Science Midterms Flashcards
1
Q
empirical evidence
A
All the measurements and data scientists gather in support of a scientific explanation
2
Q
theory
A
A well-supported explanation of nature. They help us understand the laws we observe
3
Q
law
A
a description of a specific relationship under given conditions in the natural world
4
Q
experiment
A
an organized procedure to study something under controlled conditions
5
Q
hypothesis
A
a testable idea or explanation that leads to scientific investigation
6
Q
dependent variable
A
the outcome variable. It’s the factor that changes as a result of manipulation of one or more independent variables
7
Q
observation
A
the process of obtaining information by using the senses
8
Q
independent variable
A
the test variable. it’s the factor that is deliberately manipulated in an investigation
9
Q
data
A
information gathered by observation or experimentation that can be used in calculating or reasoning. facts, figures, and other evidence scientists gather during an investigation.
10
Q
model
A
a visual or mathematical representation of an object or system
11
Q
engineering
A
the use of scientific and mathematical knowledge to solve practical problems. It applies knowledge to develop technology to solve real-life problems
12
Q
technology
A
the use of tools, materials, or processes to meet human needs.
13
Q
prototype
A
special models built to test a product
14
Q
trade-off
A
accepting risks in exchange for benefits or giving up one benefit to gain another
15
Q
risk-benefit analysis
A
compares the risks, or unfavorable effects, to the benefits, or favorable effects, of a decision or technology
16
Q
life cycle analysis
A
an evaluation of the materials and energy used for the manufacture, transportation, sale, use, and disposal of a product
17
Q
Pugh chart
A
a table used to compare the features of multiple items.
18
Q
planet
A
a spherical body that orbits the sun
19
Q
star
A
a large celestial body that is composed of gas and emits light
20
Q
galaxy
A
a large collection of stars, gas, and dust that is held together by gravity
21
Q
light-year
A
the distance light travels in one year
22
Q
universe
A
space and all the matter and energy in it
23
Q
star
A
a large celestial body that is composed of gas and emits light
24
Q
apparent magnitude
A
the measure of a star’s brightness as seen from Earth
25
luminosity
The actual brightness of a star
26
absolute magnitude
the measure of how bright a star would be if the star were located at a standard distance
27
solar system
the sun and all of the planets and other bodies that travel around it
28
heliocentric
sun-centered; the system of the universe in which the Earth and planets revolve around the sun
29
geocentric
Earth-centered; a system of planetary motion in which the sun, moon, and other planets revolve around the Earth
30
parallax
The apparent shift in the position of an object when viewed from different locations
31
gravity
a force of attraction between objects that is due to their masses and the distances between them
32
orbit
the path that a body follows as it travels around another body in space
33
aphelion
orbital point farthest from the sun
34
perihelion
orbital point nearest the sun
35
centripetal force
the inward force that acts on a body moving in a circular path
36
solar nebula
A large cloud of gas and dust such as the one that formed our solar system
37
planetesimal
a small body from which a planet originated in the early stages of development of the solar system
38
nuclear fusion
The process by which two or more small nuclei fuse to make a bigger nucleus
39
sunspot
Dark areas that form on the surface of the sun. They are cooler than the areas that surround them
40
solar flare
an explosive release of energy that comes from the sun and that is associated with magnetic disturbances on the sun's surface
41
prominence
A loop of gas that protrudes from the sun's surface, linking parts of sunspot regions
42
terrestrial planet
The name often given to the four inner planets: Mercury, Venus, Earth, and Mars. They are small, dense, and rocky
43
astronomical unit
The average distance between Earth and the sun, about 150 million kilometers
44
gas giant
The name often given to the first four outer planets: Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune. They have deep, massive gas atmospheres made up of hydrogen and helium
45
planetary ring
a disk of material that circles a planet and consists of orbiting particles
46
dwarf planet
a celestial body that orbits the sun and is round because of its own gravity. It does not have the mass to have cleared other bodies out of tis orbit around the sun. Often made of ice and rock
47
Kuiper belt
A region of the solar system that is just beyond the orbit of Neptune and that contains small bodies made mostly of ice
48
Kuiper belt object
One of the hundreds or thousands of minor planet-sized objects that orbit the sun in a flat belt beyond Neptune's orbit.
49
comet
a small body of ice, rock, and dust that follows a highly elliptical orbit around the sun. As it passes close to the sun, it gives off gas and dust in the form of a coma and a tail.
50
Oort cloud
A spherical region of comets that surrounds the solar system
51
asteroid
a small rocky body orbiting the sun
52
meteoroid
a sand grain to boulder-sized rocky body that travel through space
53
meteor
A streak of light in the sky produced by the burning of a meteoroid in Earth's atmosphere.
54
meteorite
A meteoroid that passes through the atmosphere and hits Earth's surface.
