Question | Answer |
A way of learning about the natural world. Often involves the "relentless" testing a retesting of conclustions. | Science |
a possible (and testable) explanation to a scientific question. Has low predictive value. Often expressed as an "if-then" statement. | Hypothesis |
a well-tested explanation to a scientific question. Has high predictive value. | Theory |
a very well-tested explanation to a scientific question. Has a very high predictive value, and describes what scientists expect to happen every time. | Law |
a statement that attributes human emotions, motivations, and/or attributes to non-human organisms. Has no value in science because it represents an observation that can't be tested. | Anthropomorphic Statement |
any description of nature that implies the existence of a Creator. No value in science because it can't be tested. | Teleological Statement |
the (approximately) 7 step process for exploring observations and answering questions. | Scientific Method |
the process of using one or more of the five senses to gather information about the world. | Observation |
an interpretation of an observation based on evidence and prior knowledge. | Inference |
finding out what others have already learned about your scientific questions. | Research |
the factors that can change during an experiment. | Variables |
the factor that the scientist changes during an experiment. Also called the independent variable. | Manipulated Variable |
the factor that changes as a result of changes to the manipulated varialbe in an experiment. Also called the dependent variable. | Responding Variable |
the factors that you want to remain constant (unchanged) during an experiment. | Controlled Variables |
an experiment in which all variables except one are kept constant. | Controlled Experiment |
the observations and measurements you make during an experiment. | Data |
a statement that sums up what you learned during an experiment. | Conclusion |
a good way to display data when your manipulated (independent variable) is continuous (that is, there are other points between the ones you tested). | Line Graph |
a method of estimating values between your known data points. | Interpolation |
a method of estimating values beyond your known data points. | Extrapolation |
a good way to display data when your manipulated (independent) variable is distinct (that is, there are no other points between the ones you tested). | Bar Graph |
an acronym for remembering which variables are grphed onto which axes, (dependent, responding on Y and manipulated, indpendent on X) | DRY-MIX |
the distance between two points | Length |
the amount of space something takes up. | Volume |
the amount of matter in an object. Similar (but not identical) to weight. | Mass |
the standard system of measurement used by scientists all over the world. Abbreviated SI. Also called the Metric System. | International System of Units |
the basic SI unit for measuring length. | Meter |
the basic SI unit for volume. | Liter |
the basic SI unit for mass. | Gram |
the SI prefix that means 100 times smaller (1/100TH) than the basic unit. | Centi |
the SI prefix that means 1000 times smaller (1/1000th) than the basic unit. | Milli |
the SI prefix that means 1000 times larger than the basic unit. | Kilo |