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Methods of Science
Vocabulary
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| Science | The investigation and exploration of natural events and of the new information that results from these investigations |
| Observation | The act of using one or more of your senses to gather information and take note of what occurs |
| Inference | A logical explanation of an observation that is drawn from prior knowledge or experience |
| Hypothesis | A possible explanation for an observation that can be tested by scientific investigations |
| Prediction | A statement of what will happen next in a sequence of events |
| Technology | The practical use of scientific knowledge especially for industrial or commerical use |
| Scientific theory | An explanation of observations or events that is based on knowledge gained from many observations and investigations |
| Scientific law | A rule that describes a pattern in nature |
| Critical thinking | Comparing what you already know with information you are given in order to decide whether you agree with it |
| Description | A spoken or written summary of observations |
| Explanation | An interpretation of observations |
| International System of Units | The internationally accepted system of measurement |
| Significant digits | The number of digits in a measurement that are known with a certain degree of reliability |
| Variable | Any factor that can have more than one value |
| Independent variable | The factor that is changed by the investigator to observe how it affects a dependent variable |
| Dependent variable | The factor a scientist observes or measures during an experiment |