CPO Science: Physical Science
natural laws - ANSWERSthe set of rules that are obeyed by every detail of everything
that occurs in the universe
to discover what the natural laws are - ANSWERSprimary goal of science
scientific inquiry - ANSWERSthe most reliable way to discover natural laws
inquiry - ANSWERSa process of learning that starts with asking questions and proceeds
by seeking the answers to the questions
deduce - ANSWERSto figure something out from known facts using logical thinking
objective - ANSWERSdescribes evidence that documents only what actually happened
as exactly as possible
repeatable - ANSWERSdescribes evidence that can be seen independently by others if
they repeat the same experiment or observation in the same way
theory - ANSWERSa scientific explanation supported by a lot of evidence collected over
a long period of time
caloric - ANSWERSa fake fluid that people believed was in objects; if there was more of
this in an object, it would be hotter
hypothesis - ANSWERSa possible explanation that can be tested by comparison with
scientific evidence
scientific method - ANSWERSa process of learning that begins with a hypothesis and
proceeds to prove or change the hypothesis by comparing it with scientific evidence
steps of scientific method - ANSWERSscientists observe nature and develop a
hypothesis, the hypothesis is tested against evidence collected from observations and
experiments, any hypothesis that is proven correct against all evidence is determined
true, and a theory is continually tested by collecting new and different evidence until one
piece of evidence proves it wrong
variable - ANSWERSa quantity that can change, often with a numerical value
value - ANSWERSthe particular number with units that a variable may have
speed - ANSWERSthe distance an object travels divided by the time it takes
natural laws - ANSWERSthe set of rules that are obeyed by every detail of everything
that occurs in the universe
to discover what the natural laws are - ANSWERSprimary goal of science
scientific inquiry - ANSWERSthe most reliable way to discover natural laws
inquiry - ANSWERSa process of learning that starts with asking questions and proceeds
by seeking the answers to the questions
deduce - ANSWERSto figure something out from known facts using logical thinking
objective - ANSWERSdescribes evidence that documents only what actually happened
as exactly as possible
repeatable - ANSWERSdescribes evidence that can be seen independently by others if
they repeat the same experiment or observation in the same way
theory - ANSWERSa scientific explanation supported by a lot of evidence collected over
a long period of time
caloric - ANSWERSa fake fluid that people believed was in objects; if there was more of
this in an object, it would be hotter
hypothesis - ANSWERSa possible explanation that can be tested by comparison with
scientific evidence
scientific method - ANSWERSa process of learning that begins with a hypothesis and
proceeds to prove or change the hypothesis by comparing it with scientific evidence
steps of scientific method - ANSWERSscientists observe nature and develop a
hypothesis, the hypothesis is tested against evidence collected from observations and
experiments, any hypothesis that is proven correct against all evidence is determined
true, and a theory is continually tested by collecting new and different evidence until one
piece of evidence proves it wrong
variable - ANSWERSa quantity that can change, often with a numerical value
value - ANSWERSthe particular number with units that a variable may have
speed - ANSWERSthe distance an object travels divided by the time it takes
