| A | B |
|---|
| science | A way of learning about the natural world and the knowledge gained through that process |
| scientific inquiry | The diverse ways in which scientists explore problems and seek to answer questions about the natural world |
| observation | Using all five senses to gather information |
| inference | An interpretation based on observation and prior knowledge |
| hypothesis | A possible explanation for a set of observations or an answer to a scientific question |
| controlled experiment | An experiment in which all factors except one are kept constant |
| variable | Any factor that can change in an experiment |
| manipulated variable | The one factor that a scientist changes during an experiment; also called the independent variable |
| responding variable | The factor that changes as a result of changes to the manipulated varaiable in an experiment; also called the dependent variable |
| data | The facts, figures and other evidence gained through observation |
| scientific theory | A well-tested concept that explains a wide range of observations |
| Earth science | The science that focuses on planet Earth and its place in the universe |
| geologists | A scientist who studies the forces that make and shape planet Earth |
| oceanographers | A scientist who studies Earth's oceans |
| meteorologists | Scientists who study the causes of weather and try to predict it |
| astronomers | Scientists who study the universe |
| environmental scientists | A scientist who studies the effects of human activities on Earth's land, air, water, and living things and also tries to solve problems relating to the use of resources |
