99 Science Vocabulary Terms for the ACT

absolute: existing independent of any other cause

accuracy: freedom from mistake, exact

adverse: acting against or in an opposite direction

analogue: similar or comparable in certain respects

analyze: to study the relationship of the parts of something by analysis

application: ability to put to a practical use, having something to do with the matter at hand

approximately: nearly, an estimate or figure that is almost exact

argument: reasoning for or against something

assumption: something that is accepted as true

comprehend: to understand fully

concentration: the ratio of the amount of solute to the amount of solvent or solution

conclusion: a final decision based on facts, experience or reasoning

confirm: to make sure of the truth of something

consequence: something produced by a cause of condition

consistent: in agreement, firm, changeless

constant: remaining steady and unchanged

contradiction: a statement in opposition to another

control group: experimental group in which conditions are controlled

controlled experiment: one in which the condition suspected to cause and effect is compared to one without the suspected condition

controlled variable: a factor in an experiment that remains constant

correlation: a close connection between two ideas or two sets of data

criticism: a finding of fault, disapproval

definitive: most nearly complete or accurate

demonstrate: to explain by use of examples or experiments

dependence: a state of being controlled by something else

dependent variable: result or change that occurs due to the part of an experiment being tested

diminish: to make smaller or less, to decrease in size

direct relationship: the connection between two variables that shows the same effect (they both increase or both decrease)

effective: producing or able to produce a desired condition

estimation: forming a calculation based on incomplete data

ethical: following accepted rules and behavior

evaluation: the result of finding something; estimating the value of something

evidence: that which serves to prove or disprove something

examine: to look at or check carefully

expectation: the extent of a chance that something will occur

experiment: a test made to find something out

experimental design: the plan for a controlled experiment

experimental group: the experimental part in which all conditions are kept the same except for the condition being tested

explanation: a statement that makes something clear

extrapolation: estimating a value of another characteristic beyond the range of a given value of another characteristic

figure: a picture that explains

fundamental: a basic part

generalization: something given as a broad statement or conclusion

hypothesis: testable explanation of a question or problem

illustrate: to make clear by using examples

imply: to suggest rather than to say plainly

inconsistent: not in agreement

incorporate: to join or unite closely in a single body

independent variable: in a controlled experiment, the variable that is being changed

indication: the act of pointing out or pointing to something

indicator: any device that measures, records, or visibly points out something

ingredient: any of the components of which something is made

interpolation: estimating a value that falls between two known values

interpretation: the act of telling the meaning of something, explanation

inverse relationship (indirect): the connection between two variables that shows the opposite effect (when the value of one increases, the value of the other decreases)

investigate: to study by close and careful observation

irregular: not continuous or coming at sent times

issue: something that is in question

judgment: an opinion formed by examining and comparing

justify: to prove or show to be right or reasonable

legend: a title, description, or key accompanying a figure or map

maximum: as great as possible in amount or degree

measurement: the act of finding out the size or amount of something

mechanism: the parts or steps that make up a process or activity

minimum: as small as possible in amount or degree

model: a pattern or figure of something to be made

modify: to make changes in something

observation: the act of noting and recording facts and events

opinion: a belief based on experience and on seeing certain facts

optimum: the best or most favorable degree, condition or amount

pattern: a model, guide or plan used in making things

perform: to carry out; accomplish

phenomenon: an observable fact or event

precision: the quality of being exactly stated, exact arrangement

predict: to figure out and tell beforehand

preference: a choosing of or liking for one thing rather than another

probability: the quality of being reasonably sure, but not certain of something happening or being true

procedure: the way in which an action or actions is carried out

proponent: one who supports a cause

proportional: any quantities or measurements having the same fixed relationship

reasonable: showing or containing sound thought

refute: to prove wrong by argument or evidence

relationship: the state of being connected

replicate: to copy or reproduce

revise: to look over again, to correct or improve

simulation: the act or process of simulating a system or process

study: a careful examination and investigation of an event

suggest: to offer as an idea

summarize: to state briefly

support: to provide evidence

theory: a general rule offered to explain experiences or facts

translate: to change from one state to another

treatment: to expose to some action

underlying: to form the support for something

unit: a fixed quantity used as a standard of measurement

validity: based on evidence that can be supported

value: the quantity or amount for which a symbol stands

variable: that which can be changed

viewpoint: opinion, judgment