science skills Flashcards

1
Q

What is a hypothesis?

A

A hypothesis is a proposed explanation based on limited evidence, leading to further investigation.

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2
Q

What is peer review?

A

Peer review is where other scientists check results and scientific explanations to make sure that they have been done to a sensible degree of accuracy, so that they can then be published.

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3
Q

If a hypothesis is approved through peer review, does that then become true? Why/why not?

A

If a hypothesis is approved through peer review, it means false claims have not been detected or they have been sorted.
Once peer reviewed, it still may not be true, it just doesn’t seem wrong in an obvious way.

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4
Q

What happens if results don’t suit a hypothesis?

A

If results don’t suit a hypothesis, it can be changed or completely scrapped.

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5
Q

Give another name for an accepted hypothesis.

A

An accepted hypothesis is called a theory.

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6
Q

What happens if new evidence counteracts an existing theory?

A

If new evidence counteracts an existing theory, then the hypothesising and testing is likely to start again.

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7
Q

What is a representational model?

A

A representation model is a simplified description or picture of what’s happening according to a theory. They can be used to make predictions and explain observations.

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8
Q

What is a computational model?

A

A computational model uses computers to make simulations of complex real life processes, like climate change. They are usually used when there are lots of variables to consider.

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9
Q

What is wrong with scientific discoveries reported by the media?

A

Scientific discoveries that are reported in the media, like newspapers and television, are not peer reviewed. They are often based on peer reviewed discoveries, but are presented in a way that is oversimplified or inaccurate, leading to misinterpretations.

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10
Q

What issues can arise from scientific discoveries?

A

issues from scientific discoveries:

  • economic - society can’t afford what scientists recommend to do
  • social - oppose religion, affect lifestyle
  • personal - affect how people live
  • environmental - human activity affects environments
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11
Q

What is a hazard?

A

A hazard is something that could potentially cause harm.

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12
Q

What is a risk?

A

Risks are as a result of hazards. They are the chance that the hazard will cause harm.

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13
Q

How can you estimate the size of a risk?

A

You can estimate the size of a risk by basing it on how many times something happens in a big sample over a given period.
However, people often make their own judgments on the size of a risk.

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14
Q

What does it mean if evidence is repeatable?

A

Repeatable means if the same person does an experiment using the same methods and equipment, they’ll get similar results.

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15
Q

What does it mean if evidence is reproducible?

A

Reproducible means if someone else does the experiment, or a different method or piece of equipment is used, they’ll get similar results.

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16
Q

What are valid results?

A

Valid results are both repeatable and reproducible and they answer the original hypothesis. They come from a fair test.

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17
Q

What is the independent variable?

A

The independent variable is the thing you change. There is only one of this in each experiment.

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18
Q

What is the dependent variable?

A

The dependent variable is the thing that you measure. There is only one of this in each experiment.

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19
Q

What is the control variable?

A

The control variable is the thing you keep the same. There is many of these in one experiment.

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20
Q

Fill the gap:

the ____ the sample size, the better because ______

A

the larger the sample size, the better because it becomes more accurate to real life

21
Q

What is resolution?

A

Resolution is the smallest change a measuring instrument can detect.

22
Q

What is a random error?

A

A random error is unpredictable differences caused by things like human errors in measuring.

23
Q

What is a human error?

A

A human error is an error caused by a misjudgment in humans.

24
Q

What is a systematic error?

A

A systematic error is when a measurement is wrong by the same amount every time.

25
Q

What is a zero error?

A

A zero error is when a systematic error is caused by using equipment that is not zeroed properly.

26
Q

How can you reduce the effect of random errors?

A

You can reduce the effect of random errors by taking repeat readings and finding the mean. This makes the result more precise.

27
Q

What is an anomalous result?

A

An anomalous result does not fit in with the trend of the rest of the results.

28
Q

What should you do in a risk assessment?

A

In a risk assessment, you should identify any hazards and ways of reducing the risks.

29
Q

On which axis should the independent and dependent variables be on?

A

IV - x axis

DV - y axis

30
Q

What is categoric data?

A

Categoric data is separated into distinct categories that cannot flow into one another eg. eye colour

31
Q

What is discrete data?

A

Discrete data is counted numerically but in chunks, so there’s no in between value eg. number of protons

32
Q

What is continuous data?

A

Continuous data is numerical data that can have any value within a range eg. temperature

33
Q

When should you draw a bar chart?

A

You should draw a bar chart when the independent variable is categoric or discrete.

  • leave a gap between categories
  • label the axis with units in the titles
34
Q

When should you draw a graph?

A

You should draw a graph when the independent and dependent variables are both continuous.

35
Q

How many standard units are in a tera (T)?

A

1 tera (T) = 1,000,000,000,000 (10^12) units

36
Q

How many standard units are in a giga (G)?

A

1 giga (G) = 1,000,000,000 (10^9) units

37
Q

How many standard units are in a mega (M)?

A

1 mega (M) = 1,000,000 (10^6) units

38
Q

How many standard units are in a kilo (k)?

A

1 kilo (k) = 1,000 (10^3) units

39
Q

How many standard units are in a deci (d)?

A

1 deci (d) = 0.1 (10^-1) units

40
Q

How many standard units are in a centi (c)?

A

1 centi (c) = 0.01 (10^-2) units

41
Q

How many standard units are in a milli (m)?

A

1 milli (m) = 0.001 (10^-3) units

42
Q

How many standard units are in a micro (μ)?

A

1 micro (μ) = 0.000001 (10^-6) units

43
Q

How many standard units are in a nano (n)?

A

1 nano (n) = 0.000000001 (10^-9) units

44
Q

Fill the blank:

correlation is/not the same as cause

A

correlation is NOT the same as cause

45
Q

Give three reasons for correlation?

A

reasons for correlation:

  • chance
  • linked by a third variable
  • cause
46
Q

What is uncertainty? How do you calculate it?

A

Uncertainty shows how much above or below the random errors affected the data.
uncertainty = range / 2

47
Q

What six things should be mentioned in an evaluation?

A

evaluation

  • validity of method (did it make it a fair test)
  • quality and quantity of results (are they reproducible)
  • anomalies (explain why you got them)
  • confidence in the conclusion
  • changes to the method to improve validity of results
  • make predictions based on the conclusion, and discuss further experimentation
48
Q

What is a measurement error?

A

A measurement error is the difference between the measured value and the real value.