Scientific Instruction Flashcards
Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS)
a standardized information sheet for a substance; includes information about health risks, safe disposal and cleanup of spills, and environmental risks
Waft
Wave the air toward the face. The safe way to smell a test tube.
Outlier
a data point either much larger than or much smaller than the other data points in the set.
Error (in measurement)
Error is a numerical value that tells us how far “off” a measurement is compared to the correct or accepted value.
Rounding
A number is simplified to its closest multiple of 10, 100, 1,000, etc.
Tare
to set a balance equal to zero to ensure an accurate measurement with no contaminants
Approximation
A value chosen to represent the size or magnitude of a value; the approximation is similar to, but not equal to, the actual value.
Accuracy
a set of different values which are close to a true value. When measuring with a tool, the tool is accurate to 1/2 of the smallest measuring unit
Proportion
A statement that two ratios are equivalent.
Histogram
a visual representation of data which compares frequencies of different numeral intervals
Line Graph
a visual representation of data which shows change over time or in response to a manipulated variable
Bar Graph
a visual representation of data which compares values in different categories
Measurement
a number that shows the size or amount of something
Quantitative Data
data which is measured and usually expressed numerically
The Metric System
a standard system of measurement based on powers of 10.
Dimensional Analysis / Unit Analysis
the process of converting within or between systems by multiplying by factors of 1 in various forms
Liters (l)
the base metric unit of volume
Meters (m)
the unit for distance in the metric system
Double Bar Graph
a visual representation of data which compares values in different categories and groups
Stem-and-Leaf Plot / Stemplot
a plot that splits each data value into a “leaf” (usually the last digit) and a “stem” (the other digits). Stemplots are used for smaller sets of quantitative data. You can easily identify outliers, data clusters, or gaps on a stemplot.
Precision
a set of different values which are close to one another
English system / Imperial system
a system of measurement used in the United States using units such as feet, pounds and ounces
Unit
A standard measure for reporting the magnitude (size) of a variable such as length, mass, or time.
Tolerance (in stats)
the amount of measurement error that is allowed
Dot Plot
a graph that uses dots to show the frequency counts of a group of data. Dot plots are used for small sets of quantitative data. You can easily identify the mode, the shape or skew of the graph, and potential outliers on a dot plot.
Meniscus
the downward curve on the surface of a liquid caused by the adhesion of the liquid on the glassware
Grams (g)
the base metric unit of mass
Categorical Data
data recorded as categories/groups