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WGU C165 Integrated Physical Sciences Vocabulary
1.Physics: The study of forces, energy, motion
2.Chemistry: The study of atoms and molecules, their structures, and
their inter- actions to form substances
3.Earth science: The study of the Earth's structure and
composition, and processes that change Earth
4.essential attributes of science: Studies the natural
world Uses testable ideas Relies on data from observations/experiments Presented for evaluation by other scientists Leads to further questions/research
5.variables: The changing quantities in an experiment
6.independent variable: What you change in an experiment on purpose
7.dependent variable: The variable that changes because of an
independent variable
8.control variable: The variable(s) you don't want to study, need to
be either eliminated or kept constant
9.observational study: When systems are observed as they appear in
nature, researchers do not attempt to change them 1 / 3
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10.physical model: A model of a physical phenomenon, such as a
planetary system
11.conceptual model: A model used to visualize things that cannot be
seen, such as atoms
12.mathematical model: A model that treats physical
objects/phenomena using mathematical methods
13.computer model: A detailed, complex model calculated by a
computer
14.principle of falsification: Principle that only falsifiable statements
can be subject to scientific inquiry
15.hypothesis: A testable statement about how something in nature
works
16.law: A concise statement that is supported by scientific evidence
and repeated experiments, describes a widespread pattern in nature (what)
17.theory: A statement that explains a wide range of observations,
supported by a large body of scientific evidence (how/why)
18.meter: Base unit of length 2 / 3
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19.kilogram: Base unit of mass
20.second: Base unit of time
21.kelvin: Base unit of temperature
22.Derived units: What is produced when the base units/quantities are
combined
23.Speed: The name for the distance traveled divided by an interval of
time
24.Volume: Term for the amount of space an object occupies
25.Liquid displacement: Method of determining the volume of an
object by measuring the amount of liquid it displaces
26.direct relationship: A relationship between two variables where
increasing one increases the other, and vice versa
27.inverse relationship: A relationship between two variables where
increasing one decreases the other, and vice versa
28.Velocity: A combination of speed and direction
29.Acceleration: Term for any change in an object's speed and/or
direction
30.Force: Term for a push or a pull with direction and magnitude. You
may not feel it.
31.Net force: The sum of all forces acting on an object
32.balanced forces: Term for forces that combine to produce a net force
of 0
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