Scientific Method
Anything that has mass and takes up space.
matter
This is the upper layer of soil and contains lots of organic material.
topsoil.
These three letters represent the primary plant nutrients nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium.
N-P-K
Water located beneath Earth's surface.
groundwater
This describes how tightly packed matter is.
density
The variable a scientist purposely changes during an experiment.
independent variable
This soil layer is below topsoil and contains more minerals and less organic material.
subsoil
This nutrient is especially important for general plant health.
potassium
This underground layer of porous material can store groundwater.
aquifer
A substance consisting of only one type of atom.
element
The variable a scientist measures during an experiment.
dependent variable
Of gravel, sand, silt, and clay, this has the smallest particles.
clay
These bacteria convert ammonia into nitrates.
nitrifying bacteria
This is the upper surface of groundwater.
water table
In an if/then statement, this is the name for the “then” portion.
consequent
A student gives plants different amounts of water and measures their growth. This is the dependent variable.
plant growth
Soil with a pH of 7 is described by this word.
neutral
These bacteria convert nitrates back into nitrogen in the atmosphere.
denitrifying bacteria
This word describes material that does not allow water to easily pass through it.
impermeable
Engineers build this model so they can test whether a design will work.
prototype
This type of reasoning uses specific observations to form a general conclusion.
Inductive reasoning
Between sandy and clayey soil, this type usually allows water to pass through more quickly because of its larger pore spaces.
sandy soil
If nitrifying bacteria disappeared, plants would have less of this usable form of nitrogen available from the soil.
nitrates
The amount of matter contained in an object.
mass
If these bacteria disappeared, ammonia would not be converted efficiently into nitrates, leaving plants with less usable nitrogen and potentially reducing plant growth
nitrifying bacteria