Scientific Thinking Vocabulary

Mass

• The amount of matter in an object.

• The weight of an object in a vacuum.

• The volume of an object.

• The density of an object.

Procedure

• Series of steps to follow during experiment.

• A single action taken during an experiment.

• The final result of an experiment.

• A hypothesis that needs testing.

Hypothesis

• A possible and testable statement about a natural phenomenon.

• A definitive conclusion based on extensive research.

• An untestable theory that explains observations.

• A random guess made without evidence.

Geology

• The study of celestial bodies and the universe beyond Earth.

• The science that deals with the earth's physical structure and substance, its history, and the processes that act on it.

• The examination of living organisms and their interactions with the environment.

• The analysis of human societies and their cultural development.

Independent variable

• The factor that is manipulated or controlled by the experimenter.

• A variable that remains constant throughout the experiment.

• The outcome that is measured in response to changes in the independent variable.

• A variable that is not affected by other variables in the experiment.

Precision

• Refers to how close a series of measurements are to one another.

• Refers to how close a measurement is to the true value.

• Refers to the average of a series of measurements.

• Refers to the variability of a series of measurements.

Experimentation

• The process of making a hypothesis.

• The testing of a hypothesis.

• The analysis of data collected from experiments.

• The formulation of scientific theories.

Inference

• A logical interpretation based on prior knowledge and experience.

• A random guess without any basis.

• A statement that is always true.

• A conclusion drawn from a single observation.

Purpose

• The question or reason for doing the experiment.

• A summary of the experiment's results.

• The materials used in the experiment.

• The hypothesis being tested.

Hydrosphere

• All the waters on the earth's surface, such as lakes and seas, and sometimes including water over the earth's surface, such as clouds.

• The layer of gases surrounding the planet.

• The solid outer part of the earth, consisting of the crust and upper mantle.

• The region of the earth's atmosphere where weather occurs.