Hypothesis: A prediction of the outcome of an experiment without an explanation.

Example: Group collaboration of space items will be more effective than individual analysis.

Sentence: My hypothesis was proven correct after the experiment was complete.

Theory: a testable model of the interaction of natural phenomena, that can predict future observations, and can be tested.

Example: It is a fact that an apple dropped on earth has been observed to fall towards the center of the planet, and the theories commonly used to describe and explain this behavior are Newton's theory of universal gravitation

Law: Universal and invariable facts of the world. Can be disproved if evidence contradicts them

Example: Mendelian genetics, that explain how genes are passed to offspring is an accepted law, not yet disproven.

Sentence: A law has been tested thoroughly and not disproven, while a theory has not been tested significantly and needs to be tested more to become law.

Experiment: A method of investigating research questions, solving problems, and testing a hypothesis.

Example: Working as individuals to rank the NASA items, followed by working as a group to rank those items was the experiment.

Experimental Control: When testing a hypothesis everything that is kept the same from trial to trial is the control. There are many controls in one experiment. Ask yourself, “What Do I Keep the Same?”

Example: If one were to measure the influence of different quantities of fertilizer on plant growth, the controlled variables would be the type of plant, the type of fertilizer, the amount of sunlight the plant gets, the size of the pots, etc. (the factors that would otherwise influence the experiment if they were not controlled).

Independent Variable: The part of the experiment deliberately changed to cause a change. Ask yourself, “What Do I Change?”

Example: If one were to measure the influence of different quantities of fertilizer on plant growth, the independent variable would be the amount of fertilizer used (the changing factor of the experiment).

Dependant Variable: Those parts that change in response to a change in the independent variable. Ask yourself, “What Do I Observe?”

Example: If one were to measure the influence of different quantities of fertilizer on plant growth, the dependent variables would be the growth in height and/or mass of the plant (the factors that are influenced in the experiment)

Data: Information gathered during a scientific investigation

Example: Measuring the temperature when water boils is data collection and

those numbers can be used to support a hypothesis.

Quantitative Data: Data that is expressed using numbers.

Example: Our bacteria sample had 3.2 million bacterial organisms,

weighing 1 gram.

Qualitative Data: Data that is described in words.

Example: The organism had red and blue colored feathers that were silky

in feel.

Phylogenic treebranching diagram or "tree" showing the

inferred evolutionary relationships among various biological species

Meteor: a small body of matter from outer space that enters the earth's atmosphere

Example:Shooting star

Asteroid: a small rocky body orbiting the sun

Example:

Geologic Time line: is a system of chronological measurement that relates stratigraphy to time

Example:

Evidence: Proof of something happening.

Example: We observed water boil at 100 degrees Celsius five times in a row. We

now have evidence that water boils at 100 degrees Celsius.

Sampling: The process by which a small number of a population is selected as

representatives of the entire population.

Example: When studying humans we cannot study all 6.5 billion so we use a

smaller number that is an average of the larger population.

Scale: Relates concepts and ideas to one another by some measurement; provides a measure of

size and/or incremental change.

Example: The most common scale is the key on a map that will scale the drawing and

allow you to figure out how far map locations are from each other.

Precision: The consistency of a set of measurements.

Example: When shooting an arrow you repeatedly have all the arrows

hit in the same area.

Accuracy: The proximity of measurements to the true value.

Example: When shooting an arrow you have the arrows hit close to the

bulls eye.

Conclusion: A statement, which is arrived at after the consideration of evidence, arguments or premises.

Example: If plant A, with the least fertilizer, did not grow and plant C, with the most fertilizer, grew the tallest, the evidence concludes that more fertilizer causes plants to grow taller.

Deductive Logic: Logic used in mathematics that when arranged properly cannot be disproved.

Example: (1) Arches National Park lies entirely within

the state of Utah.(2) I am standing in Arches National Park.(3) Therefore, I am standing in the state of

Utah.

Inductive Logic: The logic of theory building. One makes a set of observations, and seeks to explain what one sees. Used in physical world. Can be disproved.

Example: Newton determined the formula for calculating gravity based on many observations. Up until Einstein this formula worked, but Einstein found a flaw and revised his theory to develop the theory of general relativity.

Inference: A logical guess based upon observations and prior knowledge, may be

proven correct or incorrect.

Example: Observing that water boils at 100 degrees Celsius five times in a row we

can now infer that water boils at 100 degrees Celsius.

