IP Vocab List #2 (Science Measurement Terms)

Error (in experiments)

• The difference between the measured value and the true or accepted value. Example: If the true length is 20.0 cm but you measured 19.5 cm, the error is 0.5 cm.

• The total amount of data collected during an experiment.

• The process of repeating an experiment to verify results.

• The average of all measured values in an experiment.

Conversion Factor

• A method to calculate the area of a shape.

• A ratio that shows how two units are related, used to change units. Example: 1 m = 100 cm.

• A technique for measuring temperature changes.

• A formula used to determine the speed of an object.

Significant Figures

• The digits in a measurement that show how precise it is, including all known digits plus one estimated digit.

• Only the whole numbers in a measurement that indicate precision.

• Any digit in a measurement, regardless of its position or value.

• The total number of digits in a measurement, including zeros.

Uncertainty

• The exact value of a measurement.

• The range of values within which the true value is expected to lie.

• The average of multiple measurements.

• The maximum possible error in a measurement.

Controlled/Constant Variables

• The factors that are kept the same in an experiment so the test is fair.

• The variables that are changed during an experiment to test a hypothesis.

• The results that are measured in an experiment to determine the effect of the independent variable.

• The factors that are not relevant to the experiment and can be ignored.

Kilo (metric prefix)

• Means 100 times a unit. Example: 1 kilometer (km) = 100 meters.

• Means 1000 times a unit. Example: 1 kilometer (km) = 1000 meters.

• Means 10 times a unit. Example: 1 kilometer (km) = 10 meters.

• Means 10000 times a unit. Example: 1 kilometer (km) = 10000 meters.

Dependent Variable

• The variable that you measure or observe in an experiment. Example: Plant height in an experiment testing fertilizer.

• The variable that is manipulated or changed in an experiment.

• The constant factor that remains unchanged throughout the experiment.

• The outcome that is predicted based on the independent variable.

Centi (metric prefix)

• Means 1/10 of a unit. Example: 1 decimeter (dm) = 0.1 meter.

• Means 1/100 of a unit. Example: 1 centimeter (cm) = 0.01 meter.

• Means 1/1000 of a unit. Example: 1 millimeter (mm) = 0.001 meter.

• Means 1/10000 of a unit. Example: 1 centimillimeter (cmm) = 0.0001 meter.

Control Group

• The group in an experiment that does not get the independent variable; used for comparison. Example: Plants with no fertilizer.

• The group that receives the independent variable in an experiment.

• A group that is not involved in the experiment at all.

• The group that is used to manipulate the dependent variable.

Milli (metric prefix)

• Means 1/100 of a unit.

• Means 1/1000 of a unit. Example: 1 millimeter (mm) = 0.001 meter.

• Means 1/10 of a unit.

• Means 1/10000 of a unit.