Nature of Science Terms

Question 1

constants

Answer 1

factors in an experiment that remain the same.

Question 2

control group

Answer 2

the part of an experiment that contains the same factors as the experimental group, but the independent variable is not changed.

Question 3

dependent variable

Answer 3

the factor measured or observed during an experiment.

Question 4

hypothesis

Answer 4

a possible explanation about an observation that can be tested by scientific investigation.

Question 5

independent variable

Answer 5

the factor that is changed by the investigator to observe how it affects a dependent variable.

Question 6

observation

Answer 6

the act of using one or more of your senses to gather information and take note of what occurs.

Question 7

qualitative data

Answer 7

the use of words to describe what is observed in an experiment.

Question 8

quantitative data

Answer 8

the use of numbers to describe what is observed in an experiment.

Question 9

scientific law

Answer 9

a rule that describes a pattern in nature.

Question 10

scientific theory

Answer 10

an explanation of observations or events based on knowledge gained from many observations and investigations.

Question 11

constraints

Answer 11

limitations put on the design of a solution.

Question 12

cost-benefit analysis

Answer 12

a process of comparing the predicted benefits and costs of a solution.

Question 13

criteria

Answer 13

requirements or specifications for a solution to be successful.

Question 14

engineering

Answer 14

the application of science and mathematics to solve problems.

Question 15

engineering design process

Answer 15

a series of steps used to find the solution to specific problems.

Question 16

prototype

Answer 16

a model that is used to test a design.

Question 17

accuracy

Answer 17

a description of how close a measurement is to an accepted value.

Question 18

cost effectiveness

Answer 18

the degree to which something produces benefits compared to its cost.

Question 19

credibility

Answer 19

the confidence that can be placed in the truth of scientific findings.

Question 20

trade-off

Answer 20

a situation in which you must choose between two things, giving up one in exchange for the other.

Question 21

significant digits

Answer 21

numbers that convey the meaning according to its accuracy.

Question 22

scientific abstract

Answer 22

a quick overview of a scientific paper that summarizes what was done and learned in an investigation.

Question 23

anomalous data

Answer 23

rare events, items, or observations in a data set that are suspicious because they differ significantly from standard behaviors or patterns.

Question 24

line of best fit

Answer 24

a line drawn onto a scatter plot that shows the mathematical relationship between the variables in the form of an equation.

Question 25

error

Answer 25

differences between observed values and what is true in nature.

Question 26

percentage error

Answer 26

measures the difference between an observed value and a theoretical value as a percentage of that theoretical value.

Question 27

random error

Answer 27

measurements that differ from the true value inconsistently that are caused by slight fluctuations in an instrument, the environment, or the way a measurement is read that are different every time.

Question 28

systematic error

Answer 28

measurements that are consistently different from the true value in nature, often due to limitations of either the instruments or the procedure.

Question 29

superstition

Answer 29

a belief or way of behaving that is based on fear of the unknown and the view that the world is inherently unpredictable and unexplainable by logical methodologies.

Question 30

international system of units

Answer 30

a system of physical units that are based on powers of ten that are used by scientists around the world. Also called the "Metric System"

Question 31

meter

Answer 31

SI unit for distance, that was originally based on the distance from the equator to the north pole

Question 32

gram

Answer 32

SI unit for mass, based on the mass of 1cm3 of pure water.

Question 33

liter

Answer 33

SI unit for volume, equal in size to a cube 10cm x 10cm x 10 cm.

Question 34

kelvin

Answer 34

SI unit for temperature, uses degrees that are equal in size to the celsius scale but with zero set to the lowest possible temperature in the universe.

Question 35

celsius

Answer 35

A commonly used temperature system used by scientists, zero degrees is the temperature at which water freezes and 100 degrees is the temperature at which water boils.

Question 36

newton

Answer 36

SI unit for force, equal to the strength of a push required to accelerate a 1 kg object at a rate of 1 m/s2

Question 37

mean

Answer 37

The mathematical average of a set of data, calculated by adding all values together and dividing by the number of values there were.

Question 38

median

Answer 38

The middle number in a set of data that has been ordered from lowest to highest.

Question 39

outlier

Answer 39

an observation that lies an abnormal distance from other values in a random sample from other values in a data set.

Question 40

repetition

Answer 40

when someone conducts multiple trials of their same experiment to reduce the effect of errors.

Question 41

replication

Answer 41

when a different scientist conducts another scientist's procedure and observes whether the prior finding is the same or different.

Question 42

scientific model

Answer 42

a physical and/or mathematical and/or conceptual representation of a system of ideas, events or processes.

Question 43

objective

Answer 43

an attempt to uncover truths about the natural world by eliminating personal biases, emotions, and false beliefs.

Question 44

subjective

Answer 44

centered on a person's own mind and perspectives, as opposed to being general, universal, or scientific.

Question 45

empirical evidence

Answer 45

information gathered directly or indirectly through observation or experimentation that is replicably obtained.

Question 46

second

Answer 46

SI unit for time, this is the only SI unit that is not based on the power of ten.

Question 47

milli-

Answer 47

SI prefix meaning 1/1000th.

Question 48

centi-

Answer 48

SI prefix meaning 1 /100th.

Question 49

kilo-

Answer 49

SI prefix meaning 1000.