Prospective facts for kids

Prospective means something that is likely or expected to happen in the future. It's like looking ahead and thinking about what's coming next!

For example, a prospective student is someone who is thinking about going to a certain school. They haven't enrolled yet, but they are considering it for the future. In studies, a prospective cohort study follows a group of people over time to see what happens to them in the future.

What Does 'Prospective' Mean?

The word "prospective" helps us talk about things that are planned or expected. It's all about looking forward!

Future Plans and Studies

When we use "prospective," we are often talking about plans or events that are still to come.

• A prospective job is a job you might get in the future.
• A prospective trip is a trip you are planning to take.

In science, a prospective study looks at how things develop over time. For example, researchers might follow a group of kids for many years to see how their health changes. This helps them understand future trends.

Other Uses of 'Prospective'

The word "prospective" can be used in many different ways, from grammar to space travel!

In Language: Prospective Aspect

In grammar, the Prospective aspect talks about actions that are about to happen or are expected to happen. For example, "She is about to sing" uses the prospective aspect. It tells you the singing will happen very soon.

Famous Racehorse: Prospective Dolly

Prospective Dolly was a famous Thoroughbred racehorse born in 1987. She was known for her speed and success in races. Her name suggests she was expected to be a great runner!

Remembering Future Actions: Prospective Memory

Prospective memory is your ability to remember to do something in the future. For instance, remembering to take out the trash on Tuesday or remembering to call a friend later are examples of prospective memory. It's super important for daily life!

Politics: Prospective Parliamentary Candidate

In British politics, a Prospective parliamentary candidate is someone who hopes to become a Member of Parliament (MP). They are campaigning and trying to get elected to represent their area in the government. They are "prospective" because they are not yet elected, but they hope to be in the future.

Space Travel: Prospective Piloted Transport System

The Prospective Piloted Transport System was a project to create a new type of spacecraft that could carry people. It was designed to be the next generation of space vehicles, looking ahead to future space missions.

Internet Search: Prospective Search

Prospective search is a way of searching on the internet where you set up a search that keeps looking for new information as it appears. Instead of searching once, it continuously looks for new results that match your interests.

Electricity: Prospective Short-Circuit Current

In electricity, the Prospective short-circuit current is the highest amount of electric current that could flow if there was a short circuit. This is important for safety, as it helps engineers design electrical systems that can handle unexpected power surges.

Healthcare: Prospective Payment System

A Prospective payment system is a way that healthcare providers, like hospitals, get paid. Instead of getting paid for every single service they provide, they get a set amount of money for a patient's care based on their diagnosis. This system helps control costs and plans payments ahead of time.

See also

• In Spanish: Prospectiva para niños
• Retrospective generally means to study events that already have taken place. It's the opposite of prospective, as it looks back at the past.