K-12 Science Vocabulary

Words found in science curriculum standards*

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Science:   Science is a process of knowing and all science knowledge has been obtained from 1) direct observation of laboratory experiments or field experiences; and 2) inferences made from those direct observations.  Science is typically divided into three broad disciplines of science, although scientific study is typically an integrated examination relying upon understandings of these three disciplines.

            Physics:  The study of energy

            Chemistry:  The study of matter

            Biology:  The study of living matter

All other fields of science begin with these three pillars and find their organization within the purview of these disciplines.  Geology, for example, classifies rocks and minerals in various ways, however, chemical composition is central to geological research.

Some science fields integrate two or more of these pillars.  Physical chemistry studies energy as matter interacts, including thermodynamics (from Greek, “heat power”), and kinetics—the motion of molecules.  Typically the foundations of chemistry that are taught have physical chemistry strands, from reactions to gas laws.  Biochemistry studies the chemistry of large molecules found in biological systems and their functioning.

Democritus wrote:  “There are atoms, and there is void.  All else is opinion.”  We know from science that there are atoms (and their components), energy, and void.  Opinions are outside the purview of science, but can be a starting place for questions.  Crucial to the process of science are verification and falsification.  Scientists will consistently work to verify or falsify hypotheses and theories, to eliminate opinions or preconceived notions.

Accuracy: (see also precision)  The ability to obtain a known or accepted value through laboratory procedures, calculations, or analyses of data, analogous to hitting the bull’s eye.  Examples:  During a lab, students might collect data that would permit the calculation of g, acceleration due to gravity (either through falling bodies or using a pendulum).  An exact value can be obtained from various sources and compared with laboratory values.  Those values closest to the value found in a reference book are the most accurate.  A known or accepted value may be established through significant research, or, in the case of chemical solutions, the value of standardized solutions established by a teacher or lab assistant.

Analyze:  A process of dissecting things, components, ideas, or concepts of a particular system (circulatory system, solar system, cell theory, etc.) and evaluating or comparing the various parts relative to something.  For example a medical doctor may analyze circulatory system data relative to a healthy system, or an anatomist may analyze the parts relative to function within the larger body.  Likewise, physical systems, like a car on a track can be analyzed mathematically, where the components are position, velocity, acceleration, and they are compared graphically with one another, or plotted with efficiency of work done.  With literature, one could analyze a story by dissecting the whole into vignettes, characters and their actions, or types of ideas personified by the characters; the same is done in science where the system being analyzed tells a story which must be dissected.

Calculate:  In science, the use of mathematics to draw conclusions from quantitative data.

Classify:  Grouping of objects (e.g., matter, energy, concepts) by attribute into a useful system for understanding or research.  Attributes (colors, size, temperature, etc.) are selected based upon purpose of organization.  Typically classifications have several levels of organization, for example, vertebrates include mammals, which are further classified anatomically into groups like bats, or apes.  Using color as an attribute may be more useful in kindergarten or in the visual arts than in chemistry, although it is always valid in science, if useful.

Compare and contrast:  Careful analysis between two or more objects, whereby all similarities and differences are observed, recorded, and studied to understand reasons

Conclude:  To infer, make a judgment, or answer a question that was asked before, during, or after experimentation

Data:  Collection of recorded observations (from the senses, or technology), and can be either descriptive (qualitative) or from measurements (quantitative).

Describe:  (see also qualitative)  Recording of examination of attributes of an object or objects. Typically prose statements or paragraphs that use precise adjectives and adverbs to define what is observed.  It can also be done with lists and diagrams.  A form of qualitative research.

Error:  (see percent error, accuracy, and precision) The gap between expected results and the actual results

Ethical, Ethics:  Ethics is a discipline in philosophy that studies the value of actions.  In science ethics will guide actions (e.g., types of experiments, behavior toward laboratory animals or the environment, treatment of human subjects or human body parts) based upon practices acceptable within specific philosophical or religious ideals, or upon practices approved by legitimate governing bodies, such as Congress, to particular scientific groups, like the International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry (IUPAC).

Evidence:  Specific observations supportive of expectations from hypotheses, theories, or guesses.  The record that validates or falsifies a belief, hypothesis, or theory.

