Physics Ch.1 Vocabulary

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Scientific Method

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sci·en·tif·ic meth·od

/ˌsīənˌtifik ˈmeTHəd/

noun

noun: scientific method; plural noun: scientific methods

1. a method of procedure that has characterized natural science since the 17th century, consisting in systematic observation, measurement, and experiment, and the formulation, testing, and modification of hypotheses.

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Fact

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fact

/fak(t)/

noun

noun: fact; plural noun: facts

1. a thing that is known or proved to be true.

   • information used as evidence or as part of a report or news article.

     the truth about events as opposed to interpretation.

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Hypothesis

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hy·poth·e·sis

/hīˈpäTHəsəs/

noun

noun: hypothesis; plural noun: hypotheses

1. a supposition or proposed explanation made on the basis of limited evidence as a starting point for further investigation.

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Law

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law¹

/lô/

noun

noun: law; noun: the law

1. 1.

   the system of rules which a particular country or community recognizes as regulating the actions of its members and which it may enforce by the imposition of penalties.

   • a thing regarded as having the binding force or effect of a formal system of rules.

   a statement of fact, deduced from observation, to the effect that a particular natural or scientific phenomenon always occurs if certain conditions are present.

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Theory

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the·o·ry

/ˈTHirē/

noun

noun: theory; plural noun: theories

1. a supposition or a system of ideas intended to explain something, especially one based on general principles independent of the thing to be explained.

   • a set of principles on which the practice of an activity is based.

   • an idea used to account for a situation or justify a course of action.

     a collection of propositions to illustrate the principles of a subject.

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Principle

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prin·ci·ple

/ˈprinsəp(ə)l/

noun

noun: principle; plural noun: principles

1. 1.

   a fundamental truth or proposition that serves as the foundation for a system of belief or behavior or for a chain of reasoning.

   • a rule or belief governing one's personal behavior.

   • morally correct behavior and attitudes.

2. 2.

   a general scientific theorem or law that has numerous special applications across a wide field.

   • a natural law forming the basis for the construction or working of a machine.

3. 3.

   a fundamental source or basis of something.