System: A group of related objects that works together to achieve a desired result.

Example: An assembly line is a system that works to create an object such as a car on a car assembly line.

Open Loop System: A group of related objects that do not have feedback and cannot modify

themselves.

Example: Setting the car on cruise control and it does not adjust to keep at a specific speed. It is cruising, but will not maintain

speed downhill or uphill.

Closed Loop System: A group of related objects that do have feedback and can modify

themselves.

Example: In a car assembly line if the door attachment area slows down the whole line before must slow to prevent back up at the

door attachment area.

Closed Loop System: A group of related objects that do have feedback and can modify

themselves.

Example: In a car assembly line if the door attachment area slows down the whole line before must slow to prevent back up at the

door attachment area.

Positive Feedback Loop: When change occurs in a system, this causes further change, in the

same direction.

Example: When the body is injured it releases signal chemicals to create platelets. The created platelet makes more chemical and releases more platelets.

Lactation, contractions in childbirth are other examples.

Negative Feedback Loop: A system of control in which the system regulates the level desired and

will adjust as to keep the desired level.

Example: A thermostat regulates the temperature in the home. When you reach that temp the

system turns off, if you go too high the air turns on, if you go too low the heat kicks in.

Heterogeneous: Composed of different parts. Visibly consisting of different components

Example: When oil and water are mixed they do not blend together but end up as two distinctive liquids.

Homogeneous: Similar or the same. Having the same composition throughout; uniform.

Example: When mixing water and food coloring together they mix homogeneously into one blended solution which is uniform throughout.

Species: A group of organisms capable of interbreeding and producing fertile offspring.

Example: A horse and a donkey can mate and create a mule, but the mule is sterile, therefore the horse and donkey are different species.

Biodiversity: Variations of life at all levels of biological organization, genetically, species, and ecosystem.

Example: A rainforest has millions of species of plants, insects, animals and is extremely biodiverse, unlike Antartica with very little biodiversity.

Population: A collection of inter-breeding organisms of a particular species. Usually in the same area.

Example: The human population in the United States numbers in about 350 million, while the insect population of Doylestown is about 350 million.

Differentiation: When a less specialized cell becomes a more specialized cell.

Example:

Phenotype: Any observable characteristic or trait of an organism

Example:

Genotype: The genetic make-up of a cell, organism, or individual, usually with reference to a specific trait.

Example: Assume A is dominant for blue flower and a is recessive for white flower. One gene comes from each parent. If you are:AA is blue colored flowerAa is blue colored floweraa is white colored flower

Innate: A characteristic that is with an organism from birth. They are born with it.

Example: Innate characteristics can include eye color, hair color, skin color, etc. These are all determined prior to birth.

Acquired: A characteristic that is obtained throughout an organisms lifetime. The organism is not born with this.

Example: Acquired characteristics include body weight, muscle strength, knowledge about various topics. These characteristics are obtained throughout life.

Genome: The full set of chromosomes or genes in a cell.

Example: Normal humans have a genome of 46 chromosomes in every cell except sperm or egg cells.

Gene: Basic unit of heredity in a living organism. A segment of information that specifies a trait.

Example: Humans have millions of genes, each segment of information describing a specific characteristic, like hair color, height, aggressive behavior. All the genes make up the genome.

Dominance: Each person has two genes one from each parent. The genes are at odds with each other and the dominant gene is displayed as a phenotype.

Free ear lobes are the dominant gene and attached are the recessive. If one parent gives you a free ear lobe gene you automatically have free ear lobes.

Recessive: Each person has two genes one from each parent. The genes are at odds with each other and the recessive gene is weaker and often not displayed as a phenotype.

Attached ear lobes are the recessive gene and free lobes are the dominant. The only way to display attached ear lobes is if both parents gave you the recessive gene.

Mutation: Changes to the genetic sequence of an organism, caused by copying errors, outside hazards, or purposeful change.

Example: In some Europeans there is a 32 base pair deletion in a protein that causes HIV resistance.

Mammals: Vertebrate animals that grow hair, produce sweat, produce milk, and give birth to live young.

Example: Humans are mammals and possess all of the above, plus are the most advanced due to the large cerebrum (part of brain that indicates intelligence)

Biotic: Any living organism. Most biotic organisms are carbon based life forms.

Example: Biotic organisms include plants, animals, bacteria, etc.

