Physical Science Vocabulary Chapter 1
Terms
undefined, object
copy deck
- Constant
- in an experiment, a factor that doesn't change.
- Control
- in an experiment, a standard for comparison that is often needed to draw a meanful conclusion
- dependent variable
- in an experiment, the factor whose value canges because of a change in the independent variable.
- experiment
- an organized procedure for testing a hypothesis, an experiment typically has control and dependent and independent variables.
- Mass
- the measure of the amount of matter in an object
- hypothesis
- a testable prediction used to see how something works or to solve a problem
- independent variable
- in an experiment, the factor adjusted to a different value by the experimenter to see what effect it will have on the dependent variable
- model
- a symbolic representation of an idea, system, or structure to make something understandable
- volume
- the amount of space an object occupies
- observation
- using your senses to gather information.
- physical science
- the study of matter and energy; topics for study include chemistry and physics
- scientific law
- a rule that describes, but doesn't explain, a pattern in nature and predicts what will happen under specific conditions
- technology
- the practicle use of scientific information to improve the quality of human life
- theory
- the most logical explanation of why thing work the way they do. A theory is a former hypothesis that has been tested with repeated experiments and observations and found to always work.