Chapter 1: The Nature of Science Vocabulary

organized set of investigation procedures

Scientific Method

possible explanation for a problem using what you know and what you observe

Hypothesis

tests the effect of one thing on another using a control

Experiment

a quantity that can have more than one single value

Variable

variable whose value changes according to the changes in the other variables

Dependent Variable

the variable changed to see how it will affect the dependent variable

Independent Variable

a factor that does not change in an experiment

Constant

standard by which the test results can be compared

Control

when the scientist's expectation changes how the results are analyzed, or the conclusions are made

Bias

represents and idea, event, or object to help people better understand

Model

Explanation of things or events based on knowledge gained from many observations and investigations

Theory

statement about what happens in nature and that seems to be true all the time

Scientific Law

exact quantity that people agree ti use to compare measurements

Standard

improved version of the metric system

SI

amount of space occupied by an object

Volume

anything that takes up space and has mass

Matter

measurement of the quantity of matter in an object

Mass

mass per unit volume of a material

Density

visual display of information or data

Graph

application of scientific knowledge to benefit people

Technology

a group of people that share similar values and beliefs

Society

Although scientists do not always follow a rigid set of steps, investigations often follow a general pattern. The pattern of investigation procedures is called the...

Scientific Method

The variable changed to see how it will affect the dependent variable is called the..

Independent Variable

One common way to test a hypothesis. It tests the effect of one thing on another using a control

Experiment

This is a possible explanation for a problem using what you know and what you observe

Hypothesis

A factor that does not change is called a ...

Constant

A quantity that can have more than a single value

Variable

The variable that changes according to the changes of other variables

Dependent Variable

A standard by which the test results can be compared

Control

This occurs when the scientist's expectations changes how the results are analyzed or the conclusions are made

Bias

Represents an idea, event, or object to help people better understand it

Model

An explanation of things or events based on knowledge gained from many observations and investigations. It is not a guess

Theory

A statement about what happens in nature and that seems to be true all the time. Tells us what will happen under certain conditions, but they don't explain why or how something happens

Scientific Law

Scientists ask ___ and perform ____ to learn more about the natural world.

-questions
-investigations

Scientists use scientific _____ to test their hypotheses

methods

Models help scientists ______ concepts

visualize

A theory is a possible ______ for observations, while a scientific law describes a patter, but does not explain ____ or _____ things happen

-explanation
-why
-how

An exact quantity that people agree to compare measurements

Standard

In scientific measurements, the distance between two points

Length

The calculated amount of space occupied by an object

Volume

The measured amount of space occupied by a gas or liquid

Capacity

Anything that takes up space and has mass

Matter

A measurement of the quantity of matter in an object

Mass

The mass per unit volume of a material

Density

On this temperature scale, water freezes at 0 and boils at 100

Celsius

The standard unit of length in the metric system is the

Meter

The standard unit of capacity in the metric system is the

Liter

The standard unit of time in the metric system is the

Second

The standard unit of mass in the metric system is the

Kilogram

The Latin prefix for one-hundredth is:

Centi

The Latin prefix for one-thousandth is:

Milli

The Greek prefix for one thousand is

Kilo

The International System of Units, or __, was established to provide a _____ of _____and to reduce ____.

-SI
-Standard
-Measurement
-Confusion

The _____ of an object determines which _____ you will use to ___ it.

-Size
-Unit
-Measure

One meter is slightly ___ than a yard

Longer