Unit 1 Flashcards
fact
a confirmed observation; can change
theory
well-tested and substantial explanation. Stable, but can change
law
descriptive generalization about nature. Can be used to make predictions. Stable, but can change
proof
no meaning; all science is tentative
hypothesis
a statement capable of being falsified; not a question
scientific method
no such thing; there are a wide variety of ways to generate evidence-based understanding
model
a tool used to advance scientific understanding of a phenomenon by the user of the tool
argument (argumentation)
the use of claims. evidence, and reasoning (CER) to convince others
pattern
observable features of the natural world that occur repeatedly
processes
the cause of a pattern
laws are most closely related to
patterns
theories are most closely related to
processes
Theories become laws (T/F)
false. a theory and law cannot become one another due to the simple nature of their definitions
Theories generally lack evidence (T/F)
false. theories are generally well-supported and highly trusted means of explaining phenomenons
Theories are complex (T/F)
true. explanations are complex so are theories
Patterns emerge from repeated inferences about naturally occurring observations (T/F)
false. patterns are not inferences, they are observations.
Good models should
account for all data at hand
predict results of future tests
provide more insight into phenomena than already known