Experiment:  A process of testing a hypothesis and recording observations, then analyzing data and drawing a conclusion that supports or contradicts a hypothesis

Graph:  (see record)  A visual representation or comparison of data.  Graphs are done on a calculator, computer, or on graph paper (never on notebook paper or printer paper, because there is no precise calibration of spacing)

Hypothesis:  A guess that explains a question or curiosity or anticipates a solution to a problem.  The difference between guesses or hunches in society and a hypothesis in science is that the hypothesis is a written or articulated systematic answer to a written question or problem, based upon a reasoned and studied analysis of data.  Often a hypothesis will begin to define specific tests to validate or falsify the hypothesis, but there are times when tests or experiments cannot be performed.

Inference:  (see also observe)  Broadly, any conclusion reached.  In science the difficulty is in separating pure observations (only obtained through the senses) form observations processed through thought or reason.  Often subtle conclusions are drawn based upon past experiences and students will record those conclusions and not the observations, for example, when watching a candle burn students will say that the wax is being burned.  The observation will be that the candle is hot, it is getting shorter, there is a small puddle of wax that is less than the amount of candle that has been consumed.  Experience tells the student that the wax was burned, but the production of the gases from burning is invisible.

Inquiry:  A process of systematically delving into a problem or question, recording observations about the problem or question, analyzing data, and answering the question or problem.

Interpret:  An inference or series of inferences, which yield conclusions or hypotheses.

Investigation:   A process of studying or experimenting a situation or object.

Measure:  The use of a particular, standard unit to quantify something, or decide relative differences.  For example, the table surface is four pencil-lengths long and three wide.  Any arbitrary units can be used to compare to items, such as the pencil length or a paperclip mass, and while the English system of measurement is somewhat arbitrary (a king’s foot), the scientific community uses the metric system, referred to as the SI system.

Methods of science:  (see inquiry)  A systematic process of asking questions, making observations, and collecting and recording data, analyzing data, and drawing conclusions to answer the questions.

Observe, observation:  (see also inference, qualitative, quantitative, and record)  In science all observations are recorded and include any record of data obtained through one of the senses.  If thought is involved or a conclusion drawn, it is an inference and not an observation.  Observations could be categorized into qualitative and quantitative groups, before-during-after groups, or by sense (visual, auditory, tactile, olfactory, or taste).  Observations can also be made directly into a data bank by a system of probes, computers, or other form of technology.

Percent error:  (see accuracy and quantitative)  With quantitative data, the absolute difference between the datum recorded and the known or accepted value, divided by the known or accepted value, then multiplied by 100%, as in:

                       Percent error = [(known or accepted value) – obtained value]

                                                            (known or accepted value)

Precision (see accuracy):  The ability to replicate similar results.  It has nothing to do, necessarily, with accuracy.  In the following table, Trials 1-3 are all within 0.04 of one another, and thus, could be determined to be precise, with one another.  Trial 4 is imprecise with the other values obtained, however, if the known value of the solution were pH 5.38, then Trial 4 would be quite accurate.  The students would have to conclude that the manner in which they carried out their lab procedures were precise for Trials 1-3, but with little accuracy.

Predict:  A precise guess based upon reason and study of situation.

Qualitative:  (see also quantitative) Any research, observation, or data which describes something without using measurement or a numerical analysis.

Quantitative:  (see also qualitative) Observations or data which have been measured or counted in anyway, e.g., time measured by stop watch, wall clock, or even measured with a person’s pulse (less accurate, however); distance measured with micrometers, rules, or taken by comparing with finger length, paces, or the number of pencil widths.  An adult may know that they have a spread of 23 cm between the ends of their thumb and little fingers, when the fingers are fully spread, or that their thumb joint width is 2.5 cm.  Likewise, typically, a fist at arm’s length, with the thumb raised is close to a 15º arc, so that six of them stacked end to end make a 90º arc, which is helpful in field observations, astronomy or orienteering, (a tight fist at arm’s length is about 10º, so nine of them will equal 90º).  The counting of complete periods or cycles is also quantitative, e.g., the number of swings (from one side and back again to the same side) a pendulum makes in twenty seconds, or the number of cycles of a butterfly’s wings opening and closing while resting on a flower.

