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Key Science Terms. Precision, Accuracy, Quantitative, Qualitative, Scientific Method, Graphing. Precision VS. Accuracy . Precision . Accuracy. Repeatability Check by repeating measurements Poor precision comes from poor technique. Correctness
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Key Science Terms Precision, Accuracy, Quantitative, Qualitative, Scientific Method, Graphing
Precision VS. Accuracy Precision Accuracy • Repeatability • Check by repeating measurements • Poor precision comes from poor technique • Correctness • Check by using a different method (like in math when you plug your answer back in to see if it’s right) • Poor accuracy results from bad procedure or faulty equipment
Scientific Method Independent variable/manipulated variable – one intentionally changed or manipulated by the experimenter (Remember…I am the man and I changed this..) Dependent variable/responding variable – one that is observed, recorded, measured, by the experimenter
Scientific Method Cont. Observation Conclusion • Information that is obtained using your senses or your senses and an instrument • Statements like: the sky is blue, the ball is round, the wind is blowing, etc. • A judgment that is made based on prior observations • The sky is dark, the wind is blowing, there are big black clouds in the sky…. So it is going to rain. • The beginning information were all observations about the conditions I saw but I concluded that it was going to rain.
Graphing How to determine scale • Remember that the first data column are the “X” coordinates and the second data column are the “Y” coordinates • Within the data column subtract the lowest data value from the highest data value • The divide that answer by the number of lines that are present on the axis • That answer represents the scale factor for the axis • The origin will not always be zero – it will be the lowest data value in the column
Here’s an example: • Highest value for Y is 17.5 and lowest value for Y is 14.5 - subtract to get 3 • Lets say that your graph paper has 10 lines on the Y axis – divide 3 by 10 to determine the scale which is 0.3 • So that means that your origin on the Y axis will be 14.5 and each line will increase by a value of 0.3 • So the numbers going up the Y axis will be … 14.5 , 14.8, 15.1, etc. • You do the same for both axes
Types of data Qualitative Quantitative • Purely descriptive in nature • Use the senses to make observations • Color, taste, texture, • MUST have a number • Use some type of instrument or direct counting to make observations • 25 cm, 3.5 miles, 0.002 g