chapter 2: Principles of Science & Systems

Closed system

No energy or matter enters/exits.

1. Controlled study

1. Only one variable changes.

1. Deductive reasoning

1. General → specific.

1. Disturbances

1. Events that disrupt systems.

1. Emergent properties

1. New traits from system parts.

1. Homeostasis

1. Maintaining internal balance.

1. Inductive reasoning

1. Specific → general.

1. Mean

1. Average value.

1. Models

1. Simplified representations of reality.

1. Natural experiment

1. Observing changes without manipulation.

1. Open system

1. Energy or matter flows in/out.

1. Paradigm shift

1. Big change in scientific thinking.

Replication

Repeating study for verification.

1. Reproducibility

1. Ability to get same results again.

Resilience

System’s ability to recover.

1. Science

1. Systematic study of nature.

Scientific consensus

General agreement among scientists.

1. Science literacy

1. Understanding science concepts.

1. Scientific theory

1. Well-supported explanation.

1. Significant figure

1. Important digits in a number.

1. State shift

1. Major system change.

Statistics

Analyzing data.

1. System

1. Interconnected parts working together.

Throughput

Flow of resources in a system.

Know what the scientific method is and what it is used for

• Steps to solve problems or answer questions. Used for testing ideas with evidence

Sample size

• Number of subjects in a study

Independent variable

• What you change in an experiment

Dependent variable

• What you measure or observe

Controlled variable

• What you keep the same in an experiment

Experimental group

• Group that gets the change or treatment

Control group

• Group that does not get the change, used for comparison

Placebo

• Fake treatment with no real effect, used to compare results

Recognize the limits of scientific inquiry

• Prove truth 100%, moral or opinions, limited by technology and data, results can change with new information 

Understand the concepts of homeostasis and how positive/negative feedback affect it

N: keeps homeostasis stable by correcting changes; P: temporarily moves away from balance but helps processes (like childbirth).

List examples of scientific consensus

• Climate change is real, germs cause disease, Earth orbits the sun

List examples of paradigm shifts

• Earth-centered, then learned we are sun-centered and continental drift, then learned about plate tectonics