Abiotic: Non-living chemical and physical characteristics in the environment.

Example: Abiotic factors include: light, radiation, temperature, water. All affect living things, but are not living themselves.

Natural Selection: Individuals with favorable phenotypes are more likely to survive and reproduce than those with less favorable phenotypes.

Schematic representation of how antibiotic resistance is enhanced by natural selection. The top section represents a population of bacteria before exposure to an antibiotic. The middle section shows the population directly after exposure, the phase in which selection took place. The last section shows the distribution of resistance in a new generation of bacteria. The legend indicates the resistance levels of individuals.

Adaptation: Any change in the structure or functioning of an organism that makes it better suited to its environment

Example: In ocular physiology, adaptation is the ability of the eye to adjust to various levels of darkness and light.

Metabolism: A set of chemical reactions in a living organism that allow growth, reproduction, body maintenance, and environmental response.

Metabolism takes nutrients from the outside environment and when ingested puts them to use building things in the body, or breaking things down in the body

Catabolism: A subset of metabolism which breaks down organic material for some

purpose.

Example: In cellular respiration we break down sugar in the body to get energy for the body.

Anabolism: A subset of metabolism in which energy and nutrients are used to build up parts of the cell.

Example: When the cell uses energy and the nutrients ingested to make proteins from smaller amino acids that you get from food. Energy is need to complete this process.

DNA: Deoxyribonucleic Acid: Contains the genetic instructions used in the development of every living

organism.

RNA: Ribonucleic Acid: This is half the structure of DNA and is responsible for building proteins.

Chromosome: An organized structure of DNA and protein found in cells. This is a single piece of DNA wound tightly.

Diagram of a duplicated and condensed (metaphase) eukaryotic chromosome. (1) Chromatid - one of the two identical parts of the chromosome after S phase. (2) Centromere - the point where the two chromatids touch, and where the microtubules attach. (3) Short arm. (4) Long arm.

Symbiosis: Close and long-term interactions between different biological species.

Example: Relationships include three types, parasitism, mutualism, commensalism. All three involve different species and their interaction with each other.

Parasitism: An interaction in which one member of the association benefits while the other is harmed.

Example: Tapeworms and flukes in the human intestinal tract absorb nutrients from humans, but provide no benefit and only cause humans to suffer from poor nutrition and pain.

Mutualism: Interaction between two species where both individuals benefit.

Example: Clownfish live in the poisonous sea anemone's tentacles because they are immune. This provides protection and shelter. All the while the clownfish attracts other fish into the tentacles that the sea anemone can kill and eat. Both benefit.

Commensalism: A relationship in which one benefits and the other is not significantly harmed or helped.

Example: Hermit crabs use the leftover gastropod shells for protection. The shells are shed from gastropods when they are used. Hermit crabs are beneficiaries and gastropods are not effected.

Evaporation: Molecules in a liquid state spontaneously become gaseous.

Example: This occurs at the surface of the liquid and is essential in plants so that water evaporating at the top of the plant leaves can be replaced with water from the roots.

Condensation: When gaseous molecules aggregate together and form a liquid.

Example: Water vapor condenses after contacting the surface of a cold bottle into tiny droplets of liquid water.

Sublimation: When an element or compound transitions from solid to gas with no intermediate liquid phase.

Example: A block of solid carbon dioxide will sublimate from solid straight to gas creating gaseous carbon dioxide. This is seen in dry ice and can be used to create fog.

Deposition: When a gas transitions into a solid with no intermediate liquid phase. Opposite of sublimation.

Example: Snow forms in clouds via deposition when sub freezing temperatures cause water vapor in clouds to immediately freeze into snow. Frost is another example of deposition.

Molecule: A sufficiently stable, electrically neutral group of at least two atoms in a definite arrangement held together by very strong chemical bonds

Example: Usually it is two or more atoms held together by a covalent bond.

H2O or O2

Compound: A substance consisting of two or more different elements bonded together in a fixed mass ratio that can be split into simpler substances. Not a specific arrangement.

Example: Compounds differ from molecules because they do not convey structural information.

C6H12O6 is the molecule, but CH2O is the compound ratio.

Conduction: Spontaneous transfer of thermal energy through matter, from a region of higher temperature to a region of lower

temperature, and acts to equalize temperature differences.

Example: The direct contact of a cool pancake batter to a hot plate allows the heat to transfer from the hot plate to the batter cooking the pancake.

