Science Assessment 3 Study Notes

What is gravity?

An attractive force between objects that have mass.

How does gravity act between objects?

Gravity pulls objects toward each other.

What happens to gravitational force when mass increases?

Gravitational force gets stronger if distance stays the same.

What does distance do to gravitational attraction?

More distance means weaker gravitational attraction.

What is mass?

The amount of matter in an object.

What do independent variables represent in an investigation?

The factor that scientists purposely change.

What is a controlled variable?

Factors that scientists keep the same.

Why are repeated trials important?

They help check if results are consistent and show how much results can vary.

What does the x-axis of a graph represent?

The independent variable.

How can a compass be used in science?

To detect a magnetic field.

What is an electric field?

An area where electric forces can affect objects.

What is sensor drift?

When a sensor's reference reading changes over time.

What should scientists consider regarding detector limits?

Every measuring tool has limits and a detector limit is the smallest force a detector can reliably measure.

What is a fair test in an investigation?

A test that changes only one independent variable at a time.

What happens when two positive charges are close to each other?

They repel each other.

How should scientists make investigations trustworthy?

Change only one independent variable, keep controlled variables the same, and repeat each trial.