How Science Works - The Basics Flashcards
How can science be more accurate?
Control things in the experiment and only change 1 thing
What are anomalies?
Results which look strange / don’t fit the pattern
What is the independent variable?
The thing I change in an experiment
What is the dependent variable?
The thing measured in an experiment
What is a pattern and how can one be made?
Using lots of measurement (usually 5x) can form a pattern
What is a hypothesis?
A way to explain some facts (e.g. we fall to the ground because of a force…)
What is a valid test?
A test which measures what you want it to – and only one thing has been changed (everything else is controlled)
What is an interval?
The number between readings (e.g. 10cm, 20cm and 30cm all have an interval of 10 between them)
What does reliable mean?
The results are always the same after doing it lots of times
What is a fair test?
A fair test means the only thing you changed was the independent variable (everything else is the same)
What is categoric data?
Data which have labels – use a bar chart (e.g. boys OR girls)
What is continuous data?
Data which have numbers – use a line graph (e.g. 10mph, 20mph, 30mph)
What is a precise result?
A result which is very similar to average
What is the range?
The smallest and largest values (e.g. measured from 12cm to 53cm)
What is repeatability?
Doing the experiment again using the same stuff and getting the same results
What is reproducibility?
Doing the experiment in a different way but getting the same results
What is resolution?
How small the measurement is (e.g. how tall I am using mm not cm)
How do you draw a sketch graph?
Label both the axis and then roughly plot the points and draw a line of best fit
How do you calculate an average?
Add up all the results and divide by how many there were (ignore weird results)!
What is a control variable?
Something which must be kept the same
What is an opinion?
Something you believe in / have judged (e.g. I think Arsenal are the best football team in the world)
