Week 2 Vocabulary Review Quiz Friday, September 3 rd

accuracy how close a measurement is to the true or accepted value how close a measurement is to the true or accepted value

percent error a calculation used to determine how accurate, or close to the true value, an experimental value really is a calculation used to determine how accurate, or close to the true value, an experimental value really is

scientific literacy the knowledge and understanding of scientific terms and principles required for evaluating information, making personal decisions, and taking part in public affairs the knowledge and understanding of scientific terms and principles required for evaluating information, making personal decisions, and taking part in public affairs

volume the amount of space an object takes up. the amount of space an object takes up.

graph a picture of information from a data table; show the relationship between variables. a picture of information from a data table; show the relationship between variables.

slope the steepness of a graph line; the ratio of the vertical change (the rise) to the horizontal change (the run). the steepness of a graph line; the ratio of the vertical change (the rise) to the horizontal change (the run).

estimate an approximation of a number based on reasonable assumptions. an approximation of a number based on reasonable assumptions.

SI International system of Units; a version of the metric system used by scientists all over the world. International system of Units; a version of the metric system used by scientists all over the world.

meniscus the curved upper surface of a liquid in a column of liquid. the curved upper surface of a liquid in a column of liquid.

data point a point on a graph showing the location of a piece of data. a point on a graph showing the location of a piece of data.

horizontal axis (x-axis) a line that runs left to right along the bottom of a graph, on which the manipulated (or independent) variable is labeled. a line that runs left to right along the bottom of a graph, on which the manipulated (or independent) variable is labeled.

vertical axis (y-axis) a line that runs up and down along the side of a graph, on which the responding (dependent) variable is labeled. a line that runs up and down along the side of a graph, on which the responding (dependent) variable is labeled.

linear graph a line graph in which data points yield a straight line. a line graph in which data points yield a straight line.

significant figures all the digits in a measurement that have been measured exactly, plus one digit whose value has been estimated all the digits in a measurement that have been measured exactly, plus one digit whose value has been estimated

nonlinear graph a line graph in which the data points do not fall along a straight line. a line graph in which the data points do not fall along a straight line.

precision how close a group of measurements are to each other. how close a group of measurements are to each other.

line of best fit a smooth line that reflects the general pattern in a graph. a smooth line that reflects the general pattern in a graph.

metric system a system of measurement based on the number 10. a system of measurement based on the number 10.

origin the point where the x-axis and y-axis cross on a graph. the point where the x-axis and y-axis cross on a graph.

mass a measure of the amount of matter an object contains. a measure of the amount of matter an object contains.

coordinate a pair of numbers used to determine the position of a point on a graph. a pair of numbers used to determine the position of a point on a graph.

weight a measure of the force of gravity acting on an object. a measure of the force of gravity acting on an object.

density a measure of how much mass is contained in a given volume. a measure of how much mass is contained in a given volume.

mean the numerical average of the numbers in a list. the numerical average of the numbers in a list.

median the middle number in a list of numbers. the middle number in a list of numbers.

mode the number that appears most often in a list of numbers. the number that appears most often in a list of numbers.