U2 Principles of Science - Vocabulary Flashcards

Vocabulary flashcards covering key terms from the lecture notes on science, the scientific method, vaccination, experimental design, data analysis, and pseudoscience.

Science

A process that seeks to understand the natural and social world through the collection and analysis of evidence.

Fact

A simple observation we make about the world.

Hypothesis

A testable explanation or prediction based on the observation and the scientist’s prior knowledge.

Theory

Broad explanations that have been tested and confirmed through observation and experimentation.

Law

Identifies a phenomenon of nature without explaining it.

Scientific Method

The sequence of steps that scientists follow to answer a question or explain an observation.

Observation

The act of viewing or noting a detail, fact, or occurrence.

Independent Variable

A new factor that is introduced and tested.

Dependent Variable

The measured result that is influenced by the independent variable.

Controlled Variable

Kept constant so they do not influence the dependent variable.

Experiment

Tests the hypothesis under controlled conditions.

Inoculation

The process of introducing a substance into an organism for testing or immunization.

Vaccination

A method of immunization; Jenner’s technique named after 'vacca' (cow).

Smallpox

A deadly contagious disease with a high fatality rate that is now eradicated.

Jenner

Dr. Jenner; developed the first vaccine using cowpox.

Peer Review

Publishing results for other scientists to review and check for error, bias, or uncontrolled variables.

Margin of Error

An estimate of how different a result is from the actual value; can be reduced by increasing the sample size.

Sample Size

The number of observations or units included in a study or experiment.

Data

All measurements and observations made during the experiment.

Graph

A data display used for easy readability; X-axis represents the independent variable and Y-axis the dependent variable.

Conclusion

A statement about whether the hypothesis is supported by the experiment.

Bias

A preference for an outcome; can be reduced by blind or double-blind experiments.

Blind Experiment

Test subjects do not know whether they are in the experimental or control group.

Double-Blind Experiment

Both scientists and subjects do not know which group is experimental.

Correlation

A relationship between variables that may not be caused by chance alone.

Causation

One variable directly influences the other.

Positive Correlation

As one variable increases, the other also increases.

Negative Correlation

As one variable increases, the other decreases.

No Correlation

There is no observed relationship between the variables.

Pseudoscience

False science; appears scientific but does not follow scientific practices.

Spontaneous Generation

The old idea that life can arise from non-living matter (e.g., maggots from meat, beetles in dung).

Four Elements Theory

The belief that all matter is composed of fire, water, earth, and wind; linked to alchemy.

Alchemy

The pursuit of turning one form of matter into another (e.g., lead to gold); considered pseudoscience.

Astrology

The belief that the movements and positions of the stars and planets influence the natural world; often considered pseudoscience.