Convection: Fluid surrounding a heat source receives heat, becomes less dense and rises. The surrounding, cooler fluid then moves to replace it. This cooler fluid

is then heated and the process continues, forming a convection current; this process transfers heat energy from the bottom of the convection cell to the top

Example: Weather is controlled by the rising hot air and the falling cooler air in the atmosphere.

Radiation: Any process in which energy emitted by one body travels through a medium or through space,

ultimately to be absorbed by another body.

Example: Three types are ionizing radiation (harmful), electromagnetic radiation (could be harmful), acoustic radiation (no harm).

Thermometer: Measures the temperature of the external environment. Uses a temperature sensor and a scale

Example: Most thermometers use alcohol or mercury that expands when warm and rises. Digital thermometers are becoming more common.

Barometer: Measures atmospheric pressures by using water, air, or mercury.

Example: Barometers can be used to predict weather situations. Readings dropping down toward 29 inches of mercury indicate increased storm activity. Readings rising to 31 inches of mercury indicate normal weather and it tends to be clear and calm.

Seismograph: Measures motions in the ground using seismic waves from earthquakes, explosions, and other

seismic activity.

Example: Using seismographs scientists have been able to map the interior of the Earth to be separated by a crust, mantle, and inner and outer core. The movement of waves through differing densities helped.

Multimeter: Measures a variety of electrical information including: current, potential, and conductivity.

Example: These are usually used for detecting problems or faults within a household or at the industrial level. Today digital multimeters are common.

Calorimeter: This is a device used for measuring the heat of a chemical reaction or physical changes as well as heat

capacity.

Example: These usually consist of a thermometer attached to a metal container of water above a combustion chamber. We use these commonly to detect the amount of heat energy given off or absorbed in reactions.

Hydrometer: Used to measure specific gravity or relative density of liquids compared to water.

Example: They are used by floating the empty sealed tube in a liquid and seeing how much of the glass tube sinks into the liquid. Brewers use this to make beer and indicate the amount of alcohol present.

Sphygmomanometer: Measures blood pressure by inflating a cuff around the arm to cut off blood flow and then slowly deflate

to allow blood flow back. The time it takes to fill is measured.

Example: Normal blood pressure readings are 115/75 or 115 pounds per square inch of pressure when blood starts to flow back into vessel and 75 ppi when the flow is back to normal.

Environment: The total of the surroundings influencing each living being’s existence, including

physical, biological, and all other factors.

Example: The Tohickon environment includes the people, the chairs, the

desks, the bacteria, the plants, the air.

Ecosystem: An environment and all the organisms that live in that particular region.

Example: An area like a lake where all the plants, animals, bacteria, etc that

live are part of it.

Biomes: A community of living organisms of a single major ecological role.

Example: The rainforest is a common biome that contains many of the

species that exist on Earth.

Ecological Niche: A function within an ecological system to which an organisms is

especially suited.

Example: A squirrel’s niche is eating acorns and foraging the forest floor.

Endangered Species: A species that is in danger of extinction throughout all of a significant

portion of its range.

Example: The bald eagle is an endangered species and is protected from hunting and

the nests are also protected.

Extinction: When a species no longer exists on Earth.

Example: Dinosaurs became extinct after a possible meteor collided with Earth killing

off all species of dinosaurs alive at the time.

Trophic Levels: The role of an organism in nutrient and energy flow within an ecosystem.

Example: Herbivores, carnivores, decomposers are examples of various

trophic levels.

Decomposer: An organism that obtains energy by breaking down the wastes or the remains of

dead organisms.

Example: Many bacteria feed off of dead organisms and they get their energy in that way. Compost piles

work in this fashion as the bacteria feed off of decaying material and break it down into usable soil.

Consumer: An organism that obtains nutrition and energy by eating other organisms.

Example: Humans are the top consumers as they need to eat other animals and plants to gain the necessary nutrients. We cannot

make our own energy from the sun.

Producer: An organism that makes it’s own food.

Example: Plants are Earth’s main producers and can use the sun to make their own energy.

Other consumers eat plants and get energy from them and the food chain continues.

Biomass: Is a renewable energy source, is biological material from living, or recently living

organisms.

Example: Forest residues such as dead trees, yard clippings, wood

chips, animal material.

Composting: The process of mixing decaying leaves, manure, and other nutritive matter to

improve and fertilize soil.

