chapter 2 vocab.

Question 1

observation

Answer 1

The Earth’s atmosphere, oceans and landscapes are changing rapidly

Question 2

hypothesis

Answer 2

a tentative explanation for an observation.

Question 3

prediction

Answer 3

made in advance that express the results that will be obtained from testing a hypothesis if the hypothesis is supported.

Question 4

experiment

Answer 4

Procedures that are carried out under controlled conditions to discover, demonstrate, or test a fact, theory or general truth.

Question 5

variable

Answer 5

any item, factor, or condition that can be controlled or changed.

Question 6

experimental group

Answer 6

experiment that is identical to the control group except for one factor that is compared with the control’s group.

Question 7

control group

Answer 7

a group separated from the rest of the experiment

Question 8

data

Answer 8

based on the measurement of environmental pressures, the state of the environment and the impacts on ecosystems.

Question 9

correlation

Answer 9

a measure of the extent to which two variables are related

Question 10

statistics

Answer 10

the application of statistical methods to environmental science

Question 11

mean

Answer 11

the study of the nature and behaviour of natural things and the knowledge that we obtain about them

Question 12

distribution

Answer 12

Geographic area where individuals of a species occur.

Question 13

probability

Answer 13

the chance that an event will happen

Question 14

sample

Answer 14

involves the isolation and careful gathering of specimens of interest in a given environmental study.

Question 15

risk

Answer 15

risk to be the chance of harmful effects to human health or to ecological systems resulting from exposure to an environmental stressor.

Question 16

model

Answer 16

A simplification of reality that is constructed to gain insights into select attributes of a physical, biological, economic, or social system

Question 17

conceptual model

Answer 17

how things in our surrounding environment work.

Question 18

mathematical model

Answer 18

one or more equations that represent the way system or process works.

Question 19

value

Answer 19

value or worth of objects that provide a means to some desirable end, that satisfy some human needs and wants.

Question 20

decision-making model

Answer 20

a conceptual model that provides a systematic process for making decisions.