Key Terms Flashcards
The study of forces, energy and motion
Physics
The study of atoms and molecules
Chemistry
The study of earth’s structure and composition, as well as the processes that change Earth.
Earth Science
An experiment in which a scientist intentionally changes one quantity and observes how another quantity changes
Controlled Experiment
The changing quantities in an experiment
variables
The variable that is changed by the experimenter in an experiment
independent variable
The variable that changes because of the independent variable
dependent variable
The variable that scientists do not wish to study that needs to either be eliminated or kept constant
control variable
Experiments in which systems are observed as they appear in nature, and researchers do not attempt to change them
observational studies
Observational studies done outside a laboratory setting
field studies
Experiments that take place in a highly controlled, artificial setting
laboratory studies
A model that represents a real object or a phenomenon, usually on a smaller scale
laboratory studies
A model that can be used to visualize things that cannot be seen, such as atoms
conceptual model
A model that describes physical objects or phenomena using mathematical methods
mathematical model
A model that uses computers to explain and predict complex systems, such as weather patterns and the detailed movements of objects in the solar system
computer model
A mathematical relationship between two variables whose ratio remains constant as their numerical values change (synonymous with positive correlation)
direct proportionality
A mathematical relationship between variables in which an increase in the value of one causes a decrease in the value of the other (synonymous with negative correlation)
inverse proportionality
A lack of relationship between variables on a graph; a change in one value does not affect the other
no correlation
A parameter that quantifies the relative changes in variables that are directly or inversely proportional
proportionality constant
The point on a graph where the value of both x and y axes are zero
origin of the plot
A type of graph comparing two variables as data points in Cartesian, x-y coordinates
scatterplot
A quantity that compares the values of two variables expressed as a fraction
ratio
