Research Rack: Glossary

analyze data ­ the process of organizing data into charts, graphs, or tables and using the data to recognize patterns and draw conclusions about the scientific question or problem

anemometer - an instrument that measures the speed or force of the wind

communicate results ­ Sharing results allows others to learn from your experimental process, and other scientists are able to compare their results to yours to determine what needs to be further studied and tested.

drawing conclusions ­ After conducting the experiment, decide if the results support, or do not support what you thought would happen. The conclusions confirm or disconfirm the hypothesis.

experiment ­ an activity designed to test a possible solution to a scientific question or problem

humidity - the amount of water vapor in the air

hypothesis ­ an educated guess based on the information that you already knew or gathered. The hypothesis is a possible solution that's tested by making observations and conducting experiments

observations ­ information learned about the world around us that's gathered by using our five senses and scientific equipment

olfactory bulb ­ a pea-sized structure on the undersurface of the frontal lobe of the brain that receives inputs from the olfactory neurons and sends the input to the regions of the brain concerned with the sense of smell

olfactory cell ­ a neuron that senses odorant molecules. Olfactory cells lie in the upper part of the nose. Their outer surfaces bear hair-like cilia.

olfactory system ­ the sensory cells in the nose and the regions of the brain with which they are connected that, as a group, are involved in the sense of smell

problem ­ a question or situation that requires further investigation and a reason for conducting the experiment

psychrometer - an instrument that measures the water vapor content of the atmosphere. It consists of a wet and dry bulb thermometer

radiometer ­ an instrument that detects and measures the intensity (concentration) of light energy

scientific method ­ a way of thinking about nature that involves the use of certain skills to solve problems in an orderly manner

sense ­ a way of collecting information about the world and detecting changes within the body

smell ­ 1. to perceive the scent of something 2. to have or give off an odor