Chapter 1 - What Is Science? Flashcards

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1
Q

Pose

A

To pose is to put forward a question or problem

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2
Q

Evidence

A

Facts, figures, or signs that help prove a statement are all pieces of evidence

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3
Q

Science

A

Science as a way of learning about the natural world.

Scientists use skills such as observing, inferring, predicting, classifying, evaluating and making models to study the world.

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4
Q

Inferring

A

When you explain or interpret the things you observe. Inferring is not guessing. Inferences on based on reasoning from what you already know.

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5
Q

Predicting

A

Making a statement or claim about what will happen in the future based on past experience or evidence

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6
Q

Classifying

A

Grouping together items that are alike in someway

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7
Q

Evaluating

A

Comparing observations and data to reach a conclusion about them

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8
Q

Making models

A

Creating representations of complex objects or processes. Some models can be touched such as a map. Others are in the form of mathematical equations or computer programs.

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9
Q

Variables

A

Factors that can change in an experiment

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10
Q

Independent variable

A

A factor that is changed to test a hypothesis

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11
Q

Dependent veritable

A

Changes in response to the Independent variable

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12
Q

What attitudes help you think scientifically?

A

Curiosity, honesty, creativity, open-mindedness, skepticism, good ethics, and awareness of bias.

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13
Q

Skepticism

A

Having an attitude of doubt

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14
Q

Ethics

A

The rules that enable people to know right from wrong

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15
Q

Personal bias

A

Persons likes or dislikes

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16
Q

Cultural bias

A

Stems from a culture in which a person grows up

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17
Q

Experimental bias

A

Mistake in the design of an experiment that makes a particular result more likely

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18
Q

Objective

A

Means that you make decisions and draw conclusions based on available evidence

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19
Q

Subjective

A

Means that personal feelings have entered into a decision or conclusion

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20
Q

Deductive reasoning

A

Explaining things by stating with a general idea and then applying the idea to a specific observation

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21
Q

Inductive reasoning

A

Specific observations to make generalizations

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22
Q

Metric system

A

Measurement system based on the number 10

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23
Q

International system of units

A

SI. Modern scientist use a version of the metric system called SI aka International system of units

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24
Q

Mass

A

Measure of the amount of matter in an object.

Basic unit for measuring mass is the kilogram

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25
Q

Weight

A

Measure of the force of gravity acting on an object

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26
Q

Volume

A

Amount of space and object or substance takes up. Basic unit of measurement volume is (cm3) cubic centimeters.

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27
Q

Meniscus

A

To measure the volume of a liquid read the level at the bottom of the meniscus, or the curve.

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28
Q

Density

A

Measure of how much mass is contained in a given volume.

Basic unit is kilograms per cubic meter

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29
Q

Length

A

Distance from one point to another.

Basic unit of measuring length is the meter

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30
Q

Temperature

A

The basic unit of measurement for temperature is Kalvin.

Celsius is also used, but not the official one.

31
Q

Time

A

Basic unit to measure time is seconds

32
Q

What math skills do scientist use?

A

Estimation, accuracy and precision, and significant figures

33
Q

Estimate

A

Approximation of a number based on reasonable assumptions

34
Q

Accuracy

A

How close a measurement is to the true or excepted value

35
Q

Precision

A

How close a group of measurements are to each other

36
Q

Significant figures

A

Measurement include all digits measured exactly, plus one estimated digit

37
Q

What math tools do scientist use?

A

Calculating percent error’s, finding the mean, median, mode, and range, and checking the reasonableness of data

38
Q

Mean

A

The numerical average of a set of data

39
Q

Median

A

The middle number of a set of data

40
Q

Mode

A

Number that appears most often in a list of numbers

41
Q

Range

A

the difference between the greatest value in the least value in a data set

42
Q

Percent error

A

Calculations are a way to determine how accurate and experimental value is

43
Q

Anomalous data

A

Data that do not fit with the rest of the data set

44
Q

Graph

A

A picture of your data

45
Q

Process

A

A process is a series of actions or events

46
Q

Line graph

A

Display data that shows how one variable changes in response to another variable.

Powerful tools in science because they allow you to identify trends, make predictions, and recognize anomalous data

47
Q

Linear graph

A

Line graph in which data points yield straight line

48
Q

Nonlinear graph

A

A line graph in which the data points do not fall along a straight line

49
Q

What is scientific inquiry?

A

Refers to the diverse ways in which scientists study the natural world and propose explanations based on evidence they gather

50
Q

Hypothesis

A

A possible answer to a scientific question

51
Q

Experiment

A

Must follow sound scientific principles for its results to be valid

52
Q

Controlled experiment

A

Experiment in which only one variable is manipulated at a time

53
Q

Data

A

Facts, figures, and other evidence gathered through qualitative and quantitative observations

54
Q

Repeated trials

A

Repetition of an experiment

55
Q

Replication

A

Another scientist repeats your experiment

56
Q

How do we gain scientific knowledge?

A

Observations in modeling are two other ways of gaining scientific knowledge

57
Q

Observing

A

Using your senses together information

58
Q

How do you measure volume of liquids?

A

With a graduated cylinder

59
Q

How do you measure volume of a rectangle solid?

A

Length x width x height

60
Q

How do you measure the volume of an regular solid?

A

With the graduated cylinder.

You see what the difference is when you drop the rock in the water.

61
Q

How do you measure density?

A

Density equals mass over volume

D=m/v

62
Q

Scientific theory

A

Well tested explanation for a wide range of observations or experimental results

63
Q

Scientific law

A

A statement that describes what scientists expect to happen every time under a particular set of conditions.

Unlike theory a scientific law describes an observed patterns in nature without attempting to explain it.

64
Q

Scientific explanation

A

Describe how something works or why something happens

65
Q

Empirical evidence

A

Data and observations that have been collected through scientific process

66
Q

Opinion

A

An idea that may be formed from evidence but has not been confirmed by evidence

67
Q

Controversy

A

Scientist can change society by defending their work in the face of controversy. Discovery which conflicts with the beliefs of society or its leaders.

68
Q

Scientific knowledge

A

Results of new evidence or near interpretation of existing evidence can change scientific knowledge.

69
Q

Model

A

Any representation of an object or process

70
Q

System

A

A group of parts that work together to perform a function or produce a result

71
Q

Input

A

The material or energy that goes into a system

72
Q

Process

A

What happens in the system

73
Q

Output

A

Material or energy that comes out of the system

74
Q

Feedback

A

Output that changes the system in someway