WGU-C165: Integrated Physical Science
STUDY GUIDE
Chemistry: - ✔The study of atoms and molecules, their structures, and their interactions
to form various substances.
Physics: - ✔The study of forces, energy and motion.
Earth Science: - ✔This field focuses on Earth's structure and composition, as well as
the processes that change Earth, such as volcanic and seismic activity.
Physical Science: - ✔The scientific study of nonliving matter. Ex: chemistry, physics,
and Earth science.
Astronomy: - ✔The study of the moon, stars, and other objects in space.
Controlled Experiment: - ✔An experiment in which only one variable is manipulated at a
time..
Independent Variable: - ✔The variable that is manipulated in an experiment.
Dependent Variable: - ✔The outcome factor; the variable that may change in response
to manipulations of the independent variable.
Control Variable: - ✔A variable that is kept constant during a controlled experiment.
Observational Study: - ✔The systems are observed as they appear in nature and
researchers do not attempt to change them.
Laboratory Experiment: - ✔Researchers study the system of interest in a highly
controlled artificial setting (lab).
Physical Model: - ✔A physical representation of an object. Ex: Scaled down version of
the solar system.
Conceptual Model: - ✔A verbal or graphical explanation for how a system works or is
organized. Ex: posters, charts.
Mathematical Model: - ✔Uses different forms of data to represent the way a system or
process works. Ex: formulas, graphs, mathematical means. Ex: F=ma (formula).
Computer Model: - ✔A computer program that models an event or object. Important in
explaining and predicting natural phenomena. Ex: weather patterns, solar system.
,Principle of Falsification: - ✔Principle that only falsifiable statements can be subject to
scientific inquiry.
Hypothesis: - ✔A testable prediction, often implied by a theory.
Theory: - ✔A hypothesis that has been tested with a significant amount of data.
Law: - ✔A concise statement that is supported by scientific evidence and repeated
experiments. Describes a widespread pattern in nature. Intended to be universal.
Scientific Investigation: - ✔Scientists test their ideas with a variety of different types of
investigations. Ex: laboratories, controlled experiments, astronomy, field studies,
models.
SI System: - ✔International System of units based on the metric system and units
derived from the metric system.
Base Quantities: - ✔Seven designated physical quantities (sets) from which all other SI
quantities can be derived.
(1) Meter (m)-length
(2) Kilogram (k)-mass
(3) Second (s)-time
(4) Kelvin (K)-temperature
(5) Amperes (A)-"amp"-electric current
(6) Candela (cd)-light intensity
(7) Moles (mol)-amount of substance
Time: - ✔Base quantity that measures how long an event lasts or the break between
events.
Length: - ✔Used to describe the distance between two objects, or the two ends of an
object.
Mass: - ✔Used to describe the amount of matter in an object.
Temperature: - ✔A measure of how hot or cold something is.
Gram: - ✔a metric unit of mass equal to one thousandth of a kilogram.
Meter: - ✔The base unit of length in the metric system. Unit symbol (m).
Liter: - ✔Basic unit of volume in the metric system. Unit symbol (l).
Second: - ✔SI base unit for time. Unit symbol (s).
Kelvin: - ✔Si base unit of temperature. Unit symbol (K).
, Mega: - ✔Metric prefix one million of the base unit. 10^6 Unit symbol (M).
Kilo: - ✔Metric prefix 1/1000 or 10^3. Unit symbol (k).
Deci: - ✔Metric prefix 1/10th or 10^(-1) (0.1). Unit symbol (d).
Centi: - ✔Metric prefix 1/100th or 10^(-2) (0.01). Unit symbol (c).
Milli: - ✔Metric prefix 1/1000th or 10^(-3) (0.001). Unit symbol (m).
Micro: - ✔Metric prefix 1/millionth of the base unit. 10^(-6) (0.000001)
Nano: - ✔Metric prefix 1/billionth 10^(-9) (0.000000001). Unit symbol (n).
Derived Units: - ✔What is produced when the base units/quantities are combined.
Triple Beam Balance: - ✔Instrument used to measure mass.
Graduated Cylinder: - ✔Instrument used to measure volume of a liquid.
Direct Relationship: - ✔When an increase of one variable results in an increase of the
other, or a decrease of one results in a decrease of the other.
Inverse Relationship: - ✔When one variable increases and the other one decreases, or
when one decreases and the other increases.
Speed: - ✔The distance an object travels per unit of time.
Velocity: - ✔The speed and direction of a moving object.
Acceleration: - ✔Chang in an object's velocity; occurs when an object:
*speeds up
*slows down &/or
*changes direction
Force: - ✔A push or pull exerted on an object.
Combined Forces: - ✔Two or more forces acting in the same direction on the same
object. They add to produce a net force that is stronger than any one of the forces.
Net Force: - ✔The sum of all forces acting on an object.
Opposing Forces: - ✔Two forces of the same magnitude acting on the same object in
opposite directions.
