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anomaly

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Definition

Anomaly is a deviation from what is expected. In science, an anomaly is an observation that does not fit with the current understanding of how the world works.

Anomalies can be caused by a variety of factors, including errors in measurement, natural variation, or new discoveries. They can also be caused by human activities, such as pollution or climate change.

Anomalies can be very important in science. They can help scientists to identify new problems, to develop new theories, and to make new discoveries.

Here's an example of an anomaly in science:

  • The existence of dark matter is an anomaly, because scientists have not been able to directly detect it.

How can the word be used?

The scientists were puzzled by the anomaly in the data.

anomaly

Different forms of the word

Noun: anomaly.

Adjective: anomalous.

Adverb: anomalously.

Synonyms: abnormality, discrepancy, deviation, irregularity, oddity.

Antonyms: normality, regularity, uniformity.

Etymology

The word "anomaly" comes from the Greek word anomalia, which means "irregularity." The Greek word is made up of the prefix a ("not") and the noun nomon ("law").

Question

What is an anomaly?

AQA Science Exam Question and Answer

Question:

What is an anomaly?

Answer:

  • An anomaly is a deviation from the norm. In science, an anomaly is an observation that does not fit with the expected results.

Anomalies can be caused by a number of factors, including:

  • Errors in measurement: Anomalies can be caused by errors in measurement. For example, if a thermometer is not calibrated correctly, it may give inaccurate readings.
  • Uncontrolled variables: Anomalies can also be caused by uncontrolled variables. For example, if an experiment is not conducted under controlled conditions, it may be difficult to identify the cause of an anomaly.
  • New phenomena: Anomalies can also be caused by new phenomena that have not yet been discovered. For example, the discovery of Neptune was initially considered to be an anomaly, as it did not fit with the expected orbits of the other planets in the solar system.