Example: Compost piles exist naturally and can be created by humans to break

down and become usable soil.

Reservoir: A contained body of water, such as a lake, that is used for drinking water.

Example: In suburban PA, much of our drinking water comes from underground reservoirs that filter water through the

rocks.

Upwelling: The movement of colder, nutrient rich waters from the deep ocean into the

shallow seas.

Example: This happens a lot near continental shelves and can provide a lot of nutrients for many organisms to grow.

Lotic: Relating to or living in actively moving water.

Example: Salmon cannot live in still water so they need to be moving upstream in lotic, moving, water.

Salinity: The concentration of salts in a liquid such as water.

Example: As more salt dissolves the salinity increases and causes more dense

objects to float, like in the Dead Sea.

Desalination: A process used to separate the salt from seawater for the purpose of

reclaiming fresh water and salt.

Example: Also called reverse osmosis, this is used in ships and boats at sea to get

freshwater and not need to carry it with them.

Watershed: An area of land where precipitation collects and then drains into a single collection

place, often a lake or ocean.

Example: All the small rivers and streams that flow into the lake in

Peace Valley form a small watershed.

Pollutant: Any substance or form of energy that can cause harm to the environment and make

it unfit for use by organisms.

Example: The exhaust from a car burning fossil fuels creates many pollutants

including carbon monoxide and sulfur dioxide that kills plants and animals.

Succession: The series of changes that occur in an ecosystem with the passing of time.

Example: Forests start off as grass, grow into bush, form into small trees, larger

trees, and finally forest size trees. This is succession in a forest.

Renewable: A naturally occurring raw material or form of energy that will be replenished

through natural ecological cycles.

Example: The sun, wind, water, and trees are all renewable resources.

Equilibrium: The ability of an ecosystem to maintain stability among its biological resources

so that there is a steady optimum yield.

Example: Having enough trees to feed the plant eaters, enough

animals to feed other animals, etc.

Heredity: The passing of traits to offspring from parent or ancestor.

Example: Eye color is a hereditary trait and the individual may inherit the “brown eye

trait” from one of the parents.

Punnett Square: A diagram used to predict an outcome of a particular cross or breeding experiment. It shows

every possible combination of offspring.

Example:

Virus: A particle that consists of a nucleic acid and a protein shell that requires a living cell in

order to reproduce.

Example: The virus will inject its DNA core and use the cell to multiply and

explode out later.

Unicellular: Composed of only one cell.

Example: Bacteria are unicellular and can live alone or work together with

other bacteria cells.

Reproduction: The ability of cells or organisms to make more organisms like themselves.

Example: Many bacteria can easily divide by replicating their DNA and splitting

into a new cell with identical DNA.

Mitosis: The process by which the cell nucleus divides to form two new nuclei, each having a

complete set of chromosomes..

Example: Mitosis occurs in all cells of the body except reproductive cells. If the skin cells are destroyed

other neighboring cells will divide and replace the damaged area, otherwise known as healing.

Meiosis: The process in which organisms produce sex cells, sperm and eggs, that have

half the number of chromosomes.

Example: Meiosis occurs to make sperm and eggs which have 50% of the chromosomes and when they fuse they form a new human being with the

full 100% of the necessary chromosomes.

Disease: Any change that disrupts the normal function of one or more body systems.

Example: Disease is mainly caused by bacteria that grow and reproduce in the body causing various problems.

Microbe: A tiny organism that can only be seen with a microscope.

Example: Paramecium, Euglena, bacteria are all small examples that must be seen using a microscope.

Nucleus: The part of a cell that controls all functions within the cell and contains the all of

the DNA.

Example: The nucleus is like the brain of the cell and controls the production of

proteins in the body from the DNA.

Organelle: A structure inside a cell that carries out a particular function. The are like organs in

the human body.

Example: The nucleus, mitochondria, vacuole, ribosomes are all organelles

that have a specific function in the cell.

Apoptosis: The process of programmed cell death that may occur in multicellular

organisms.

Example: This occurs in humans with the webbing between the fingers and toes. Near the final stages of development the cells in between

fingers and toes kills itself to allow more motion.

Necrosis: The premature death of cells in living tissues. This is not pre-programmed.

Example: Infections, toxins, or trauma can cause this kind of cell death. Necrotizing fasciitis is a bacteria that infects the skin

and kills it off spreading through the body.

