Midterms

Question 1

Describe the two main types of observation.

Answer 1

Quantitative observation: deals with numbers, or amounts

Qualitative observation: deals with descriptions that cannot be expressed in numbers

Question 2

What is the metric system?

Answer 2

The metric system is a standard measurement system based on the number 10.

Question 3

What is the International System of Units? (SI)

Answer 3

SI is a version of the metric system that modern scientists use to compare data and communicate with each other about the results of scientific investigations.

Question 4

What are the Metric Prefixes (in order from largest to smallest)?

Answer 4

1) Kilo-1000 units
2) Hecto-100
3) Deka-10
4) Basic unit
5) Deci-0.1 units
6) Centi-0.01 units
7) Milli-0.001 units

Question 5

How many decimeters are in 72 meters?

Answer 5

720 decimeters

Question 6

What is measured and with what unit?

Answer 6

Mass: grams
Volume: centimeters cubed(cm^3) or liters
Length: meters
Density: g/cm^3, g/mL, or kg/cm^3
Temperature: Kelvin (K) or Celsius (C)

Question 7

What is the difference between mass and weight?

Answer 7

Mass is the amount of matter in an object, while weight is the force of gravity acting on an object.

Question 8

What are the multiple ways of finding the volume of an object?

Answer 8

1) graduated cylinder or beaker (liquids)
2) ruler or meter stick (rectangular solids)
3) displacement method (irregular solids)

Question 9

What is the formula for finding the density of an object?

Answer 9

D=M/V (density equals mass over volume)

Question 10

Accuracy vs. Precision

Answer 10

Accuracy: how close a measurement is to the true or accepted value
Precision: how close a group of measurements are to each other

Question 11

Define Mean, Median, Mode, and Range.

Answer 11

Mean: the numerical average of a set of data
Median: the middle number in an ordered set of data
Mode: the number that appears most in a list of numbers
Range: the difference between the greatest value and least value of a set of data

Question 12

What are the mean, median, mode and range of this number set: 4, 5, 7, 12 ?

Answer 12

Mean: 7
Median: 6
Mode: none
Range: 8

Question 13

Why do we use mean, median, mode and range?

Answer 13

Scientists use mean, median, mode and range to find central tendencies, or where data tends to center around each of these measurements, in data.

Question 14

Define anomalous data.

Answer 14

Anomalous data is data that does not fit in with the rest of the data set.

Question 15

What is a graph?

Answer 15

A graph is a “picture” of data.

Question 16

What are the three reasons that scientists use graphs?

Answer 16

1) to identify trends
2) to make predictions
3) to recognize anomalous (inconsistent) data

Question 17

What are some ways that scientists explore the natural world?

Answer 17

observing, inferring, predicting, classifying, and making models

Question 18

What are the Steps of the Scientific Method?

Answer 18

1) Form a question based on an observation
2) Research
3) Form a hypothesis (possible answer to the question)
4) Design an experiment
5) Do the experiment
6) Record data
7) Analyze data
8) Draw a conclusion
9) Share findings

Question 19

What is a hypothesis?

Answer 19

A possible answer to a question

Question 20

Independent vs. Dependent Variable

Answer 20

Independent variable is purposely changed to test a hypothesis, while the dependent variable may change in response to the independent variable.

Question 21

Define controlled experiment.

Answer 21

A scientific experiment in which only one variable is changed at a time

Question 22

Repeated trials vs. Replication

Answer 22

A repeated trial is a repetition of one’s own experiment, while a replication is an attempt by a different group of scientists to conduct the same experiment.

Question 23

Why do we use Repeated trials and Replication?

Answer 23

We use them to find bias in an experiment, to find out more information to advance knowledge on the subject being replicated, and to form a new hypothesis.

Question 24

Define empirical evidence.

Answer 24

data and observations that have been collected through scientific processes and that also explain particular observation

Question 25

Objective Reasoning vs. Subjective Reasoning

Answer 25

Objective reasoning: based on evidence | Subjective reasoning: based on personal feelings or personal values

Question 26

Science vs. Pseudoscience

Answer 26

Science is based on empirical evidence and well-reasoned interpretation of data. Pseudoscience may make use of scientific data, but its conclusions are based either on subjective reasoning or faulty beliefs rather than on careful examination of evidence.

Question 27

Why is "science" still included in Pseudoscience?

Answer 27

While Pseudoscience uses valid scientific data, its conclusions are either based on faulty beliefs or on subjective reasoning.

Question 28

What are some examples of nonscience?

Answer 28

Art and History

Question 29

Why do we use models?

Answer 29

To help people study things that cant be observed directly

Question 30

How do we use models?

Answer 30

Scientists use models to test their ideas about things they cannot observe directly.

Question 31

What are the parts of a system?

Answer 31

Input: material or energy put into a system Output: material or energy that comes out of a system Process: an action or series of actions that happen within the system Feedback: an output that changes the system in some way

Question 32

Why are computers sometimes used in making models?

Answer 32

Sometimes it is too complex to make a model in real life.

Question 33

Scientific theory vs. Scientific law

Answer 33

A Scientific Theory explains something that happens in the natural world, while a Scientific Law defines something that happens in the natural world under certain circumstances.

Question 34

What are two examples of scientific theories?

Answer 34

1) Big Bang Theory | 2) Theory of Evolution by Natural Selection

Question 35

What are two examples of scientific laws?

Answer 35

1) Kepler's Law of Orbits | 2) Law of Universal Gravitation

Question 36

Why are scientific theories rarely ever thrown out?

Answer 36

Scientific theories are rarely ever discarded because they could lead to new discoveries, new knowledge of the natural world, and even new evidence to back up a theory.

Question 37

How can science help communities make better decisions?

Answer 37

A knowledge of science helps communities to analyze the costs and benefits of a decision.

Question 38

What are Political, Economical, and Social Concerns?

Answer 38

Political: concerns that governments have about how to use their money, power, and influence Social: ideas that people have about how they should treat others and the world around them Economic: ideas people have about how people should make and spend money

Question 39

Temperature vs. Thermal Energy

Answer 39

Temperature: average measure of kinetic energy | Thermal energy: total measure of kinetic energy

Question 40

Define heat

Answer 40

The transfer of thermal energy from a warmer object to a cooler object

Question 41

Physical vs. Chemical Properties

Answer 41

Physical Property: a characteristic of a substance that can be observed without changing it into another substance Chemical Property: a characteristic of a substance that describes its ability to change into different substances

Question 42

Why do we use Physical and Chemical Properties to classify elements?

Answer 42

These properties always stay the same and the amount of matter in an element does not change its state.

Question 43

Physical Changes vs. Chemical Changes

Answer 43

Physical change: when the appearance or form of a substance has changed, but no new substance is produced Chemical change: a change in matter that produces one or more new substances