Science Midterm Vocab
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33 terms
Terms | Definitions |
|---|---|
 chemistry | the study of the composition, structure, properties, and reactions of matter |
| physics | the study of matter and energy and the interactions between the two through forces and motion |
| geology | the study of the origin, history, and structure of the earth |
| astronomy | the study of the universe beyond earth, including the sun, moon, planets, and stars |
| biology | the study of the origin of living things |
| scientific method | an organized plan for gathering, organizing, and communicating information |
| observation | information that you obtain through your senses |
| hypothesis | a proposed answer to a question |
| manipulated variable | a variable that causes a change in another |
| responding variable | a variable that changes in response to the manipulated variable |
| controlled experiment | an experiment in which one variable, the manipulated variable, is deliberately changed at a time |
| scientific law | a statement that summarizes a pattern found in nature |
| model | representation of an object or event |
| volume | the amount of space taken up by an object |
| mass | the quantity of matter in an object or sample |
| length | the straight-line distance between two points |
| precision | a gauge of how exact a measurement is |
| significant figures | all the digits that are known in a measurement plus the last digit that is estimated |
| accuracy | the closeness of a measurement to the actual value of what is being measured |
| thermometer | an instrument that measures temperature or how hot an object is |
| slope | the ratio of a vertical change to the corresponding horizontal change |
| direct porportion | is a relationship in which the ratio of two variables is constant |
| inverse porportion | the product of two variables is constant |
| element | a substance that cannot be broken down into simpler substances |
| atom | the smallest particle of an element |
| compound | a substance that is made from two or more simpler substances and can be broken down into simpler substances |
| heterogeneous mixture | the parts of the mixture are noticeably different from one another |
| homogeneous mixture | the substances are so evenly distributed that is difficult to distinguish one substance in the mixture from another |
| solution | when substances dissolve and form a homogeneous mixture |
| suspension | a heterogeneous mixture that seperates into layers over time |
| colloid | contains some particles that are intermediate in size between the small particles in a solution and the larger particles in a suspension |
| distillation | a process that seperates substances in a solution based on their boiling points |
| precipitate | any solid that forms and seperates from a liquid mixture |
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