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Scientific Method
Vocabulary
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| The three branches of science | Earth, Life, and Physical |
| Observation | gathering information using our senses |
| Inference | explanation for an observation |
| Quantitative | Things that can be measured (deals with numbers) |
| Qualitative | Things that can be observed (description) |
| Hypothesis | a possible explanation for an observation that can be tested (If, Then) |
| Prediction | a statement of what will happen next |
| Steps for the Scientific Method | Observe, Problem, Hypothesis, Experiment, Analyze Data, Conclusion, Communicate |
| Scientific Theory | an explanation of observations |
| Scientific Law | a rule that describes a pattern in nature |
| Independent Variable | the factor that you want to test; what is changed |
| Dependent Variable | the factor you observe or measure during an experiment ; what is observed |
| Control Variable | the factor that remains the same and never changes |
| Science | way of learning about the natural world |
| Scientific Method | refers to the many ways in which scientist study the natural world and propose explanations based on gathered evidence |
| Posing Question | problem or question about an observation |
| Controlled Experiment | a test of a hypothesis under conditions established by the scientist |
| Data | facts, figures, and other evidence gathered through observations |