| A | B |
|---|
| problem solving | a process for finding solutions to problems that face us daily |
| scientific method | solving problems using 1) determining the problem, 2) testing, 3) analyzing the results, 4) drawing conclusions |
| observation | an act of gathering information using the senses |
| inference | a conclusion that is based on both observations and knowledge |
| hypothesis | a proposed answer to a problem that can be tested |
| conclusion | an answer to a question which is based on analyzing data and observations gathered in an experiment |
| variables | changeable factors in an experiment |
| control | a standard for comparison |
| theory | an explanation backed by results obtained from repeated tests or experiments |
| law | a theory that has been sufficiently tested and validated |
| model | a representation of an actual object or an idea of how an object looks |
| scale | a fixed ratio between the size of the model and the size of the real object |
| physical models | represent actual objects (models of airplanes or cars) |
| mental models | ideas of how objects look (a model of the atom) |
| scientist | a person who uses scientific methods to learn about and explain natural events |
| chemistry | the study of the properties and composition of matter |
| physics | study of forces, motion, and energy and their effects on matter |
| biology | study of living organisms |
| earth science | study of planet Earth and its place in space |
| technology | the use of scientific discoveries |
| geology | the study of Earth, its matter, and the processes that form and change it |
| astronomy | the study of objects in space, including stars, planets, and comets |
| meteorology | the study of weather and the forces and processes that cause it |
| oceanography | the study of Earth's oceans |
