| A | B |
|---|
| science | A way of learning about the natural world through observations and logical reasoning: leads to a body of knowledge. |
| observing | The process of using one or more of your senses to gather information. |
| inferring | The process of making an inference, an interpretation based on observations and prior knowledge. |
| predicting | The proces of forecasting what will happen in the future based on past experience or evidence. |
| scientific inquiry | The ongoing process of discovery in science: the diverse ways in which scientists study the natural world and propose explanations based on evidence they gather. |
| hypothesis | A possible explanation for a set of observations or answer to a scientific question: must be testable. |
| controlled experiment | An experiment in which only one variable is manipulated at a time. |
| variable | A 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, or independent, variable in an experiment: also called dependent variable. |
| data | Facts, figures, and other evidence gathered through observations. |
| scientific theory | A well-tested concept that explains a wide range of observations. |
| scientific law | A statement that describes what scientists expect to happen every time under a paticular set of conditions. |
| Earth science | The science that focuses on planet Earth and its place in the universe. |
| system | A group of related parts that work together. |
| energy | The ability to do work or cause change. |
| constructive force | A force that builds up mountains and landmasses on Earth's surface. |
| destructive force | A force that slowly wears away mountains and other features on the surface of Earth. |
| geologist | A scientist who studies the forces that make and shape planet Earth. |
| oceanographer | A scientist who studies Earth's oceans. |
| meteorologist | A scientist who studies the causes of weather and tries to predict it. |
| astronomer | A scientist who studies the universe beyond Earth. |
| environmental scientist | 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. |