Question:  A curiosity, doubt, or statement inquiring about something.  Often students will begin with who, what, where, when, why, or how.  Questions can be classified into three broad types: 1) questions of information, answers are particular facts; 2) questions of analysis, answers have compared, evaluated, or judged data relative to something; and 3) questions of design or hypothesis, answers are conclusions of experimentation or products of some creative endeavor.  Each higher form requires questions and answers from lower levels, so the hypotheses require comparing and contrasting (of the second level) specific information (derived from the first level).

Record:  (see also observe)  Documentation of observations during the period of observance.  Scientists record in field books, in ink, directly into a computer or probe technology system, or with various photographic techniques, including digital or chemical photography.  Publications or science competitions require records to be made in bound field or lab books, using ink.  As a minimum, records are made with a date and place and the recorder’s name.  All diagrams, tables, and graphs are to be fully labeled.

Relate:  A process of comparing and contrasting something with something else, as in relate the vascular system of plants with the circulatory system of animals.  There is always a ground against which something is compared, for example, relate the colors of the flowers found around the school to the swatches of colors from a paint chip card.

Research:  (see also experiments, inquiry, qualitative, quantitative, question)  A systematic study to answer a question.  Library research may precede the experimental study, and allow the researcher to obtain preliminary answers or even clarify questions.  Qualitative research has minimal measurements involved.  Historical, anthropological, or philosophical research are examples of qualitative studies.  Quantitative studies always involve measurements and typically use statistical analyses of data.

Scientific notation:  A number system where all numbers are written in a form of exponents of ten, such that the number is converted into a real whole number (1-9) followed by a decimal value, followed in turn by an “x10ⁿ”, where the first value (the characteristic) is the first significant non-zero digit of the number and the following digits after the decimal (the mantissa) are the rest of the numerical value.  Thus,  102 becomes 1.02x10², 0.00340 becomes 3.40x10^-3, and 150,000,000 becomes 1.5x10⁸.

SI Units:  An internationally accepted system of measurement based upon the metric system and seconds.  SI is an abbreviation of the French Le Système International d’Unités; the SI units are the units used in scientific measurement as follows:

            Table of SI units

Skeptical: (see question)  Doubtful, to have doubts or questions about.  A scientist develops a healthy skepticism to maintain an attitude for research

Technology:  Any calculator, computer, PDA, probe, or system containing these components, which facilitates the collection, processing, or analysis of data.

Tentative:  A temporary or unsure position, hypothesis, or theory.

Theory:  An answer, hypothesis, or system of understanding that provides a succinct explanation of all current observations within its purview and permits successful future exploration.  Newton’s theory of gravity explained the behavior of falling bodies, such as an apple, as well as planetary motion.  It also permitted scientists to extend their understanding of behaviors in the universe until the behavior of light could not be explained late in the Eighteenth Century.  So Einstein developed another more comprehensive theory of gravity in his theory of relativity.

Variable:  Anything that changes within an observation or experiment.  Usually divided into independent and dependent variables, the dependent variables being the ones that change in relation to those manipulated within the experiment—the independent variables.

*(from Cobb County Schools)

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MORE SCIENCE VOCABULARY RESOURCES

Science Vocabulary Hangman http://education.jlab.org/vocabhangman/

Glossary of  scientific terms http://education.jlab.org/glossary/index.html

 ESL science vocabulary http://esl.about.com/library/vocabulary/blwordgroups_science.htm

Earth System Science Vocabularies Part I:
General Science Topics, Processes and Concepts http://serc.carleton.edu/ess_vocab/part1.htm

 Earth System Science Vocabularies Part II: Earth System Processes http://serc.carleton.edu/ess_vocab/part2.htm

Earth System Science Vocabularies Part III: Earth System Environments http://serc.carleton.edu/ess_vocab/part3.htm

 Earth System Science Vocabularies Part IV: Time and the Earth System http://serc.carleton.edu/ess_vocab/part4.htm

ESL Science Vocab http://esl.about.com/library/vocabulary/blwordgroups_science.htm

6^th Grade Sci Vocab http://www.mrsm.addr.com/vocab.html

ISAT Sci Vocab http://www.boardofed.idaho.gov/saa/documents/ScienceVocab.pdf#search=%22science%20vocabulary%22

Science Vocab Puzzlemakers http://www.glencoe.com/sec/science/vocpuzzle/index.html

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