chapter 1 vocab - what is science

Question 1

observation

Answer 1

process of noticing and describing events or process in a careful, orderly way

Question 2

inference

Answer 2

a logical interpretation based on prior knowledge and experience

Question 3

hypothesis

Answer 3

possible explanation for a set of observations or a possible answer to a scientific question

Question 4

controlled experiment

Answer 4

experiment in which only one variable is changed

Question 5

independent variable

Answer 5

Factor in a controlled experiment that is deliberately

Question 6

dependent variable

Answer 6

variable that is observed and that changes in response to the independent variable; also called the responding variable

Question 7

control group

Answer 7

group in an experiment that is exposed to the same conditions as the experimental group except for one independent variable

Question 8

data

Answer 8

evidence; information gathered from observations

Question 9

theory

Answer 9

well-tested explanation that unifies a brood range of observations and hypothesis, and enables scientists to make accurate predications about new situations