Marine Science Honors 1.1-1.3 Vocab

Hypothesis

A testable statement that tries to explain a scientific phenomenon.

Inference

An attempt to fill in missing information using data from observations.

Observation

A statement about an object using taste, touch, smell, sight, or hearing.

Replication

Performing an experiment using the same conditions and variables to obtain the same results.

Scientific Law

A description of a scientific observation that always occurs under the same conditions.

Theory

An explanation for an event that is backed by facts, replication, and the scientific method.

Variable

A part of an experiment that is measured or changed.

Repetition

Doing the same experiment more than once to increase the accuracy of results.

Abiotic

A nonliving thing that impacts a population or ecosystem.

Biodiversity

A measure of the amount of different living things in an ecosystem.

Biotic

A living thing that impacts a population or ecosystem.

Ecosystem

The collection of living and nonliving things in an area.

Marine Systems

Interactions between living and nonliving things in oceans.

Organisms

Living things.

Salinity

The amount of salt dissolved in water.

pH

A measure of how acidic or basic a solution is.

Terrestrial

On land.

Cohesion

How well something sticks to itself.

Expansion

Getting larger by increasing in volume.

Freezing

When a substance goes from a liquid to a solid due to decreasing temperatures.

Law of Conservation of Energy

Energy can not be created or destroyed.

Solvent

Something that dissolves in a liquid.

Solubility

The ability of a substance to dissolve.

Temperature

Measure of hot or cold a substance is.

Open System

A system that can be affected by outside forces.

Closed System

A system that is not affected by outside forces.