Vocabulary
Science Skills
Parts of an Experiment
Experimentation
Mystery
Measurement
Units of Measurement
Theory vs Law
100
Using one or more senses to gather information
Observation
100
Using observations to explain what is happening in an experiment/ event
Inference
100

When another scientist tests your experiment to see if they attain the same results.

Replication or Peer Review

100

The group in an experiment that does not change. This is the basis for comparison and most closely represents the natural phenomenon.

Control group

100
This changes in response to the independent variable.
Dependent variable.
100

The international system of measurement; system used in science.

The SI system or Metric System

100

length

meter (m) 

100

Idea that living things come from nonliving things via the "pneuma"

Theory of Spontaneous Generation

200
When scientists use a step-by-step approach to solving a problem
The scientific method
200
When scientists use observations to determine what will happen in the future
Prediction
200

This is the factor in an experiment that you change (or manipulate) to test the hypothesis

The independent variable (manipulated variable)

200

In an experiment, these factors are kept the same in order to minimize the number of variables.

Constants

200
Define science.
* A way of knowing * A way of learning about the natural world
200

distance between 2 points

length

200

mass

gram (g)

200

Statement that objects at rest stay at rest until acted upon by a force.

Newton's First Law of Motion

300
What is the first step in the scientific method?
Defining a problem or asking a question
300

A prediction or possible answer to the question, that is testable

Hypothesis

300

The act of scientists repeating their experiments many times for their experiments to be considered valid.

Repetition

300
Many experiments done by many different scientists over a long period of time that all point to the same result may become this:
A scientific theory
300

During an experiment testing the absorbancy of certain paper towel brands, you record that Brand 1 absorbed 3.7 oz., while Brand 2 absorbed only 2.9 oz. What kind of observation is this? HINT: starts with a "Q"

Quantitative

300

the pull of gravity on an object

weight

300

liquid volume

milliliter (mL)

300

We cannot create or destroy matter, it simply can change forms.

Law of Conservation of Matter

400
A well-tested explanation for a wide range of observations or experimental results
Scientific Theory
400
What kinds of tools could you use to help you interpret data from an experiment?
a graph or model
400
Jesse wants to test how amounts of water effect the growth of his lawn. He waters 3 different amounts, repeats the experiment 5 times and records his results. The patch of lawn watered the most grew the tallest. Identify the independent and dependent variables.
I.V.- amount of water D.V- height of the lawn
400

During an experiment to test a new cat food that claims to make cats' fur more shiny and silky, you notice that one of your experimental groups appears to have more shiny fur, and when you pet them, it seems softer. What kind of observation is this? HINT: the type starts with a "Q"

Qualitative

400

Describe the differences between scientific theories and laws.

Theories explain a range of observations, they are well-tested and have a large evidence base; laws describe and observed pattern in nature and do not seek to explain how or why it occurs.

400

a change in measurement over a given amount of time

rate

400

Weight

Newton (N)

400

Wegener's idea that the continents were once a supercontinent combined with Hess's idea of seafloor spreading and the observation of convection currents in the mantle of Earth

Theory of Plate Tectonics

500
Describes an observed pattern in nature without attempting to explain it.
scientific law
500
The garbage bag is full, there are some bugs flying around the can, so we should take the trash out soon. If we don't, the house will start to smell. Identify the observation(s), inference(s) and the prediction(s)
Observation(s): the bag is full, bugs are flying around the can Inference(s): we should take the trash out soon Prediction(s): the house will start to smell
500

You are testing how well different colors of flowers attract butterflies. You use red, white and purple pentas. Your results show that the red pentas attract the most butterflies. List 3 possible constants in this experiment.

Many possible answers: * same type of flower * same location * same amount of water * same amount of sunlight * same number of flowers

500

Why would scientists want to build and use a model of a brain cell instead of using real brain cells?

Many answers, possible responses include: * real cells are very small and difficult to work with *real cells can die or be damaged * real cells must be grown or harvested from animals or people

500
Rachel wants to know if changing the incline of her skateboard ramp will effect the speed she travels on her skateboard. Write a hypothesis for an experiment that would test her question.
Many answers possible: If a skateboard travels down 3 different ramps (0 degrees, 20 degrees and 40 degrees), then the one angled at 40 degrees will increase the speed of the skateboard the most.
500

measures the kinetic energy of particles in matter

temperature

500

temperature

Kelvin (K) or Celsius (*C)

500

Newton's 2nd Law of Motion

Force = mass x acceleration; also known as law of gravity

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