BSU ENTRANCE EXAM REVIEWER SCIENCE

Science

The systematic study through observation and experimentation. The building and organizing of knowledge by following scientific method

Formal Science Social Science Natural Science

Branches of Science

Formal Science

Branch of science that deals with abstract structures in formal systems, including mathematical and logic.

Social Science

Branch of science that deals with human behaviour around its social and cultural aspects

Natural Science

Branch of science that studies natural phenomena using empirical evidence

Biology

Study of life

Physical Science

Mainly focuses on non living systems

Physics

The study of matter on how it behaves through space and time

Chemistry

The study of matter and its characteristics, behaviour, and the changes it undergoes

Astronomy

The study of outer space

Earth Science

The study of Earth as a planet

Research

The act of systematically studying to find answers to a scientific problem, undertaken to build science by increasing its stock of knowledge.

Induction

Refers to when a specific observation is used to make a general claim To make theories

Deduction

Premises are used to make specific conclusions To test theories

Scientific Method

The empirical method for acquiring knowledge.

Identify the problem Make observations State the hypothesis Test the hypothesis (experiment) Analyze and interpret resulting data Draw conclusions

Steps of Scientific method

Experimentation

Part of scientific method, a controlled investigation of natural phenomena.

Hypothesis testing

A process where a researcher formulates an educated guess to explain a phenomenon, and conduct necessary tests to determine whether to accept or reject the hypothesis

Alternative hypothesis

A guess that there is a significant relationship among the dependent and independent variables.

Null Hypothesis

A guess that there is no significant relationship among the two variables.

Theory

Well-supported, testable experimentation of natural phenomena

Law/ scientific law

A statement that describes or predicts an observed natural phenomenon

Axiom

A statement which everyone agrees is true

Postulate

A statement which is true in mathematical context

Pseudoscience

An approach to gathering knowledge that claims to be scientific, butt violates tenets of science

Paradigm

A framework of thoughts from which reality is interpreted

Measurement

The quantification of attributes of an object which can be compared with other objects with the same attributes

Measurement Errors

Errors are the difference between the measured and the actual values

Systematic errors

Occurs when an error is caused by a predictable cause

Negligent Error

Sometimes called as gross errors, happens when the operator of the measuring device is at fault

Random errors

Often fleeting, and may not be attributed to a singular cause.

Absolute error

The difference between the measured value and actual value

Relative error

The ratio of the absolute error to the expected value

Accuracy

The measurements which are close to the true value of the object.

Precision

Measurements which are close to each other

Significant figures

The number of digits in the result that are known with some degree of reliability

Scientific notation

It is used when writing very large or very small numbers