Science Voc. Ch.1

Experiment

using controlled conditions to test a prediction

Scientific Methods

procedures used to solve problems and answer questions that can include stating the problem, gathering information, forming a hypothesis, testing the hypothesis with an experiment, analyzing data, and drawing conclusions

Hypothesis

prediction that can be tested

Control

standard to which the outcome of a test is compared

Variable

something in an experiment that can change

Theory

explanation of things or events based on scientific knowledge resulting from many observations or experiments

Law

statement about how things work in nature that seems to be true consistently

Raw Materials

substances needed by an organism to make other necessary substances

Organism

any living things

Cell

smallest unit of an organism that can carry on life functions

Homeostasis

regulation of an organism’s internal life maintaining conditions

Contaminate

to make impure by coming into contact with an unwanted substance

Spontaneous Generation

idea that living things come from nonliving things

Biogenesis

theory that living things come only from other living things

Common Name

a nonscientific term that may vary from region to region

Phylogeny

evolutionary history of an organism; used today to group organisms into six kingdoms

Kingdom

first and largest category used to classify organisms

Binomial Nomenclature

two word naming system that gives all organisms their scientific name

Genus

first word of the two word scientific name used to identify a group of similar species