Introduction to science

Science

A way of learning about the natural world

Scientific inquiry

A process used by scientists to research questions, also known as the scientific method

Hypothesis

A proposed explanation for some observed phenomenon that can be tested

Experiment

A procedure carried out and repeated under controlled conditions to discover, demonstrate, or test a hypothesis

Qualitative

Information based on qualities of something (color, shape, size)

Law vs Fact vs Theory

Fact is a single observed event, Law is a generalized observation, Theory is a collection of repeatedly tested hypotheses

Independent variable

The variable that is changed or controlled in an experiment

Dependent variable

The variable that is affected and measured in the experiment

Compound microscope

A light microscope that can magnify about 1000 times and observe living or dead samples

Metric system

A decimal-based system of measurement with units like meter, kilogram, kelvin, ampere, mole, and candela