Vocabulary | Definition |
Mass | amount of matter in an object |
Volume | the amount of space an object occupies |
Scientific Method (or inquiry) | an orderly process by which a scientist solves a problem |
Problem | a scientific question that can be answered by a scientific investigation |
Hypothesis | a possible explanation or answer to a scientific problem; must be something that can be tested |
Variable | any factor that can change in an experiment |
Independent Variable (Manipulated) | the factor in an experiment that is changed |
Dependent Variable (Responding) | the variable that responds to the independent variable; it is what you measure or observe to obtain your results |
Constant Variable (Controlled) | a factor in an experiment that is always kept the same |
Repeated trials | the number of times an experiment is repeated |
data | observations and factual information that are collected during an experiment |
conclusion | a logical answer to the problem based on data and observation |
observation | using one or more of your five senses to gather information about the world |
inference | an interpretation of an observation; it is based on evidence and prior knowledge |
prediction | making an inference about a future event based on current evidence |
trend | the general direction in which something tends to move |
evidence | facts or observations on which a conclusion can be based |
valid | based on truth or fact |