Unit 1 (Scientific Skills)
qualitative data
Information describing color, odor, shape, or some other physical characteristic
observation
Information obtained through the senses.
density
Mass / Volume
quantitative data
Observation of a measurement stated with a numeric value.
accuracy
The degree of closeness of measurements of a quantity to the actual (or accepted) value.
precision
The degree to which repeated measurements show the same result.
scientific notation
a method of writing very large (34,200,000) or very small (0.0000029) numbers using powers of 10
experiment
a procedure carried out to verify, refute, or validate a hypothesis. They provide insight into cause-and-effect by demonstrating what outcome occurs when a particular factor is manipulated.
experimental value
a quantitative value measured during an experiment
conversion factor
a ratio of equivalent measurements used to convert a quantity from one unit to another
scientific law
a rule that describes a pattern in nature
accepted value
the correct value for the measurement based on reliable references
chemistry
the study of matter and how it changes
International System of Units
the system of units (SI) used by scientists to measure the properties of matter
scientific theory
well-substantiated explanation of some aspect of the natural world, based on a body of facts that have been repeatedly confirmed through observation and experiment.
percent error
(|experimental value-accepted value|/accepted value) x 100
inference
A logical interpretation based on prior knowledge and experience.
hypothesis
A proposed, scientifically testable explanation for an observed phenomenon.
model
A representation of an object or system
scientific method
A series of steps followed to solve problems including collecting data, formulating a hypothesis, testing the hypothesis, and stating conclusions.
significant figures
All the digits that can be known precisely in a measurement, plus a last estimated digit
