The Nature of Science Flashcards
Bias
a preference for or against one idea, thing or person.
constant
A quantity that is unknown but assumed to have a fixed value in a specified mathematical context.
control
one in which the subject or a group would not be tested for the dependent variable
density
mass per unit volume
dependent variable
something that depends on other factors
experiment
a scientific test in which you perform a series of actions and carefully observe their effects in
graph
A line or tracing denoting varying values of commodities, temperatures, urinary output, etc
hypothesis
an idea that proposes a tentative explanation about a phenomenon or a narrow set of phenomena observed in the natural world.
independent variable
variable that stands alone and isn’t changed by the other variables you are trying to measure
mass
both a property of a physical body and a measure of its resistance to acceleration when a net force is applied
model
a physical and/or mathematical and/or conceptual representation of a system of ideas, events or processes
scientific law
statements, based on repeated experiments or observations, that describe or predict a range of natural phenomena.
scientific method
a method of procedure that has characterized natural science since the 17th century, consisting in systematic observation, measurement, and experiment, and the formulation, testing, and modification of hypotheses.
standard
an object, system, or experiment that bears a defined relationship to a unit of measurement of a physical quantity
technology
the application of scientific knowledge for practical purposes, especially in industry.
