Question | Answer |
Hypothesis | An if/then statement that provides an educated guess |
Variable | Things or factors that can be assigned or have different values in an experiment |
Independent Variable (IV) | A variable purposely changed by the experimenter; also known as the manipulated variable |
Dependent Variable (DV) | The factor or variable that may change as a result of changes purposely made in the independent variable; also know as the responding variable |
Control | The part of an experiment that serves as a standard of comparison |
Experimental Design | A graphic illustration of an experiment |
Repeated Trials | the number of times you repeat the experiment (the actual number of times may vary due to the complexity of the research project. Use from 3 |
Qualitative Data | Data that are readily observable by the five senses such as shape, size or gender |
Inference | a possible conclusion based on observation |
Quantitative Data | Data gathered using one’s five senses without using a standard scale (ex. Blue color) Data gathered from amounts or measurements (ex. 25 milliliters, 10 grams) |
Triple beam balance | Used to measure mass; used a base unit of grams (g) |
Meniscus | The lowest point of a curve of a liquid in a graduated cylinder; usually read from the lowest point of the curve |
Test tube | Used to hold, store or heat small amount of substances |
Beaker | Used to hold or heat large amount of substances; not useful for precise measuring |
Tongs | Used to handle glassware |
Thermometer | Used to measure temperature; the Celsius scale (°C) is used in science |
Metric ruler or meter stick | Used to measure length or distance; uses a base unit of meter (m) |
Metric system | A system of measurement used by the scientific community |
Mass | The amount of stuff or matter in an object |
Matter | Something that has mass and takes up space (volume) |
Volume | The amount of space and object takes up |
Energy | The ability to do work or cause change |
Graph | A pictorial display of data |
Bar graph | A graph used to represent a set of data that does not show continuous change |
Line graph | A graph used to show continuous change |
Interval | The equal sizes values represented by equal spaces on an axis |