science & engineering Flashcards
scientific method
the way scientist study and learn about the world
observation
Using your five senses to gather information about something
Qualitative Observation
Using your senses to describe the characteristics of an object-color, texture, taste
Inference
An explanation of an observation based on prior knowledge.
Hypothesis
A prediction based on prior knowledge. Always written in an if then statement.
Variable
Any factor that can be manipulated, controlled for, or measured in an experiment.
Control Variable
What must stay the same in
the experiment.
Independent Variable
The thing that you are testing or changing in an experiment and it is graphed on the X-axis.
conclusion
What you are measuring or observing in an experiment and it is graphed on the Y-axis.
Claim
Is the answer to the question you are
trying to answer.
Evidence
Scientific data that supports your claim.
Reasoning
The how or why the evidence supports our claim; scientific rule
