The Methods of Science & Standards of Measurement

What is science?

A method for studying the natural world.

Science is based on __________.

inquiry

Major categories of science

1) Life science 2) Earth science 3)Physical Science

What’s a model and what is it used for?

Something that represents an idea or an object to help people understand it better.

Which model can you see and touch?

Physical

What is the scientific method?

The pattern of investigation procedures used by scientists.

What does the scientific method consist of?

Observe, Problem, Gather info, hypothesis, test/experiment, results/analyze, conclusion

What is a hypothesis?

A prediction or assumption based on what you know and observe.

In what ways can you test a hypothesis?

Building a model, making observations, and preforming experiments.

What is an experiment?

Tests the effect of one thing on another using a control.

What is a dependent variable?

A variable that changes according to the changes in other variables and is being measured.

What is an independent variable?

The variable that is changed by the scientist to see how it will affect the development of the dependent variable.

What is a constant?

A factor that does not change when other variables change.

What is a control?

The standard by which the test results can be compared.

On what axis should the independent variable always be?

x

On what axis should the dependent variable always be?

y

Scientific ____ __are based on ------ made using ----------.__

inferences, observations, scientific methods

What is a conclusion?

The summary at the end of an experiment that explains the results.

The information you collect while doing your experiment is called _______.

data

Experiments should not be repeated over and over to see if the results are the same each time (True/False)

False

What occurs when the expectations of a scientist change how the results of an experiment are viewed?

Bias

What is bias?

When a scientist’s expectations change how the results are analyzed or conclusions are formed.

How can bias be avoided?

By running as many trials possible and noting accurate information.

Valid experiments must have data that is ________.

measurable

Your hypothesis can be wrong. (True/False)

True

What is a scientific theory?

An explanation based o knowledge gained from many observations and investigations.

What is a scientific law?

A statement about what happens in nature and that seems to be true all the time.

What’s the difference between a scientific law and a scientific theory?

A scientific law describes something that happens in nature. A scientific theory explains why or how said phenomenon happens.

What is a standard?

An exact quantity that people agree to use to compare measurements.

What does SI stand for?

international System of Units

Ampere (A) is a unit of ______.

electric current

Kevin (K) is a unit of ________.

temperature

Candela (cd) is a unit of _______.

luminous intensity

Grams (g) is a unit of ________.

mass

Meters (m) is a unit of ________.

length

Liter (L) is a unit of ________.

volume

Seconds (s) is a unit of __________.

time

A measurement must include bot a number and a (an) ______.

unit

What is volume?

The amount of space occupied by an object

What is matter?

Anything that takes up space and has mass.

What is mass?

A measurement of the quantity of matter in an object.