Scientific Method Flashcards
What is an independent variable?
The part of an experiment you change, it goes on the x (horizontal) axis
What are the types of errors?
Systematic, gross and random
What is the dependant variable?
What you measure in an experiment as it goes on the y (vertical axis)
What is a control variable?
What stays the same in an experiment
What is the control group?
Is the group in an experiment in which nothing is changed, thus maintaining a ‘normal’ situation.
What are qualitative variables?
These are things that can change but you can only describe them, eg, hair colour
What are quantitative variables?
There are things that we can change but can be given a number eg, height and weight.
What is discrete data?
Can only have a specific number, ie one with no decimals. Needs to be represented on a bar graph.
What is continuous data?
Can have any value within a sensible range, can contain decimals and are represented as a single point.
What is a gross error?
In which the experimenter makes a mistake either using equipment, or in calculations
What are systematic errors?
In which an item of equipment gives consistently high or low results peculiar to that item of equipment.
What are random errors?
Are due to the statistical spread of results that are normal even when completing an experiment multiple times. Small variations that arise in repeated measurement of a quantity.
How to reduce gross errors?
Be careful and repeat the experiment to ensure no mistakes were made.
How to reduce systematic errors?
Try and use the same piece of equipment. Choose equipment with an appropriate scale. Calibrate equipment. Use the same equipment for the same sample. Measure the same substance with different pieces of similar equipment and take an average.
How to reduce random errors?
Having the same person always take the measurements, reading in pairs and coming to a consensus, repeating readings and taking an average
