| Term | Definition |
|---|
| probability | the likelihood of an event actually happening, expressed as a decimal, fraction or percent |
| model | a mental picture scientists form based on their observations |
| radioactive decay | Ex.: the amount of carbon-14 in a sample decreases from 5.0 g to 2.5 g in 5730 years |
| half life | the time it takes for half of a radioactive sample to decay |
| error | variations that occur even when a scientific procedure is followed properly |
| estimate | a rough, approximate calculation |
| classify | grouping items based on their characteristics |
| random | an event whose outcome cannot be predicted in advance |
| measurement | comparison of an unknown quantity to a known, standard quantity |
| pattern | a trend in data that allows a prediction to be made |
| illusion | this deceives a person into believing something that is not true |
| calibration | the marks on a measuring instrament, such as those showing mm and cm on a ruler |
| pascal triangle | formed by counting the paths available to arrive at each position in the "human pinball machine" |
| random event | Ex.: the roll of a die |
| indirect | Ex.: your father knows how fast you were driving by counting the number of smashed bugs on your bumper |
| illusion | Ex.: lines look crooked on a drawing, but they're really straight |
| classify | Ex.: a child makes piles of wooden blocks based on their color |
| systemmatic | Ex.: You measure a length using the number of strides, but your stride is longer outside than inside. You correct your data using math. |
| mistake | Ex.: measurements of the size of a room vary from 120 m to 500 m |
| magic | relies on illusion |
| Science | relies on measurement; scietific progress relies on testing of theories and a willingness to alter your theory if the data doesn't fit |
| Rutherford | fired alpha particles at gold foil and used indirect measurement to determine the size of the atoms |
| Radioactive Decay | occurs when an unstable nucleus emits a particle in order to become more stable...particles include alpha, beta, gamma |
Combine with other sets
Share on Facebook
Share on MySpace