Scientific Reasoning- Comprehensive Guide Nurse Cheung

ruler

short, straight distances

-30 cm to 12 in

tape measure

longer distances

-up to 25 feet

calipers

precision measurement

balance scale

compares the mass of two objects

digital scale

precise measurements

spring scale

weight of an object using the force of gravity

graduated cylinder

high degree of accuracy milliliters to liters

measuring cup

measures liquids and solids

pipette

small amounts of liquids milliliters and even smaller

distance between two cities

kilometers

weight of a person

kilograms

volume of a swimming pool

kiloliters

length of a room

meters

teaspoon of salt

grams

water bottle capacity

liters

width of a notebook

cm

thickness of credit card

millimeters

weight of a paperclip

milligram

medication dropper

milliliter

empirical evidence

information that is obtained through observation, experimentation, or other investigation processes

qualitative data

descriptive data

-patterns

-colors

-textures

-behavior

quantitative data

numerical data

-length, height, frequency, quantity

variable

factor, condition, or item that can changed, controlled or measured in an experiment

independent variable

'the cause'

-the thing you change

ex: exposure of sunlight

=input

dependent variable

'the effect'

the thing you measure

ex: plant growth

=output

controlled variable

conditions that are maintained

-soil quality, water schedule, plant species

reproducible results

repeated experiments under the same conditions yields consistently similar results

-credible results, reliable and valid evidence

non-reproducible results

repeated experiments under the same condition yields significantly varied results

-questionable results

casual relationships

connection between two variables where one variable influences or causes a change in the other variable

cause

event or action that precipitates an outcome

-indicators: since, because, due

ex: since it rained last night, the streets are wet

effect

the outcome or result

-indicators: consequently, therefore, this leads to

example: it rained heavily, therefore, the baseball game was postponed

scientific method

the process of observing, asking questions, and seeking answers through tests and experiments to establish facts