Chapter 2: Principles of Science and Systems Flashcards Preview

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Flashcards in Chapter 2: Principles of Science and Systems Deck (44)
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1
Q

Science

A
  • The process of producing knowledge methodically and logically.
  • A search for answers to questions.
  • Develops and tests theories.
  • Helps us understand the world and meet practical needs.
  • It assumes that the universe, our world and nature are knowable.
2
Q

What two things does science depends on?

A

Accuracy and Skepticism

3
Q

Reproducibility

A

if one scientist conducts an experiment in a particular way finding particular results, his findings should be able to be reproduced by another scientist with the same results.

4
Q

Replication

A

repeating the same study multiple times

5
Q

Deductive Reasoning

A

logical reasoning from general to specific

Example: If you understand the Law of Gravitation, you know that an apple falling from a tree moves toward the ground

6
Q

Inductive Reasoning

A

reasoning from many observations that help you to make a general rule
Example: We observe different bird species appearing
and disappearing in a specific location and as a general
rule decide that birds migrate to different locations.

7
Q

How do you test a hypothesis?

A
  • Observation leads to identification of a problem.
  • Propose a hypothesis
  • Test the hypothesis
  • Gather data
  • Interpret results, if the hypothesis was supported, draw conclusions. It the hypothesis was not supported, redesign the test.
  • If the explanation holds up to repeated testing, you can develop a theory.
8
Q

Probability

A

how likely something will occur

9
Q

What are the types of experiments?

A
  • Natural Experiment
  • Manipulative Experiment
  • Blind Experiment
  • Double-Blind Experiment
10
Q

Natural Experiment

A

involves observation of events that have already happened

Example: Mountain Building, Species Adaptations

11
Q

Manipulative Experiment

A

conditions are deliberately altered to see what will happen; most are done in a laboratory under controlled conditions

12
Q

Blind Experiment

A

researcher does not know which group is the control group (Example: Drug testing)

13
Q

Double-Blind Experiment

A

both the researcher and test subject are unaware of who is in the test vs. control group

14
Q

What are the two types of variables?

A
  • Independant
  • Dependant
15
Q

The Independant Variable

A

This is the variable the researcher can manipulate

Plotted on the X-axis

16
Q

The Dependant Variable

A

Also called the response variable because it “depends” on the independent variable

Plotted on the Y-axis

17
Q

What are the types of models?

A
  • physical
  • mathematical
  • mental
18
Q

Physical Model

A

a model of an actual object

19
Q

Mathematical Model

A

an equation

20
Q

Mental Model

A

a model of an idea

21
Q

Statistics

A
  • They are numbers that let you evaluate and compare things
  • A field of mathematics
  • They allow us to find patterns in data
  • They allow us to determine how “valid” our data is
22
Q

Desciptive Statistics

A

help you assess the general state of a group

Begins with the calculation of an average for a group.

Mean = average value

Symbol for mean is X with a bar on top or the greek letter mu

23
Q

Sample

A

a group of something

24
Q

Standard Deviation

A

a calculation that allows you to know how far data deviates from an average score; it also allows you to establish a range for your data

25
Q

System

A

a network of interdependent components and processes, with materials and energy flowing from one component of the system to another

26
Q

Ecosystem

A

a complex assemblage of animals, plants and their environment through which materials and energy move

27
Q

Open System

A

a system that receives input from its surroundings and produces outputs that leave the system; almost all natural systems are open

28
Q

Closed System

A

a system that exchanges no energy or matter with its surroundings; these are rare

29
Q

Throughput

A

term used to describe the energy and matter that flow into, through, and out of a system

30
Q

Positive Feedback

A

a self-perpetuating process; a positive feedback loop is a situation in which a factor or condition causes changes that enhance that factor or condition

(Example: Bacteria get mercury poisoned. Fish eat bacteria so then fist get mercury poisoned. Humans eat fish, so humans get mercury poisoned.)

31
Q

Negative Feedback

A

a process that supresses change; a negative feedback loop causes changes that reduce a factor or condition

(Example: Your body gets hot, so it sweats to cool down. Your body gets cold, so it makes hairs on arms erect to capture heat.)

32
Q

Homeostasis

A

a tendency to remain stable and unchanging

33
Q

Disturbances

A

events that can destabilize or change a system

Example: forest fire in an ecosystem

34
Q

Resilience

A

the ability to recover from a disturbance

35
Q

State Shift

A

conditions do not completely return to normal because the disturbance was so great

36
Q

Scientific Consensus

A

a general agreement among scientists about a particular concept or principle

37
Q

Paradigm Shift

A

term for a revolutionary change in scientific thinking

38
Q

Pseudoscience

A

a collection of beliefs or practices mistakenly regarded as being based on scientific method

39
Q

The worst nuclear accident in history occurred in which location?

A

Chernobyl, Ukraine

40
Q

Statistics are used in:

A

analyzing data

41
Q

A revolution is scientific thinking is known as:

A

a paradigm shift

42
Q

An experiment in which a test group does not receive a variable is:

A

a controlled study

43
Q

A testable explanation based on research alone is:

A

a hypothesis

44
Q

The first calculation needed to determine the standard deviation of a set of values is the:

A

mean