Term |
Definition |
Scientific Inquiry |
The way in which scientists study the world and produce explanations based on data |
Hypothesis |
A possible answer to a question that can be tested |
Parameter |
Factors that can be measured |
Manipulated Variable |
Variable that you can change (Independent) |
Responding Variable |
Variable that changes in response to the manipulated variable (Dependent) |
Data |
Facts, figures, and other information gathered from experience |
Qualitative Data |
Observations or data that don't involve numbers |
Quantitative Data |
Observations or data that involve numbers and measurements |
Communicating |
When you share your results so others can repeat and check your results |
Model |
A picture, diagram, or computer image that shows and object or process |
Scientific Theory |
A well tested explanation of observations or experimental results |
Scientific Law |
What scientists expect to happen every time under certain conditions |
Science |
Study of the natural world |
Observing |
Using two or more senses to gather information |
Inferring |
Explaining your observation |
Predicting |
Making a statement about the future |
Chemistry |
Properties of matter and how it changes |
Physics |
Study of matter, energy, motion and forces |
Controlled Experiment |
An experiment in which only one variable is manipulated at a time |
Graph |
Picture of data |
Horizontal Axis |
Line that runs left and right (Independent/manipulated variable) |
Vertical Axis |
Line that runs up and down (Dependent/responding variable) |
Origin |
( 0 , 0 ) |
Coordinate |
Pair of numbers that tell the position of a point |
Data Point |
Shows location of the intersection of data |
Line of Best Fit |
Reflects general pattern of a graph |
Linear Graph |
Where points form a straight line |
Slope |
Tells you how much Y changes for every change in X |
Nonlinear Graph |
Data does not fall along a straight line/can't draw line of best fit |