Aerobic: Needing oxygen in order to survive.

Example: Human cells need oxygen to survive and will die within minutes

of not getting oxygen.

Anaerobic: Able to survive in the absence of oxygen.

Example: Some bacteria can live in deep ocean vents and survive with

sulfur instead of oxygen.

Pathogen: An organism that causes a disease, otherwise known as a germ.

Example: Viruses attack cells and multiple within cells, while bacteria

attack and kill cells. Both are pathogens.

Pandemic: An epidemic that spreads worldwide.

Example: Spanish flu in 1918 spread and killed thousands of people. Today

common pandemics include H1N1 and AIDS.

Vaccination: The process in which a person is given a small dose of a weakened or inactivated virus that causes the

disease in order to prevent the person from getting the real disease.

Example: The flu virus is given as a vaccination so you can avoid getting that strain of the flu each season.

Antibiotic: A group of medicines used to kill or slow the growth of bacteria that cause disease.

Example: Penicillin is an antibiotic used to kill many common bacteria in the body

preventing sickness from occurring.

Allergy: An immune system response to proteins in certain substances such as foods.

Example: The immune system will attack and cause the body to suffer some side

effects like watery eyes, itchy eyes, runny nose, etc.

Cancer: A group of diseases caused by abnormal cell growth and reproduction.

Example: Skin cancer, caused by the sun, can grow uncontrolled and spread to

other parts of the body, becoming more difficult to destroy.

Carcinogen: A chemical that causes cancer.

Example: In cigarettes there are many chemicals that when inhaled can cause cancer to occur in the lungs very easily.

Benign: A medical term used to describe a condition that is harmless in the long run.

Example: Any tumors that are benign don’t need to be removed and will not

cause any damage in the long term.

Malignant: The tendency of a medical condition, especially tumors, to become progressively

worse and to potentially result in death.

Example: A malignant tumor needs to be removed because it will continue to

grow, possibly spread, and cause death.

Embryology: The branch of biology dealing with the development of living things from fertilized

egg to its developed state.

Dichotomous: Divided or dividing into two parts or classifications.

Example: A dichotomous key is used to determine what the species is by following the tree for the characteristic being absent

or present.

Evolution: The process of change over time that causes different species to develop.

Example: A mutation like the opposable thumb allows us to grasp, climb, swing,

and survive over other animals in nature.

Fossils: Imprints or the remains of organisms that were once alive.

Example: Many dinosaur fossils exist because the soft bone material was replaced and hardened with rock.

Semi-permeable: Allowing only certain substances or sizes of particles to pass through

a membrane.

Example: Geologists study samples of dirt by passing them through sieves that keep

large particles in the bin and small particles fall through.

Diffusion: The movement of substances from an area of high concentration to an area of

lower concentration.

Example: When perfume is sprayed in the air it is very concentrated near the spray,

but slowly moves around the area and the smell spreads out evenly.

Osmosis: The diffusion of water across a membrane.

Example:

Solubility: The measure of how much of a substance dissolves in a given amount of

another substance.

Example: Salt can dissolve in a glass of water, but eventually no more salt can dissolve because it has been saturated

with salt.

Inert: Unable to react chemically.

Example: Noble gases in the far right of the periodic table do not react with any

substances to exchange electrons. Helium is a common example.

Density: A measure of the mass of a substance per unit volume (the compactness of a

substance)

Example: Wood is less dense than water and therefore floats, while a brick is more dense and will sink.

Oxidation: A chemical reaction that occurs when a substance reacts with oxygen and loses

electrons.

Example: When carbon interacts with oxygen to make carbon dioxide.

Alloy: A mixture of two or more metals.

Example: Iron and Carbon combine to form a very common element

called steel.

Malleable: Metals that are able to be hammered and shaped or rolled into thin

sheets.

Example: Copper is a malleable metal that can be bent and shaped into

wires to conduct electricity.

Insulator: A material that does not allow heat or electricity to flow through it easily.

Example: Rubber is a great insulator for electricity and cannot pass through it so we

cannot get electrocuted when handling rubber electric cords.

Microbiology: The study of small microbes with the use of a microscope.

Example: These specialists spend their time studying disease, bacteria, and

viruses to see how they can be stopped from harming humans.

Oceanography: The study of the physical properties of the oceans.

Example: They study things such as tides, ocean currents, waves, sea

level rising, etc.