Chapter 2 - The World Of Science Flashcards
How do scientist form scientific explanations?
Scientist use methods such as researching information, designing experiments, and making models to form a scientific explanation
Empirical evidence
Data and observations that have been collected through scientific process.
Opinion
An idea that may be formed from evidence but has not been confirmed by evidence
Controversy
A public disagreement between groups.
How do scientist affect society?
Scientist can change society by defending their work in the face of controversy.
How does scientific knowledge change?
Scientific knowledge changes as a result of new evidence or new interpretation of existing evidence
Scientific theory
A well tested explanation for a wide range of observations or experimental results
Scientific law
A statement that describes what scientists expect to happen every time under a particular set of conditions.
Unlike a theory, a scientific law describes an observed pattern in nature without attempting to explain it.
Model
Any representation of an object or process.
Scientists use models to understand things they cannot observed directly
What is a system?
The system is a group of parts that work together to perform a function or produce a result
Input
The material or energy that goes into a system
Process
What happens in the system
Output
The material or energy that comes out of a system
Feedback
I’ll put that changes the system in someway
How are models of systems used?
Scientist use models to understand how systems work. They also use models to predict changes in the system as a result of feedback or input changes
