The Upper Crust
The study of Earth’s physical structure, its history, the processes acting on it, and the rocks of which it is composed
What is Geology?
A term that encompasses all scientific pursuits related to living organisms
What is life science?
The systematic study of the natural world through observation and experimentation in order to formulate general laws
What is science?
An educated guess that attempts to explain an observation or answer a question
What is a hypothesis?
The branch of science that deals with the physical universe beyond Earth's atmosphere
What is astronomy?
The preserved remains of a once-living organism
What is a fossil?
The study of past human life as revealed by preserved relics
What is archaeology?
An explanation of the natural world that has been thoroughly tested and is supported by a significant amount of evidence
What is a scientific theory?
An aspect of an experiment that changes during the course of the experiment
What is an experimental variable?
A force of attraction existing between any two masses
What is gravity?
Inorganic crystalline substances found naturally in the Earth
What are minerals?
The study of life’s history as revealed in the preserved remains of once-living organisms
What is paleontology?
A description of a natural phenomenon or principle that is supported by a significant amount of evidence and often includes mathematical terms
What is a scientific law?
The variable of part of an experiment to which all others will be compared
What is control?
The gaseous layer surrounding Earth or another heavenly body
What is atmosphere?
The process of wearing or grinding something down by wind, water, or other natural agents
What is erosion?
Objects made by people, such as tools, weapons, containers, etc.
What are artifacts?
An example that contradicts a conclusion
What is a counter example?
Experiment in which information about the test is kept from the participants to reduce bias
What is a blind experiment?
A natural or artificial body orbiting a planet or star
What is a satellite?
The decayed remains of once living creatures
What is humus?
The process of counting tree rings to determine their age
What is dendrochronology?
This approach to science relies on relics from the past and historical records to try to discover truth
Experiment in which neither the experimenters nor the participants know the objects’ identities in the setup
What is a double blind experiment?
The amount of light or radiation reflected by a surface, typically that of a planet or moon
What is albedo?