science and life

Question 1

what is science

Answer 1

the concerted human effort to understand, or to understand better, the history of the natural world

Question 2

experimental science

Answer 2

a chemist observing the rates of one chemical reaction at a variety of temperatures (an experiment)

Question 3

observational science

Answer 3

an ecologist observing the territorial behaviors of bluebirds (an observation)

Question 4

inductive reasoning

Answer 4

• begins with specific observations (facts), draws general conclusions
• used to form scientific hypothesis
  ex. ive noticed that every time I kick a ball up, it comes down. So, I guess the next time I pick it up, it will come back down too

Question 5

deductive reasoning

Answer 5

• starts with general idea, makes specific predictions that follow logically
• used to generate testable predictions, to test hypothesis
  ex. that’s newton’s law. everything that goes up must come down. so, if you kick the ball up, it must come down

Question 6

scientific method (epistemological cycle)

Answer 6

pre: observe and question
1. hypothesis
a. make prediction
2. experiment (gather data)
b. analysis of data
3. results
c. make a decision
4. conclusion

Question 7

hypothesis

Answer 7

• a statement that provides some explanation for the observed facts
• must be testable and falsifiable (can be falsified but never proven true)

Question 8

qualitative

Answer 8

• quality (colors, smells, etc)
• subjective

Question 9

quantitative

Answer 9

• numbers
• facts or measurements

Question 10

dependent variable

Answer 10

• what’s measured
• one variable will be measured, counted, or observed

Question 11

independent variable

Answer 11

one variable will be manipulated

Question 12

controlled variable

Answer 12

quantities that remain constant
(experiments need to have at least one controlled variable to know what exactly is affecting your results)

Question 13

procedure

Answer 13

method or sequence of steps performed for the experiment

Question 14

replication

Answer 14

repeating the experiment many times (hopefully getting consistent results)

Question 15

control

Answer 15

independent variable is held at a constant level or omitted

Question 16

biology

Answer 16

the study of life (bios=life; logia=study of)

Question 17

life

Answer 17

no easy, standard answer

Question 18

how many characteristics of life are there?

Answer 18

8

Question 19

living things…

Answer 19

1. assimilate and use energy
2. can respond to their environment
3. maintain relatively constant internal conditions
4. possess an inherited information base in DNA
5. can reproduce
6. are composed of 1 or more cells
7. evolved from other living things
8. are highly organized on different levels

Question 20

energy

Answer 20

the capacity to do work

Question 21

every living cell has the ability to…

Answer 21

• obtain and convert energy from its surroundings
• use energy to maintain itself, grow, and make more cells

Question 22

metabolism

Answer 22

• the set of chemical reactions that occur in living organisms to maintain life
• allows organisms to grow and reproduce, maintain their structures, and respond to their environment

Question 23

receptors

Answer 23

• molecules and structures that detect stimuli
• organisms sense changes in their surroundings (light, heat, sound, chemical and mechanical contact)

Question 24

stimulus

Answer 24

a form of energy that a receptor can detect

Question 25

homeostasis

Answer 25

• maintain relatively constant internal conditions
• homeo=same; stasis=stop
• similar to having a heating / cooling system in your house

Question 26

sexual reproduction

Answer 26

requires two cells from different individuals to unite to produce the first cell of a new organism

Question 27

asexual reproduction

Answer 27

a single organism can reproduce without the aid of another
ex. binary fission and budding

Question 28

unicellular

Answer 28

one cell; can’t be seen without a microscope
ex. amoeba, bacterium, paramecium

Question 29

multicellular

Answer 29

organisms composed of many cells