THE NATURE OF SCIENCE
VOCABULARY
SCIENCE
• A systematic way of learning more
about the natural world.
• Science can be used to answer
many questions about the natural
world.
Scientific theory
• An attempt to explain a pattern
observed repeatedly in the natural
world.
• Theories must be supported by
observations and results from many
investigations.
SCIENTIFIC LAW
• A rule that describes a pattern in nature.
• The law does not explain why something
happens.
• The law simply describes a pattern.
SYSTEM
• A collection of structures, cycles and processes
that relate to and interact with each other.
• Example: How the human body works.
• How the planets move around the sun.
Life Science
• The study of living systems and the ways in which
interact.
Earth Science
• The study of the Earth systems and the systems
in the space.
• It includes the study of nonliving things such as
rocks, soil, clouds, rivers, oceans, planets, stars ,
meteors and black holes. Also, weather and
climate.
Physical Science
• The study of matter and energy.
• Matter is anything that takes up space and has
mass.
• The ability to cause change in matter is energy.
Technology
• Practical use of science .
• Engineers apply science to design technology.
• The study of the energy of sunlight is science.
• Using this knowledge to design the solar panels
that power cars is technology.
HYPOTHESIS
• Reasonable and educated possible answer based
on what you know and what you observe.
INFER
• Draw a conclusion based on what you observe.
CONTROLLED EXPERIMENT
• Involves changing one factor and observing its
effect on another, while keeping all other factors
constant.
• Control is a factor that in the experiment is
maintained the same . No changes are
applicable.
VARIABLES
• Factors that can be change in the experiment.
• Change one variable and observe the effect of
this change on other variable.
INDEPENDENT VARIABLE
• A factor that is changed purposely by the
experimenter.
• Example : time, temperature.
DEPENDENT VARIABLE
• A factor that may change as a result of changes
purposely made to the independent variable.
• Example: growth( length), distance, mass.
CONSTANTS
• The variables that do not change in the
experiment are constants.
MODELS
• A model is one way to test the hypothesis.
• A model is any representation of an object or an
event used as a tool for understanding the natural
world.
• Model can help you visualize or picture in your
mind , something that is difficult to see or
understand.