Investigating Science

Syllabus

Observation

The action or process of closely monitoring phenomena to gather qualitative and quantitative data.

Hypothesis

A testable prediction or explanation that links the independent and dependent variables in a scientific investigation.

Qualitative Data

Information describing qualities or characteristics, often collected without numerical measurement.

Quantitative Data

Data that can be measured and expressed numerically, allowing for statistical analysis.

Independent Variable

The variable that is changed or controlled in a scientific experiment.

Dependent Variable

The variable being tested and measured in a scientific experiment.

Controlled Variable

Variables that are kept constant to ensure that changes in the dependent variable are caused by the independent variable.

Primary Data

Original data collected through direct experimentation or observation.

Secondary Data

Data collected from previously published sources to support or validate primary data.

Validity

The extent to which an experiment accurately measures what it is intended to measure.

Reliability

The consistency of measurements or results over repeated trials.

Cause and Effect

A relationship where one event (the cause) directly results in another event (the effect).

Inference

A conclusion drawn from observations and evidence rather than direct measurement.

Generalisation

A broad conclusion derived from specific observations or data points.

Pattern Recognition

The ability to identify recurring trends or sequences in data, influencing scientific investigation.

Assumption

A belief or statement taken for granted without proof, often used as a starting point in scientific investigation.

Hypothesis Testing

Conducting an investigation to determine if a hypothesis is supported or refuted by the collected data.

Pareidolia

The tendency to perceive familiar patterns, such as faces, in random stimuli.

Outliers

Data points that differ significantly from other observations and may indicate variability or error.

Collaboration in Science

Working with others to refine hypotheses and investigations through shared perspectives and peer feedback.

Scientific Model

A simplified representation of a concept or system used to predict outcomes and enhance understanding.

Physical Model

A tangible representation of an object or system, such as a replica, used to demonstrate scientific principles.

Mathematical Model

A system represented using mathematical equations and formulas to predict behavior or outcomes.

Computer Simulation

A digital model that simulates real-world phenomena for scientific analysis and prediction.

Analogy in Science

A comparison between two different things to highlight similarities and explain complex concepts.

Model Limitations

Simplifications or assumptions in a scientific model that may lead to inaccuracies.

Refinement of Models

The process of improving models based on new evidence or data.

Atomic Model

A representation of atomic structure used to explain atomic behavior and reactions.

Climate Model

A computational model used to simulate Earth's climate and predict future changes.

Scientific Theory

A well-substantiated explanation of natural phenomena, supported by evidence and experimentation.

Scientific Law

A consistent statement describing a natural phenomenon, often expressed mathematically, with no known exceptions.

Conservation of Mass

The principle that mass is neither created nor destroyed in a closed system during a chemical reaction.

Plate Tectonics Theory

The theory that Earth's outer shell is divided into large plates that move and interact, causing earthquakes and volcanic activity.

Germ Theory

The theory that microorganisms cause many diseases.

Oxygen Theory of Combustion

The theory that combustion occurs when a substance reacts with oxygen.

Geocentric Theory

The discredited theory that Earth is the center of the Universe.

Steady State Theory

The discredited theory that the Universe is always expanding while maintaining a constant density.

Law of Conservation of Energy

The principle that energy cannot be created or destroyed but can be transformed.

Mendel’s Law of Dominance

A principle of inheritance stating that one allele masks the expression of another allele.

Newton’s Second Law of Motion

F=ma, the force acting on an object is equal to its mass multiplied by its acceleration.

Avogadro’s Law

Equal volumes of gases, at the same temperature and pressure, contain an equal number of molecules.

Particle Accelerators

Devices that accelerate charged particles to high speeds and energies, enabling experiments that probe the fundamental structure of matter.

Periodic Table Development

The arrangement of chemical elements based on their atomic number, electron configurations, and recurring chemical properties, developed through scientific collaboration.

Bioastronomy

The study of life in the universe, including the origins, evolution, and distribution of life on Earth and potentially elsewhere.

Geological Uniformitarianism

The principle that the same natural processes that operate today have always operated in the past at roughly the same rates, shaping Earth's geological features.

Inquiry Question

A question that guides an investigation, often designed to explore a scientific concept or test a hypothesis.

Hypothesis Testing in Common Assumptions

An experimental approach to determine if widely held beliefs are supported by evidence, such as whether antibacterial soap kills more germs than regular soap.

Common Assumption: "What Goes Up Must Come Down"

A phrase commonly used to describe gravity, which can be tested scientifically through controlled experiments.

Sun’s Movement Assumption

The observation that the Sun rises in the East and sets in the West, which can be tested and explained by Earth’s rotation.

Data Representation

The use of tables, graphs, diagrams, or other visual forms to present and interpret scientific data for analysis.

Analysing Data

The process of reviewing collected data to identify trends, patterns, or relationships that support or refute a hypothesis.

Origins of Life on Earth

A significant unsolved scientific mystery that involves understanding how life first arose from non-living matter.

Feynmanium

A hypothetical last element on the periodic table named after physicist Richard Feynman, theorized to be unstable due to its high atomic number.

Expanding Universe

The observation that galaxies are moving away from each other, implying that the Universe is expanding, a mystery still being explored to understand the rate of expansion (Hubble constant).

European Settler Biases

The historical misunderstandings and biases of European settlers about Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples' knowledge of the environment, often underestimating their ecological understanding and agricultural practices.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Ecological Knowledge

The sophisticated understanding of land management, agriculture, and ecological sustainability developed by Indigenous Peoples over thousands of years.

Animal Migration

The large-scale movement of species, often seasonally, which can be studied to understand patterns in nature.

Movement of Comets

The predictable orbits of comets around the Sun, following patterns that can be modeled and studied in astronomy.

Formation and Shape of Snow Crystals

The unique and complex patterns that form in snow crystals, each influenced by temperature and humidity conditions during formation.

Elements with Specific Properties

The classification of elements based on patterns in their chemical properties, such as reactivity and atomic structure.

Aurora Australis

A natural light display in the Earth's Southern Hemisphere, caused by the interaction of solar wind with the Earth's magnetic field, studied to understand patterns in solar activity.

Fractals in Nature

Patterns that repeat at every scale in natural phenomena, such as the branching of trees or the structure of coastlines.

Unstable Isotopes

Isotopes that decay over time, emitting radiation, used to propose hypotheses about radioactive decay and nuclear reactions.

Pareidolia

The tendency of humans to perceive familiar patterns, like faces, in random objects, often leading to misinterpretation of data.

Optical Illusions

Visual phenomena where the perceived image differs from reality, illustrating how human perception can be unreliable in interpreting patterns.