like air. When it gets cold, it turns back to liquid. You can see drops on a window. This helps make water for us. Can you find water drops today?
Early Reader · Change the reading level on the articleConservation of energy
Energy is all around us. It can change its shape. It does not go away. It just moves to new things. It can turn into heat or sound. This helps our world work. Can you feel the heat?
Early Reader · Change the reading level on the articleConservation of mass
Stuff does not just go away. It can change into new things. But it stays the same amount. It does not grow or shrink. This helps us learn about our world. Can you think of things that change shape?
Early Reader · Change the reading level on the articleConvection
Warm air moves up. Cold air moves down. This makes a circle. It helps move heat around. It happens in the sky and sea. It is everywhere! Can you feel the warm air?
Early Reader · Change the reading level on the articleCoordinated Universal Time
The whole world uses one time. It helps us all stay on track. It helps planes fly safely. It helps us talk to friends. This time is very special. Do you know what time it is now?
Early Reader · Change the reading level on the articleCoriolis force
The Earth spins around. This spin moves the air. It moves the water too. It can make winds turn. This helps make big storms. Can you feel the Earth spin?
Early Reader · Change the reading level on the articleCorrosion
Metal can change over time. It can turn red or orange. This happens in the air. It can happen in water, too. This can make metal weak. Do you see rust on things?
Early Reader · Change the reading level on the articleCoulomb
We use a way to measure power. It counts how much electricity moves. A big bolt of lightning has a lot. A small battery has much less. This helps us know how much power we have. Can you see electricity at home?
Early Reader · Change the reading level on the articleCoulomb's law
Some things have a tiny charge. These charges can pull or push. They can push away from each other. They can also pull close together. This helps hold things in our world. Do you see things move with this force?
Early Reader · Change the reading level on the articleCritical point (thermodynamics)
Things can change in new ways. Sometimes water is a liquid. Sometimes it is a gas. At a special spot, they become the same. It is not one or the other. It is just one thing. Do you like to see how things change?
Early Reader · Change the reading level on the articleCrystallization
Tiny bits join to make crystals. They grow in a neat pattern. You can see them in snow. They also grow in honey. It is like building with blocks. Can you find a crystal?
Early Reader · Change the reading level on the articleCrystallography
Scientists study how tiny parts fit together. These parts make up hard rocks and crystals. They look at how small bits line up. This helps us learn about life and new things. It is a very cool job! Can you find a…
Early Reader · Change the reading level on the articleCubit
Long ago, people used their arms to measure. They measured from the elbow to the finger. This was called a cubit. It helped them build big things. It was a very smart idea. Do you want to try it with your arm?
Early Reader · Change the reading level on the articleC. V. Raman
A man named Raman loved light. He studied how light moves. He found something new about it. This work helped many people. He won a big prize. Do you like to look at light?
Early Reader · Change the reading level on the articleDalton (unit)
A dalton is a tiny way to measure weight. It measures very small things like atoms. These things are too small to see. It helps us know how much stuff is in them. It is very useful for science. Can you imagine…
Early Reader · Change the reading level on the articleDecibel
We use a special way to measure sound. It helps us see how loud things are. It also helps with tools like phones. This helps us hear better. Can you hear a loud sound?
Early Reader · Change the reading level on the articleDegenerate matter
Some stars are very heavy. They are very small too. Tiny bits inside them push back. This push keeps the star from shrinking. It does not need heat to work. It just needs to be tight. Do you like looking at stars?
Early Reader · Change the reading level on the articleDensity
Some things are heavy for their size. This helps us know if things sink or float. Some things float in water. Other things sink to the bottom. It is fun to watch! Do you like to splash in water?
Early Reader · Change the reading level on the articleDielectric
Some things do not let electricity flow. These things can still hold a charge. The tiny parts inside move just a little bit. This helps store energy for later. It helps our tools work well. Can you find things that…
Early Reader · Change the reading level on the articleDiffraction
Waves can bend around things. They do not always go straight. They can go through small holes. This helps you hear a friend. It is like a magic trick. Can you see waves bend?
