Chapter 1 Flashcards
What is the goal of science?
To understand the world around us.
What is a scientific theory?
The most logical explanation for events that occur in nature.
What is a scientific law?
If a theory survives many tests and is generally accepted as true, scientists may call it a law.
What is geology?
The study of Earth’s origin, history, and structure.
What is meteorology?
The study of Earth’s atmosphere, weather, and climate.
What is astronomy?
The study of the planets, stars, and other objects in outer space.
What are the 7 steps of the scientific method?
Stating the problem. Gathering information on the problem. Forming a hypothesis. Performing experiments to test the hypothesis. Stating a conclusion. Repeating the work.
What is a hypothesis?
A proposed solution to a scientific problem.
What is a variable?
A variable in an experiment is the one factor that is being tested.
What is data?
Recorded observations and measurements.
What is a control?
The control setup is exactly like the experimental setup except that the control experiment does not contain the variable.
What is a meter?
The basic unit of length in the metric system. (Approximately 1 yard or 3 feet).
What is a centimeter?
One-hundredth of a meter. (A little smaller than half and inch or about the width of a pen).
What is a millimeter?
One-thousandth of a meter. (About the width of an uncooked spaghetti noodle).
What is a micrometer?
One-millionth of a meter. (Useful for measuring bacteria).
What is a nanometer?
One-billionth of a meter. (Also useful for measuring bacteria).
What is a kilometer?
One thousand meters. (About 6/10ths of a mile. Useful for measuring large things like rivers).
What is a light-year?
The distance light travels in one year. (About 9.5 trillion kilometers, or almost 6 trillion miles).
What is volume?
A measure of the amount of space an object takes up.
What is a liter?
The basic metric unit of volume. (Approximately 1 quart).
What is a milliliter?
One-thousandth of a liter.
What is a cubic centimeter? (cc or cm3)
Exactly equal to a milliliter, but the term is used for measuring the volume of solids.
What is a kilogram?
The basic SI unit of mass.
What is mass?
The measure of the amount of matter in an object.
What is a gram?
A kilogram is 1000 grams. One gram is about the mass of a paper clip.
What is weight?
A measure of the attraction between two objects due to gravity.
What is a newton?
The basic unit of weight in the metric system. (Approximately equal to the weight of an apple on Earth).
What is density?
The mass per unit volume of a substance.
What is the mathematical formula for density?
Density = Mass / Volume
What is the metric unit for temperature?
Celsius
What is the freezing point of water in metric?
0 degrees Celsius
What is the boiling point of water in metric?
100 degrees Celsius
What is a comfortable room temperature in metric?
About 20 degrees Celsius
What is the difference between a microscope and a telescope?
A microscope is used for looking at very small things. A telescope is used for looking at large things that are far away.
What is a refracting telescope?
A telescope that uses lenses to collect and focus light.
What is a reflecting telescope?
A telescope that uses mirrors to collect and focus light. (Note that the eyepiece may use lenses).
What is a radio telescope?
Usually shaped like a large dish, for gathering and focusing radio waves onto an antenna.
What is the most important safety rule in the science laboratory?
Always follow your teacher’s directions or the directions in your textbook exactly as stated.
