Chapter 1 Vocabulary

2. the study of the composition, structure, properties, and reactions of matter
5. factor a ratio of equivalent measurements that is used to convert a quantity from one unit to another
7. the straight-line distance between two points
8. variable a variable that changes in response to a change in the manipulated variable
10. a system of knowledge about the natural world and the method used to find that knowledge
11. a proposed answer to a question
14. experiment an experiment in which only one variable, the manipulated variable, is deliberately changed at a time
19. a statement that summarizes a pattern found in nature
20. the amount of space taken up by an object

1. the use of scientific knowledge to solve practical problems
3. a representation of an object or event
4. theory a well-tested explanation for a set of observations or experimental results
6. the study of matter and energy and the interactions between the two through forces and motion
9. the amount of matter in an object
12. an instrument that measures
13. notation a way of expressing a value as the product of a number between 1 and 10 and a power of 10
15. information obtained through the senses
16. the ratio of a material’s mass to its volume
17. method an organized plan used for gathering, organizing, and communicating information
18. variable the variable that causes a change in another variable / the variable that the scientist changes in an experiment