Observations and Data
Information collected using the senses
What is an observation?
The first step of a scientific investigation
What is asking a testable question?
The variable changed by the scientist
What is the independent variable?
This explains why or how something happens
What is a scientific theory?
A representation of an object, system, or process
What is a scientific model?
A conclusion based on observations and prior knowledge
What is an inference?
A testable prediction written using “if, then, because”
What is a hypothesis?
The variable observed or measured
What is the dependent variable?
This describes what happens in nature
What is a scientific law?
Models help scientists study things that are difficult to do this directly
What is observe?
Data that use words or descriptions
What are qualitative data?
The step in which scientists test their hypothesis
What is an experiment?
0Variables that scientists keep the same
What are controlled variables?
This is supported by extensive evidence and is much more than a guess
What is a scientific theory?
Scientists use this to decide whether a model should be changed
What is evidence?
Data that include numbers or measurements
What are quantitative data?
The step in which scientists decide whether the results support the hypothesis
What is the conclusion?
Students change the amount of sunlight and measure plant height. This is the independent variable Hot equipment should be handled with these.
What is the amount of sunlight?
Why is cell theory a "theory"?
It answers why something happens.
Models leave out some information because they are this version of the real system
What is simplified?
“The footprint is 12 centimeters long” is this type of data
What are quantitative data?
Scientists do this several times to see whether they get similar results
What is repeat the experiment?
Students change the height from which they drop a ball and measure its bounce. This is the dependent variable
What is the bounce height?
The statement “Matter cannot be created or destroyed” is a scientific law, why?
It describes what happens in nature.
Scientists should do this when new evidence does not match a model’s prediction
What is revise the model?