What Is Science

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Science Noun

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[sy-uhns]

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Science

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The use of evidence to construct testable explanations and predictions of natural phenomena, as well as the knowledge generated.

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Example: This image shows a controlled experiment, a key part of science. By changing only one thing (the color of light), scientists can test its effect on plant growth.

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Natural Law Noun

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[nach-er-uhl law]

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Natural Law

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A universal principle describing how all objects and interactions in the physical universe are governed by consistent, observable rules.

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Example: This image shows Newton's Second Law (F=ma), a famous natural law that uses a formula to describe the predictable relationship between force, mass, and acceleration.

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Scientific Methodology Noun

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[sy-uhn-tif-ik meth-uh-dol-uh-jee]

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Scientific Methodology

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A general style of investigation involving observing, questioning, hypothesizing, experimenting, collecting data, and drawing conclusions about the natural world.

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Example: This diagram shows the scientific method as a cycle with six key steps, starting with an observation or question and leading to reported conclusions.

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Observation Noun

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[ob-zur-vey-shuhn]

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Observation

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The act of noticing and describing events or processes in a careful, orderly way, which initiates a scientific investigation.

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Example: A scientist makes an observation by noticing what happens in an experiment, such as a screw sinking while a cork and wood float in water.

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Inference Noun

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[in-fer-uhns]

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Inference

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A logical interpretation or conclusion based on prior knowledge, evidence, and observations made during a scientific investigation.

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Example: By observing the pattern of fossil footprints, scientists can infer what happened, such as two dinosaurs meeting, fighting, and only one walking away.

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Hypothesis Noun

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[hy-poth-uh-sis]

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Hypothesis

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A tentative, testable scientific explanation for a set of observations that can be supported or rejected by further investigation.

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Example: A lightbulb with a question mark symbolizes a hypothesis: a testable idea or educated guess that forms the starting point for a scientific investigation.

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Controlled Experiment Noun

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[kuhn-trohld ik-sper-uh-muhnt]

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Controlled Experiment

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An experiment designed to test a hypothesis in which only one variable is changed while all other variables are controlled.

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Example: This diagram shows a controlled experiment by comparing two plants: a control (water, sun) and an experiment (water, sun, fertilizer) to test fertilizer's effect.

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Variable Noun

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[vair-ee-uh-buhl]

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Variable

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Factors, conditions, or characteristics that can change or be changed in an experiment, potentially affecting the outcome of the investigation.

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Example: This experiment shows a variable (fertilizer) is changed in one setup (Experiment) but not the other (Control), to measure its effect on another variable (plant growth).

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Independent Variable Noun

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[in-di-pen-duhnt vair-ee-uh-buhl]

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Independent Variable

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The variable in an experiment that is deliberately changed or manipulated by the researcher to test its effects on another.

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Example: This diagram shows an experiment where fertilizer is added to one plant but not the other. The fertilizer is the one factor the scientist changes, making it the independent variable.

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Dependent Variable Noun

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[di-pen-duhnt vair-ee-uh-buhl]

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Dependent Variable

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The variable that is observed and measured in an experiment, which changes in response to the independent variable's manipulation.

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Example: This experiment shows that plant growth (the dependent variable) is the outcome that is measured and changes in response to adding fertilizer (the independent variable).