Method of Science
What is science?
the process that uses observations and investigation to gain knowledge about events in nature
the amount of space occupied by an object
What is one purpose of using a graph?
To show patterns and trends in data;
To display data gathered by counting;
To compare and contrast groups;
To show parts of a whole
What is the scientific method?
What is a derived unit?
a unit of measurement that is obtained by combining other units
What is the control in an experiment?
the standard for comparison
What is mass?
the amount of matter in an object
On a line graph, the vertical axis is called the _________ and the horizontal axis is called the ___________
y-axis; x-axis
Repeated ___________ over time support a scientific law.
observations
What do you do with the data once you have gathered it?
classify it and organize it into categories to make graphing easier
What is the constant in an experiment?
the factor in an experiment that stays the same
The SI unit we use for temperature is...
the Kelvin
When would you use a pie chart to display data?
when you are showing percentages or parts of a whole
when showing how many are in a certain category
The base metric unit for mass is the _____
gram
What is the difference between qualitative data and quantitative data?
Qualitative describes something (color, texture, size)
Quantitative describes a number, count, or how many there is of something.
What are the 7 steps of the scientific method in order?
Ask a Question, Research, Form a Hypothesis, Design Experiment, Gather & Analyze Data, Conclusion, Share Results
What is liter the base metric unit for?
liquid volume
What are some ways to obtain/gather data?
observations (watching)
taking a survey
investigating (asking questions)
Why do scientists report measurements using the metric system?
For ease of understanding around the globe
Do the steps of the scientific method always have to be in order? Why or why not?
Not always. Sometimes you may have to rewrite your hypothesis after you achieve a result and redo your experiment. Once the experiment is over, you can share your results and build on your progress with new experiments and hypotheses.
What is the difference between a scientific law and a scientific theory?
A scientific law describes what is expected to happen every time under a set of conditions; a scientific theory is a possible explanation based on a set of observations
Why is it important to make measurements using a standard?
Without standards, measurements made by one person would have little or no value to another. Standards also help keep measurements consistent and can be recognized by people who speak different languages.
What is the difference between line and bar graphs? When would you use each of them?
Line graphs show relationships between variables like growth over time. Bar graphs compare information like how many people like chocolate, vanilla, and strawberry ice creams.
Describe the difference between an independent variable and a dependent variable.
An independent variable is changed by the scientist and will be shown on the x-axis of a graph. The dependent variable depends on the result of the independent variable and is shown on the y-axis of a graph.
Think back to the density lab, what happened to the water when pennies or marbles were added to the cylinder? Why did that happen?
the water was displaced and the water level rose; when an object is placed in water, the amount of water is displaces is the volume of the object.