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Ch. 1 Science Skills
Vocabulary
Term | Definition |
---|---|
science | a system of knowledge about the natural world and the methods used to find that knowledge. |
technology | the use of scientific knowledge to solve practical problems. |
chemistry | the study of the composition, structure, properties, and reactions of matter. |
physics | the study of matter and energy and the interactions between the two through forces and motion. |
geology | the study of the origin, history, and structure of Earth. |
astronomy | the study of the universe beyond Earth. |
biology | the study of life and life processes |
scientific method | an organized plan used for gathering, organizing, and communicating information. |
observation | information obtained through the senses. |
hypothesis | a proposed answer to a question. |
manipulated variable (independent variable) | the variable that causes a change in another variable |
responding variable (dependent variable) | a variable that changes in response to a change in the manipulated variable. |
controlled experiment | an experiment in which only one variable, the manipulated variable, is deliberately changed at a time. |
scientific theory | a well-tested explanation for a set of observations or experimental results. |
scientific law | a statement that summarizes a pattern found in nature. |
model | a representation of an object or event. |
scientific notation | a way of expressing a value as the product of a number between 1 and 10 and a power of 10. |
length | the straight line distance between two points. |
mass | the amount of matter in an object. |
volume | the amount of space taken up by an object. |
density | the ratio of a material's mass to its volume |
conversion factor | a ratio of equivalent measurements that is used to convert a quantity from one unit to another. |
precision | a gauge of how exact a measurement is. |
significant figures | all the digits in a measurement that are directly measured, plus the last digit, which is estimated. |
accuracy | the closeness of a measurement to the true value of what is measured. |
thermometer | an instrument that measures temperature. |
slope | the steepness of a line, equal to the ratio of a vertical change to the corresponding horizontal change. |
direct proportion | a relationship between two variables in which their ratio is constant. |
inverse proportion | a relationship in which the product of two variables is a constant when all other variables are held constant. |