Scientific Method and Characteristics of Life Vocabulary

Vocabulary flashcards covering key scientific inquiry terms and fundamental concepts of life.

Hypothesis

A testable statement or proposed explanation for a scientific observation or question.

Independent Variable

The variable in an experiment that is intentionally changed or manipulated by the researcher.

Dependent Variable

The variable in an experiment that is measured or observed to evaluate the effect of the independent variable.

Constants

The factors in an experiment that are kept unchanged across all trials to ensure a fair test.

Controls

The standard group or setup in an experiment that remains untreated and serves as a baseline for comparison.

Qualitative Data

Descriptive information gathered through observation that characterizes qualities using words rather than numbers.

Quantitative Data

Numerical information gathered by counting or measuring specific values.

Growth

The process of increasing in physical size, mass, or cell number in a living organism.

Stimulus

A change in an organism's internal or external environment that triggers a physical or behavioral response.

Homeostasis

The maintenance of a relatively stable internal environment within an organism despite external changes.

Adaptation

An inherited trait or characteristic that improves an organism's ability to survive and reproduce in its environment.

Development

The process of biological change and structural maturation that an organism undergoes throughout its life cycle.

Response

The specific reaction or behavior of an organism elicited by a stimulus.

Energy

The capacity to perform work or produce change, essential for driving cellular and biological processes.

Evolution

The process of biological change in populations of organisms over successive generations.