Definitions Flashcards
What is an independant variable?
The factor that the investigator chooses to change to see what effect it has
What does proportional mean?
Where one variable goes up at the same rate as another, and you get a straight line on a graph of the two
What does valid mean?
A suitable method has been used to test the hypothesis and the conclusions are reasonable
What is a dependant variable?
The factor that the investigator measures
What is meant by resolution?
The smallest possible change in reading on the meter
What is a control variable?
A factor that is kept the same because it is not being investigated
What is a continuous variable?
A factor that can take any value - height of a person
What is a zero error?
If a meter doesn’t read zero when it should
What is a random error?
Causes readings to fall both sides pf the true value but not on it because its not in your control
What is a discrete variable?
A factor that only has certain values available - the colour of a piece of paper
What is a systematic error?
When all your results fall to one side of their true value by the same amount each time due to something happening constantly to effect the short experiment
Preliminary method is …
A short sample version of the main experiment that is done first to get an idea of a suitable range for the independent variable, and whether the method will gibe valid results
