Science Vocab
A fact or event that can be observed.
Phenomena
The variable a scientist change on purpose during an investigation.
Manipulated / Independent Variable
A student wants to see how water volume impacts leaf size. They change the amount of water and the amount of sunlight and record the leaf lengths.
Only change the independent variable (water);
amount of sunlight should be the same in a controlled experiment.
"Plants that received more sunlight grew taller."
This is the type of statement scientists make from results.
Conclusion
An event that happens without human input.
Natural phenomenon.
The variable that is measured or observed during an experiment.
Responding / Dependent Variable
A student observes the same result several times, but then observes an unusual result. They decide this was a "fluke", and do not record the unexpected result in their data table.
Bias (confirmation bias)
Scientific Explanation:
Dark surfaces absorb more energy from sunlight than light surfaces.
Write a hypothesis based on this knowledge:
If ______ then _______, because, ______.
If a shirt is made of darker material, it will dry faster in the Sun, because dark surfaces absorb more energy from sunlight than lighter surfaces.
A proposed scientific explanation made before an investigation.
Hypothesis
Conditions kept the same during an experiment
Controlled Variables
A student measures one trial and concludes the hypothesis is correct.
Not enough evidence
"If a shirt is made of darker material, it will dry faster in the Sun, because dark surfaces absorb more energy from sunlight than lighter surfaces."
What are two variables that need to be controlled when you test this hypothesis?
Shirt size, shirt material, location, temperature or location or liquid, starting dampness, type of liquid...
Information collected during an investigation that can support or contradict a hypothesis.
Evidence
A student tests whether water temperature affects how fast sugar dissolves. What is the manipulated/independent variable?
Water temperature
How can a hypothesis be contradicted?
By evidence/data that consistently proves a different result.
Plant A got 2 hours of sunlight and grew 3 cm.
Plant B got 6 hours and grew 9 cm.
Plant C got 8 hours and grew 12 cm.
Write a conclusion based on these results.
Plants that received more sunlight grew more.
An ________ is what you notice or measure using your senses; a scientific explanation explains how or why it happens using evidence and scientific knowledge.
Observation
A student tests whether water temperature affects how fast sugar dissolves. Name two variables that should be controlled.
Any two reasonable examples, such as amount of sugar, amount of water, type of sugar, cup size, amount of stirring
This makes evidence more trustworthy: repeating trials, measuring carefully, and keeping variables controlled.
Objectivity
A toy car rolled:
80 cm on carpet
145 cm on rough stone tile
210 cm on hard wood
Write a conclusion.
“The car travelled farther on smoother surfaces”?