Unit 1.1 The Practice of Science

Front

Independent Variable

Back

the thing that is being changed and tested in an investigation

(ex. the fertilizer)

Front

Control Variable

Back

the thing that is the same and not changed in an investigation

(ex. the plant with no fertilizer, the type of plant, the amount of water, the amount of sunlight)

Front

Dependent Variable

Back

what is being measured or the outcome of and investigation

(ex. the height of the plant)

Front

Experimental

Investigation

Back

• -shows the relationship between 2 things

-cause and effect

-follows scientific method

-has all 3 variables

(ex. testing to see if fertilizer causes a plant to grow taller)

Front

Observational

Investigation

Back

-used to observe the natural world

without variables

-follows a procedure and has a conclusion

-no hypothesis

(ex. meteorologist observing the weather)

Front

Comparative Investigation

Back

-follows scientific method

-compares 2 or more variables

-does NOT have a control variable

(ex. comparing how effective each covid vaccine is in age groups:

Front

Theory

Back

-explains WHY or HOW something happens

-CAN be changed with new evidence

(ex. The Cell Theory)

Front

Law

Back

-tells WHAT is going to happen every time

-CAN'T be changed

(ex. Law of Gravity)