the nature of science Flashcards
bias
In scientific circles, bias is described as any systematic deviation between the results of a study and the “truth.” Bias is sometimes described as a tendency to prefer one thing over another, or to favor one person, thing or explanation in a way that prevents objectivity or that influences the outcome of a study or …
constant
In math and science, a constant is a number that is fixed and known, unlike a variable which changes with the context.
Control
In scientific experiments, a scientific control is one in which the subject or a group would not be tested for the dependent variable(s). … A study with control(s) is designed to ensure that the effects are due to the independent variables in the experiment.
density
Density, mass of a unit volume of a material substance. The formula for density is d = M/V, where d is density, M is mass, and V is volume. Density is commonly expressed in units of grams per cubic centimetre. … For example, the density of air is 1.2 kilograms per cubic metre.
dependant variable
A dependent variable is what you measure in the experiment and what is affected during the experiment. … It is called dependent because it “depends” on the independent variable. In a scientific experiment, you cannot have a dependent variable without an independent variable.
experiment
a procedure carried out under controlled conditions in order to discover an unknown effect or law, to test or establish a hypothesis, or to illustrate a known law. 2 : the process of testing : experimentation.
graph
a diagram (as a series of one or more points, lines, line segments, curves, or areas) that represents the variation of a variable in comparison with that of one or more other variables.
hypothesis
scientific hypothesis, an idea that proposes a tentative explanation about a phenomenon or a narrow set of phenomena observed in the natural world.
independent variable
The independent variable is the variable the experimenter manipulates or changes and is assumed to have a direct effect on the dependent variable. … In an experiment, the researcher is looking for the possible effect on the dependent variable that might be caused by changing the independent variable.
mass
Mass, in physics, quantitative measure of inertia, a fundamental property of all matter. It is, in effect, the resistance that a body of matter offers to a change in its speed or position upon the application of a force. The greater the mass of a body, the smaller the change produced by an applied force.
model
A scientific model is a physical and/or mathematical and/or conceptual representation of a system of ideas, events, or processes. Scientists seek to identify and understand patterns in our world by drawing on their scientific knowledge to offer explanations that enable the patterns to be predicted.
scientific law
A scientific law is a statement that describes an observable occurrence in nature that appears to always be true. … In science, sometimes a law is called a ‘principle’. The law or principle may describe only the occurrence, or it may describe the occurrence and predict it as well.
scientific method
a method of research in which a problem is identified, relevant data are gathered, a hypothesis is formulated from these data, and the hypothesis is empirically tested.
standard
In metrology (the science of measurement), a standard (or etalon) is an object, system, or experiment that bears a defined relationship to a unit of measurement of a physical quantity. Standards are the fundamental reference for a system of weights and measures, against which all other measuring devices are compared.
technology
Technology (“science of craft”, from Greek τέχνη, techne, “art, skill, the cunning of hand”; and -λογία, -logia) is the sum of techniques, skills, methods, and processes used in the production of goods or services or in the accomplishment of objectives, such as scientific investigation.