55
corona
outer atmosphere of the sun
56
chromosphere
The middle layer of the sun's atmosphere
57
photosphere
the visible surface of the sun
58
convective zone
a region of the sun where gases circulate in convection currents, bringing the sun's energy to the surface
59
radiative zone
the layer of the sun through which energy is transferred away from the core by radiation
60
core
the very dense center of the sun, where nuclear reactions produce energy
61
Kepler's first law
The orbit of each planet around the Sun is an ellipse with the Sun at one focus.
62
Kepler's second law
Planets move faster in their orbits when closer to the sun
63
Kepler's third law
If a planet's distance from the sun is greater, it takes longer to orbit the sun
64
What are the types of scientific knowledge?
Experiments & observations
65
What are the steps of the scientific method, in order?
Define a problem
Form a hypothesis
Make a prediction
Plan an investigation
Identify variables
collect and organize data
interpret data and analyze information
Draw and defend conclusions
66
What's the difference between real science and pseudoscience?
Real science is based on logic and can be tested. Pseudoscience cannot be tested because it is based on faulty logic.
67
What's the difference between independent, dependent, and constant variables?
Independent variables are what you are changing to see what happens.
Dependent variables are what you're measuring.
Constant variables are factors that stay the same and don't change.
68
When would you use a line, bar, or pie chart?
Line graph: shows change over time
Bar graph: compares 2 or more things to each other
Pie chart: shows parts of a whole in percentages
69
How do scientists organize, analyze, and present data?
With charts and graphs
70
What is the engineering design process?
Identify a need
Conduct research
Brainstorm and select solutions
Build a prototype
Testing, evaluating, and redesigning a prototype
Communicating results
71
How can we evaluate technology?
With a risk-benefit analysis, life cycle analysis, Pugh chart
72
How are engineering and society related?
Engineering starts with a societal need or want. Society decides what products they want to buy. If no one buys a product, it's pointless to make it.
73
What makes up the universe?
earth, the solar system, stars, and galaxies
74
What are some properties of stars?
brightness, size, composition, energy production
75
What is important to know about the sun?
The sun has 6 layers: corona, chromosphere, photosphere, convective zone, radiative zone, and core
76
How did ancient astronomers measure the brightness of stars and how has that practice changed since?
ancient astronomers described star brightness by magnitude. The brightest star was first magnitude, and the faintest star was sixth magnitude.
Today, the brightness scale goes from -2 to +30. The fainter the star, the larger the number.
77
What is the difference between a heliocentric and a geocentric model?
heliocentric shows planets orbiting the sun (true). the geocentric model places earth at the center of the universe (false)
78
How has our understanding of the solar system changed over time?
In the past, some scientists believed the earth was the center of the universe--now we know the sun is the center. Also, scientists used to believe the orbits were circular. Now we know they are elliptical.
79
Aristotle
384-322 BCE
Greek philosopher
Discovered parallax
Created one of the earliest models of the solar system
80
Aristarchus
310-230 BCE
Greek astronomer and mathematician
Nobody believed him, but he believed the sun was the center of the universe
81
Ptolemy
90 AD - 168 AD
Astronomer, geographer, and mathematician from Alexandria, Egypt
geocentric model
famous for his book the Algamest
82
Nicolaus Copernicus
1473-1543
Polish astronomer
heliocentric modelq
83
Tycho Brahe
(1546-1601)
Danish astronomer
Believed planets moved in perfect circles
84
Johannes Kepler
1571-1630
German astronomer and mathematician
discovered that planets have an elliptical orbit
85
Galileo Galilei
1564-1642
Italian astronomer
Proved the heliocentric model using the scientific method
Found moons that orbit Jupiter and Venus
86
Newton
1642-1727
English mathematician
Famous for publishing Principia Mathematica and discovered the law of universal gravitation.
87
What are the steps in the formation of a solar system?
A solar nebula collapses
The sun forms
Planetesimals form
Planets form
88
What planets are in our solar system and what makes them unique?
terrestrial planets: Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars
Gas giants: Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune
89
Mercury
Heavily cratered ball of rock. It's surface is like the moon. It is the planet closest to the sun. it has the most extreme temperature range in the solar system
Has a large iron core
90
Venus
Similar to Earth in size and mass
Has craters and volcanoes
Its atmosphere is toxic
91
Earth
Home sweet home
Abundant water and life
Geologically active
Humans have set foot on the moon
92
Mars
Rocky, red planet
Has interesting surface features like volcanoes
Has a thin atmosphere
Liquid water once flowed here
93
Jupiter
Huge storms travel across its surface
Weather on this planet is strange
Has the most moons
94
Saturn
Has a large ring system
Its moon Enceladus has water geysers
Liquid rock erupts from its volcanoes
Its moon Titan has a dense atmosphere
95
Uranus
Has a tilted axis
Seasons on this planet last 21 years
Its moon Miranda is active and constantly changing
96
Neptune
Blue ice giant
Practically a twin to its neighbor
Has the strongest winds
Its moon Triton has a unique orbit that's different from its other moons
97
