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science
Term | Definition |
---|---|
science | the study of the natural world through observations and logical reasoning leads to a body of knowledge. |
observing | the process of using one or more of your senses to gather information. |
inferring | the process of making an inference an interpretation based on observations and prior knowledge. |
predicting | the process of forecasting what will happen in the future based on past experience or evidence |
chemistry | the study of the properties of matter and how matter changes |
physics | the study of matter,energy,motion, and forces and how they interact |
scientific inquiry | the ongoing process of discovery in science |
hypothesis | a possible explanation for a set of observations or answer to a scientific question |
parameter | a factor that can be measured in an experiment |
manipulated variable | the one variable parameter that a scientist changes during an experiment |
responding variable | the variable parameter that changes as a result of changes to the manipulated, or independent, variable in an experiment |
controlled experiment | an experiment in which only one parameter is manipulated at a time |
data qualitative | has no numbers or measurements |
data quantitative | has measurements and numbers |
communicating | the process of sharing ideas with others through writing and speaking |
model | a representation of an object or process |
scientific theory | a well-tested explanation for a wide range of observations or experimental results |
scientific law | a statement the describes what scientist expect to happen every time under a particular set of conditions |
graph | a picture of information from a data table; shows the relationship between variables |
horizontal axis | a line that runs left to right along the bottom of a graph, on which the manipulated variable is labeled |
vertical axis | a line that runs up and down along the side of a graph, on which the responding variable is labeled |
origin | the point on a line graph; where the x-axis and y-axis cross on a graph |
coordinate | a pair of numbers used to determine the position of a point on a graph |
data point | a point on a graph showing the location of a piece of data |
line of best fit | a smooth line that reflects the general pattern in a graph |
slope | the steepness of a line on a graph, equal to its vertical change divided by its horizontal change |
nonlinear graph | a line graph in which the data points do not fall along a straight line |
linear graph | a line graph in which the data points yield a straight line |
data | facts,figures, and other evidence gathered through observations |