Essential Science Vocabulary - ACT Science
Card 0 of 48
What is a positive correlation?
What is a positive correlation?
When one variable increases, the other increases too (both go up together).
When one variable increases, the other increases too (both go up together).
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What is a negative correlation?
What is a negative correlation?
When one variable increases, the other decreases (they move in opposite directions).
When one variable increases, the other decreases (they move in opposite directions).
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What does it mean if two variables are inversely proportional?
What does it mean if two variables are inversely proportional?
As one increases, the other decreases at a constant rate (e.g., speed and travel time).
As one increases, the other decreases at a constant rate (e.g., speed and travel time).
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What does directly proportional mean?
What does directly proportional mean?
As one variable increases, the other increases in the same ratio.
As one variable increases, the other increases in the same ratio.
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What does it mean if data 'fluctuates'?
What does it mean if data 'fluctuates'?
The data goes up and down instead of following a single trend.
The data goes up and down instead of following a single trend.
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What does 'trend' mean in data?
What does 'trend' mean in data?
The general direction the data is moving — upward, downward, or constant.
The general direction the data is moving — upward, downward, or constant.
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What does it mean if a graph 'plateaus'?
What does it mean if a graph 'plateaus'?
It levels off — the values stop changing and stay constant.
It levels off — the values stop changing and stay constant.
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If a graph shows a steep slope, what does that mean?
If a graph shows a steep slope, what does that mean?
There’s a rapid or strong rate of change between variables.
There’s a rapid or strong rate of change between variables.
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If a line on a graph is horizontal, what does that show?
If a line on a graph is horizontal, what does that show?
No change — the variable stays constant.
No change — the variable stays constant.
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If two lines on a graph both go up together, what type of correlation is that?
If two lines on a graph both go up together, what type of correlation is that?
Positive correlation.
Positive correlation.
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What is a hypothesis?
What is a hypothesis?
An educated guess or prediction that can be tested by an experiment.
An educated guess or prediction that can be tested by an experiment.
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What is the independent variable?
What is the independent variable?
The variable that is changed or controlled by the experimenter.
The variable that is changed or controlled by the experimenter.
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What is the dependent variable?
What is the dependent variable?
The variable that is measured or observed to see the effect of the change.
The variable that is measured or observed to see the effect of the change.
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What is a control group?
What is a control group?
A group that does not receive the experimental treatment — used for comparison.
A group that does not receive the experimental treatment — used for comparison.
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What is a constant (controlled variable)?
What is a constant (controlled variable)?
A factor that stays the same throughout the experiment to ensure fairness.
A factor that stays the same throughout the experiment to ensure fairness.
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What does 'sample size' mean?
What does 'sample size' mean?
The number of subjects or items tested in an experiment.
The number of subjects or items tested in an experiment.
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What is replication in an experiment?
What is replication in an experiment?
Repeating an experiment to confirm results and reduce error.
Repeating an experiment to confirm results and reduce error.
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What is experimental error?
What is experimental error?
Mistakes or variations in data that can affect accuracy.
Mistakes or variations in data that can affect accuracy.
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What is the purpose of a data table?
What is the purpose of a data table?
To organize and display results clearly for comparison.
To organize and display results clearly for comparison.
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What does the x-axis on a graph usually represent?
What does the x-axis on a graph usually represent?
The independent variable (the one you control or change).
The independent variable (the one you control or change).
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