Scientific Inquiry and Lab Equipment Vocabulary

Front

Scientific question

Back

Inquiry about natural world

Front

Hypothesis

Back

Testable explanation or answer for a question; must include independent and dependent variables

Front

Observation

Back

Gathered information about an event, process or an organism using the senses

Front

Qualitative observation

Back

Descriptive observation gathered using the senses; ex. green and smooth

Front

Quantitative observation

Back

Observation gathered by counting or measuring with a tool; ex, the plant grew 5 cm

Front

Independent variable

Back

Factor purposely changed by the experimenter

Front

Dependent variable

Back

The factor that is measured or observed; it responds to the independent variable

Front

Control group

Back

The group that is tested under normal conditions; used for comparison; does not receive the independent variable

Front

Experimental group

Back

Any group that receives the independent variable

Front

Controlled experiment

Back

An experiment where only one variable is changed; all other variables remain the same