Early Reader · Change the reading level on the articleDiffraction grating
Some things can make rainbows. These things have tiny lines. The lines split light into colors. You can see this on a CD. It looks very pretty! Do you like rainbows?
Early Reader · Change the reading level on the articleDiffusion
Things like to spread out. They move from a crowded place. They go to a place with more room. This helps things mix together. It can happen in water or air. It helps us breathe. Can you see things spread out?
Early Reader · Change the reading level on the articleDiode
A diode is a tiny part. It helps power move. It lets electricity go one way. It stops it from going back. This helps your tools work. Do you see small lights on your toys?
Early Reader · Change the reading level on the articleDipole
Tiny things have two sides. One side is plus. The other side is minus. They stay close together. This helps things work. It is in all around us. Can you find it?
Early Reader · Change the reading level on the articleDirect current
Power flows in one way. It moves like a straight road. It does not turn back. This power helps your toys work. It also helps cars run. It is very useful. Do you use this power at home?
Early Reader · Change the reading level on the articleDispersion (chemistry)
Sometimes things mix together. One thing can spread in another. Think about food color in water. It spreads out all on its own. You can stir it with a spoon too. This helps it mix fast. Can you see things mix at home?
Early Reader · Change the reading level on the articleDistance
Distance is how far apart things are. It tells us how far to walk. It can be a short way. It can be a very long way. This helps us find things. Do you know how far you are from home?
Early Reader · Change the reading level on the articleDistillation
We can separate liquids. We heat a mix of liquids. Some parts turn into steam. The steam cools down. Then it turns back into liquid. This helps us get clean water. Can you imagine making clean water from the sea?
Early Reader · Change the reading level on the articleDoppler effect
Sounds can change as they move. A loud siren moves past you. It sounds high when it comes near. It sounds low when it goes away. This helps us know how fast things go. Can you hear it change?
Early Reader · Change the reading level on the articleDorothy Hodgkin
Dorothy was a great scientist. She studied how tiny things work. She looked at very small shapes. Her work helped make medicine. This helps people stay well. Do you like to learn new things?
Early Reader · Change the reading level on the articleDrag (physics)
Air and water push on things. This push is called drag. It slows things down. It can push on a car or a boat. It even pushes on you when you swim. Do you feel the wind push you?
Early Reader · Change the reading level on the articleDye
Dye makes things look colorful. It can change cloth colors. We get it from plants and bugs. It makes your clothes bright. It is fun to see! Do you like bright colors?
Early Reader · Change the reading level on the articleDysprosium
This is a shiny silver metal. It is very hard to find. It helps make strong magnets. These magnets help run wind power. It is a special part of our world. Do you like shiny things?
Early Reader · Change the reading level on the articleEddy current
Moving magnets make tiny loops of power. These loops move in metal. They can make metal feel warm. They can also help stop things fast. This helps trains slow down safely. Do you like fast trains?
Early Reader · Change the reading level on the articleEdward Teller
Edward Teller was a smart scientist. He studied how tiny things work. He helped make big tools for the world. He lived a very long life. Do you like to learn about science?
Early Reader · Change the reading level on the articleElasticity (physics)
Some things can stretch. They can change shape. Then they snap back. This helps things stay strong. It is like a bouncy spring. Do you like bouncy toys?
Early Reader · Change the reading level on the articleElastic modulus
Some things are very stiff. They do not bend easily. Other things are soft. They change shape when you push them. This helps us know how things work. Can you feel something stiff? It might be a hard rock. It might be…
Early Reader · Change the reading level on the articleElectrical impedance
Electricity moves through wires. Sometimes, parts in a wire slow it down. This helps us use power. It is like a tiny brake for electricity. Can you see how it works?
Early Reader · Change the reading level on the article