the nature of science

physics

the study of forces and energy

chemistry

the study of atoms and molecules

earth science

the study of the Earth's structure, properties, as well as the process that changes the earth

hypothesis

a testable statement 

physical model

a model that represents a real object or a phenomenon, usually on a smaller scale

• conceptual model

a model that can be used to visualize things that cannot be seen, such as atoms

mathematical model

 a model that describes physical objects or phenomena using mathematical methods

computer model

 a model that uses computers to explain and predict complex systems, such as weather patterns and the detailed movements of objects in the solar system

law

 a concise statement that is supported by scientific evidence and repeated experiments and describes a widespread pattern in nature

theory

a statement that explains a wide range of observations and is supported by a large body of scientific evidence

controlled experiment

an experiment in which a scientist intentionally changes one quantity and observes how another quantity changes

variables

the changing quantities in an experiment

independent variable

 the variable that is changed by the experimenter in an experiment

dependent variable

the variable that changes because of the independent variable

control variable

the variable that scientists do not wish to study that needs to either be eliminated or kept constant

observational studies

experiments in which systems are observed as they appear in nature, and researchers do not attempt to change them

field studies

 observational studies done outside a laboratory setting

laboratory-based observational study

experiments that take place in a highly controlled, artificial setting

scatterplot

a type of graph comparing two variables as data points

direct proportionality

a relationship between two variables where they increase and decrease together

inverse proportionality

a relationship between two variables where when one increases, the other decreases

no correlation

a lack of relationship between variables, where a change in one does not affect the other