Concept 1 Notes: Nature Of Science Flashcards
Fact
An objective, verifiable observation
-example: water boils at 100°C
Principal
A statement based on a Repeated experiment observation that describes an aspect of the world.
-Ex. Greenhouse affect
Law
A broad concept or principle • described pattern in nature • often excepted as facts Ex. -Newtons third law of motion -Boyles gas law -law of conservation of mass
Theory
An explanation of an observed phenomenon • organize his facts and research from scientist to explain why • never becomes fact or law Ex. -string theory -evolutionary theory
Observation
Description of some thing you can see, smell, touch, taste, or hear.
• not an opinion
Ex. The ground is wet
Inference
A guess about an object or outcome based on your observations. You can make many inferences from a single observation.
Ex. She’s probably mad at me
Qualitative
Describes qualities
Ex. Green liquid
Quantitive
Uses numbers to measure something
Ex. 4 feet long
Precision
How close your measurements are to each other. Is it consistent? Is it specific?
Accuracy
How close your measurement is to the right measurement. Is your data correct?
Hypothesis
A testable prediction based on observation that describes a cause-and-effect relationship between variables.
Independent variable
What experiment will deliberately change or manipulate in an investigation
• usually X axis of a graph
• should be the only thing difference between experimental groups
Dependent variable
What changes in response to the independent variable.
• on the Y axis of the graph
•Usually represented by the data you collect an investigation;What is measured.
Experimental group
Groups that are being tested
Control group
Group used for comparison with your experimental groups. This is the normal group
