Principles of Biological Sciences Lab: Scientific Method and Metric System

Vocabulary flashcards covering experimental variables, controls, metric units, laboratory equipment, and measurement standards from the Scientific Method and Metric System lecture.

Negative control

A procedure or treatment that does not produce a response, does not receive the experimental treatment, and is expected to show no results.

Positive control

A procedure or treatment known to give a positive result.

Independent variable

The variable in an experiment that is manipulated.

Dependent variable

The variable in an experiment that represents the effect or result.

International System of Units (SI)

The modern metric system of measurements used around the world for weights and measure, built around standard or base units.

Gram (g)

The base metric unit used to measure mass or weight.

Meter (m)

The standard metric unit used to measure length.

Liter (L)

The basic metric unit used to measure volume.

Degree Celsius (°C)

The base metric unit used to measure temperature.

Centi

A metric system prefix indicating 1/100 or 0.01 of a base unit.

Milli

A metric system prefix indicating 1/1000 or 0.001 of a base unit.

Kilo

A metric system prefix indicating 1,000 times a base unit.

Graduated cylinder

A common piece of laboratory equipment used to measure the volume of a liquid.

Meniscus

A curve in the surface of a molecular substance (such as water) when it touches another material.

Tare

The action of zeroing a digital scale before use to ensure accurate mass measurement.

Freezing point of water

$0\,^\circ\text{C}$ ($32\,^\circ\text{F}$)

Boiling point of water

$100\,^\circ\text{C}$ ($212\,^\circ\text{F}$)

Body temperature

$37\,^\circ\text{C}$ ($98.6\,^\circ\text{F}$)

Room temperature

About $25\,^\circ\text{C}$ ($77\,^\circ\text{F}$)

Volume-to-mass ratio of water

$1\,\text{mL}$ of water weighs $1\,\text{gram}$.