STUDY GUIDE
Chemistry: - ✔The study of atoms and molecules, their structures, and their interactions
to form various substances.
Physics: - ✔The study of forces, energy and motion.
Earth Science: - ✔This field focuses on Earth's structure and composition, as well as
the processes that change Earth, such as volcanic and seismic activity.
Physical Science: - ✔The scientific study of nonliving matter. Ex: chemistry, physics,
and Earth science.
Astronomy: - ✔The study of the moon, stars, and other objects in space.
Controlled Experiment: - ✔An experiment in which only one variable is manipulated at a
time..
Independent Variable: - ✔The variable that is manipulated in an experiment.
Dependent Variable: - ✔The outcome factor; the variable that may change in response
to manipulations of the independent variable.
Control Variable: - ✔A variable that is kept constant during a controlled experiment.
Observational Study: - ✔The systems are observed as they appear in nature and
researchers do not attempt to change them.
Laboratory Experiment: - ✔Researchers study the system of interest in a highly
controlled artificial setting (lab).
Physical Model: - ✔A physical representation of an object. Ex: Scaled down version of
the solar system.
Conceptual Model: - ✔A verbal or graphical explanation for how a system works or is
organized. Ex: posters, charts.
Mathematical Model: - ✔Uses different forms of data to represent the way a system or
process works. Ex: formulas, graphs, mathematical means. Ex: F=ma (formula).
Computer Model: - ✔A computer program that models an event or object. Important in
explaining and predicting natural phenomena. Ex: weather patterns, solar system.
,Principle of Falsification: - ✔Principle that only falsifiable statements can be subject to
scientific inquiry.
Hypothesis: - ✔A testable prediction, often implied by a theory.
Theory: - ✔A hypothesis that has been tested with a significant amount of data.
Law: - ✔A concise statement that is supported by scientific evidence and repeated
experiments. Describes a widespread pattern in nature. Intended to be universal.
Scientific Investigation: - ✔Scientists test their ideas with a variety of different types of
investigations. Ex: laboratories, controlled experiments, astronomy, field studies,
models.
SI System: - ✔International System of units based on the metric system and units
derived from the metric system.
Base Quantities: - ✔Seven designated physical quantities (sets) from which all other SI
quantities can be derived.
(1) Meter (m)-length
(2) Kilogram (k)-mass
(3) Second (s)-time
(4) Kelvin (K)-temperature
(5) Amperes (A)-"amp"-electric current
(6) Candela (cd)-light intensity
(7) Moles (mol)-amount of substance
Time: - ✔Base quantity that measures how long an event lasts or the break between
events.
Length: - ✔Used to describe the distance between two objects, or the two ends of an
object.
Mass: - ✔Used to describe the amount of matter in an object.
Temperature: - ✔A measure of how hot or cold something is.
Gram: - ✔a metric unit of mass equal to one thousandth of a kilogram.
Meter: - ✔The base unit of length in the metric system. Unit symbol (m).
Liter: - ✔Basic unit of volume in the metric system. Unit symbol (l).
Second: - ✔SI base unit for time. Unit symbol (s).
Kelvin: - ✔Si base unit of temperature. Unit symbol (K).
, Mega: - ✔Metric prefix one million of the base unit. 10^6 Unit symbol (M).
Kilo: - ✔Metric prefix 1/1000 or 10^3. Unit symbol (k).
Deci: - ✔Metric prefix 1/10th or 10^(-1) (0.1). Unit symbol (d).
Centi: - ✔Metric prefix 1/100th or 10^(-2) (0.01). Unit symbol (c).
Milli: - ✔Metric prefix 1/1000th or 10^(-3) (0.001). Unit symbol (m).
Micro: - ✔Metric prefix 1/millionth of the base unit. 10^(-6) (0.000001)
Nano: - ✔Metric prefix 1/billionth 10^(-9) (0.000000001). Unit symbol (n).
Derived Units: - ✔What is produced when the base units/quantities are combined.
Triple Beam Balance: - ✔Instrument used to measure mass.
Graduated Cylinder: - ✔Instrument used to measure volume of a liquid.
Direct Relationship: - ✔When an increase of one variable results in an increase of the
other, or a decrease of one results in a decrease of the other.
Inverse Relationship: - ✔When one variable increases and the other one decreases, or
when one decreases and the other increases.
Speed: - ✔The distance an object travels per unit of time.
Velocity: - ✔The speed and direction of a moving object.
Acceleration: - ✔Chang in an object's velocity; occurs when an object:
*speeds up
*slows down &/or
*changes direction
Force: - ✔A push or pull exerted on an object.
Combined Forces: - ✔Two or more forces acting in the same direction on the same
object. They add to produce a net force that is stronger than any one of the forces.
Net Force: - ✔The sum of all forces acting on an object.
Opposing Forces: - ✔Two forces of the same magnitude acting on the same object in
opposite directions.
