scientific method is an orderly and systematic approach to gather knowledge. With this approach, new ideas about the world are constantly checked against reality. We can also think of the scientific method as a way of answering questions about the world we live in.

observations, or records facts of what is seen.

hypothesis, a tentative answer to the question.

experiment, the scientist carefully records and analyzes data, or information, gathered in the experiment.

conclusion, which the scientists interprets carefully. From the interpretation, or inference, the result may raise new questions and lead to new hypotheses and new experiments.

natural law, which describes how nature behaves but does not explain why nature behaves in that particular way. It often takes a mathematical form.

theory explains why nature behaves in the way described by the natural law

model is a mental picture that helps us to understand what it is that we are observing.

qualitative observation would be one where we try to answer what is present and present some description of what is present.

quantitative observation is one that is concerned with how much of each is present or with the dimensions of the object

law is a summary of the results of our observations.