Chapter 1
a type of data gathered through measurement
quantitative data
building block of matter that consists of a nucleus and electron cloud
atom
act of comparing an unknown quantity to a standard unit
measurement
a statement that describes a consistent and universal relationship observed in nature
law
ability to do work
energy
a measurable property of an object
dimension
a perspective from which a person sees and interprets everything
worldview
study of movement and conversion of energy, especially thermal energy
thermodynamics
a standard to reference when measuring
unit
an explanation that can be tested
hypothesis
charged ions
ions
a system based on a specific unit used to measure
scale
the process of evaluating a hypothesis based on analysis of collected data
scientific method
groups of atoms bonded together
molecule
a term referring to something accurately subdivided
graduated
a person that believes only natural laws and forces operate in the universe and not supernatural ones
naturalist
material consisting of only one type of matter
pure substance
a measuring system in which units are related to each other by multiples of 10
metric system
assumptions about the world that affect a persons outlook
presupposition
measure of how useful energy is for work which as a result relates to how dispersed, disorderly, and random the energy is
entropy
a type of unit that measures a basic dimension such as length, mass, and time
base unit
the job given to humanity to multiply, to subdue the earth, and cultivate the earth
Creation Mandate
all natural processes tend toward the highest entropy and minimum usable energy
2nd Law of Thermodynamics
a type of unit that is a combination of base units
derived unit
simplified representation that is used to explain, describe, or predict
model
the energy of a particle because of its motion
kinetic energy
the process of figuring out the quanity of a measurement in a different type of unit than its current unit
the process of forming indeterminate, general conclusions based on facts or data
inductive reasoning
chemical changes that liberate energy
exothermic
a fraction whose value is equal to one and which is used to convert units
conversion factor
factors in an experiment that can change or vary
variable
chemical changes that absorb energy
endothermic
a measure of how close a value is to the true or accepted value
accuracy
a type of data that is non-numerical and descriptive
qualitative data
temperature scale that consists of only positive temperatures
Kelvin scale
a comparision of a measurement to the accepted value demonstrating the accuracy in the form of a percentage
percent error
the study of matter and the changes it undergoes
chemistry
amount of heat transfer required to change the temperature of one gram of water one degree Celsius
calorie
a measure of how close individual measurements are to each other
precision
anything that takes up space and has mass
matter
material that can be separated into two or more pure substances by physical changes
a convention used by scientists to communicate the precision of their calculations
significant digits
the process of forming a specific conclusion based on premises
deductive reasoning
a pure substance consisting of only one kind of atom
element
the name for the internationally used system of units
SI units