PS Ch 1 Science Skills

science

system of knowledge & the methods you use to find that knowledge

Technology

use of knowledge to solve practical problems

spectroscope

used by chemists to separate light into rainbow of colors

particle accelerator

used by physicists to make fragments of atoms move very fast

physical, biology, earth & space

What are the 3 main branches of Science?

physical science

focuses on nonliving things

chemistry

study of the composition, structure, properties, & reactions of matter

physics

study of matter & energy & the interactions between them through forces & motion

geology

study of the origin, history, & structure of Earth

astronomy

study of universe beyond Earth, including the sun, moon, planets, & stars

Meteorology

study of the air that surrounds the planet

oceanography

study of Earth's oceans

biology

study of living things including the physics & chemistry of living things & the origin/behavior of living things

matter

has volume & mass

atoms

made of protons, neutrons, & electrons

force

What causes change in motion?

energy

exists in many forms & can be transferred from one form to another, but it can not be destroyed

scientific method

organized plan for gathering, organizing, & communicating information with overall goal to solve a problem or better understand an observed event

observation

information you obtain through your senses

hypothesis

proposed answer to a question

experiment

series of tests to see if your hypothesis is true

safety symbol

symbol that warns you about a danger that may exist, from chemicals, electricity, heat or experimental procedures

variable

any factor that can change in an experiment

independet variable

variable you purposely change

dependent variable

changes in response to the independent variable

control group

group which stays the same

experimental group

group which is changed

qualitative

describes with words something that occurs

Quantitative

involves numerical data

conclusion

finishing statement that summarizes results

communicate data

important to share results because it allows others to discover new things based on your information

scientific law

statement that describes how something happens

scientific theory

well-tested explanation for a set of observations or experimental results

scientific model

representation of an object or event

meter

What is the SI unit for length?

Kelvin

What is the SI unit for temperature?

second

What is the SI unit for time?

kilogram

What is the SI unit for mass?

Ampere

What is the SI unit for electric current?

mole

What is the SI unit for the amount of a substance?

mass

amount of matter in an object & depends on the number & kinds of atoms that make up the object

weight

measure of gravitational force of an object, changes with location

time

interval between two events

temperature

measure of the average number of vibrations of particles that make up a material

absolute zero

coldest object can get in theory

derived units

combination of SI units

metric system

based on powers of 10

scientific notation

shorthand way of expressing numbers that are extremely large or small

precision

means repeatable or reliable (getting the same measurement each time)

accurate

closeness of a measurement to the actual value of what is being measured