TSM & Characteristics Flashcards
Biology
The study of living things
Scientific Method
Way of solving a problem
Steps of scientific Method
(observation, hypothesis, experiments, data, conclusion, compare with existing knowledge, publish, theories & principals)
Observation
Using senses/machinery
Question
Questioning of what is observed
Hypothesis
A testable answer to question (educated guess)
experiment
Set of steps used to test if hypothesis is correct/controlled test
Result
Findings from experiment
Conclusion
Whether hypothesis was true or not
Compare
Compare with existing knowledge
Theory
Hypothesis supported by many experiments
Principal/law
Theory proven to be valid over long period of time
Variable (eg)
Factor that may change (eg. time, mass, volume)
Independent Variable (eg)
Factor changed by experimentor (eg. temperature)
Dependant Variable (eg)
The effect of the change (eg. time)
Fixed Variable (eg)
Do not change (eg. number of seeds/ volume of water)
Principles of Experimentation
(plan & design, safety procedures, random selection, large sample size, control group, double blind testing, change factor at a time, measure changes, analyse results, state possible sources of error, repeat experiment)
Control
Provides comparison against independent variable
Replicate
Something repeated
Ethics
Whether it’s right or wrong
Limitations of scientific method
(lack of basic knowledge, design of experiment, difficulty in interpreting results, changes in nature, accidental discoveries)
Metabolism
Chemical reactions that occur in cells of living organisms
Continuity of life
Living things arise from other living things of the same type
Anabolic reaction (eg)
Using energy to add smaller molecules together to create bigger ones (eg. photosynthesis)