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Bio B1-B3 > Working Scientifically > Flashcards

Working Scientifically Flashcards

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1
Q

When evaluating science applications - 5 implications to consider

A
  • personal
  • social
  • economic
  • environmental
  • ethical
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2
Q

What’s an ethical issue

A

A problem where a choice has to be made concerning what is right and what is wrong

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3
Q

How do scientific methods and theories develop over time?

A

new technology allowing new evidence to be collected and changing explanations as new evidence is found

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4
Q

Why are models helpful (3)

A
  • making scientific ideas easier to understand
  • help in making predictions
  • help in developing explanations
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5
Q

Representational model

A
  • use familiar objects to describe and explain observations

- e.g. using marbles to model water particles

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6
Q

Spatial models

A
  • represent things that are tiny/ enormous
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7
Q

Descriptive models

A
  • use words and ideas to help imagine something, or describe it simply
  • chemical equations to represent reactions
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8
Q

Mathematical models

A
  • use maths to describe systems and make predations

- scientists use these to describe and predict movements of planets and stars

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9
Q

computational model

A
  • a type of mathematical model

- Met Office uses supercomputer used to predict weather

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10
Q

Peer review - meaning

A

Research that is peer reviewed has been evaluated by other scientists who are experts in that area of science.

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11
Q

What does peer review check (3)

A

Valid - does it measure what it says it does, was the method designed correctly and appropriately?

Original - has anyone else already carried out similar research, and has their work been credited? Are the results new?

Significant - are the findings of the research important?

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12
Q

Models advantage

A

Models can help to investigate an idea without ethical or practical difficulties.

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13
Q

International system of units - Sl

What and Why?

A
  • scientists use internationally accepted names, symbols, definitions and units so that scientists everywhere can understand their work
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14
Q

Hypothesis - what (3)

A
  • explanation based on observations
  • and backed up by scientific knowledge and creative thinking.
  • Must be testable
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15
Q

How scientists answer questions

A
  1. Make an interesting observation or notice a problem to solve
  2. Ask a scientific question
  3. Develop a hypothesis
  4. Make a predication based on hypothesis
  5. Collect evidence to test prediction by doing an experiment and/or making observations and/or searching for data else where
  6. Analyse the evidence
  7. Review the evidence - does it support the hypothesis - if no back to (step 3)
  8. Accept the hypothesis and develop it as an explanation or theory
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16
Q

independent variable

A

Variable you deliberately change

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17
Q

Dependent variable

A

Variable you measure for each change of the independent variable

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18
Q

Control variables

A

Ones that make affect the outcome, as well as the indecent variable.
These variables are kept the same

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19
Q

Continuous variable

A

Can have any value, and can be measured (e.g. time spent on social media)

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20
Q

Discrete variable

A

Whole number values

E.g. number of texts

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21
Q

Categoric variable

A

Values are described by labels

E.g. make and model of a phone

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22
Q

Accuracy is what

A

How close a numerical result is to the true value

23
Q

Measuring temp. With a thermometer

- 3 things to do

A
  • using thermometer carefully
  • repeating measurements and calculating the mean
  • repeating measurements with a different instruments, e.g. a temperature probe anbd checking that the readings are the same
24
Q

Anomalies

A

try to explain why the odd result is different - an odd result can be removed if there is a good reason to do so, eg if there is a measurement or recording error

25
Q

Precision ?

A

Precise measurements give similar results if you repeat the measurements
- so spread of data set is small

26
Q

How to get precise data

A
  • use a measuring instrument with high resolution
  • the resolution of a measuring instrument is the smallest change in the quantity that gives a change in the reading that you can see
27
Q

How should all results be recorded when using a measuring instrument

A

To same number of decimal places

28
Q

How to see which set of data is more precise?

A

Check the spreads - subtract smallest measurement from largest

29
Q

Can data be precise but not accurate

A

Yh

30
Q

Repeatable

A

Measurements are very similar when repeated by the same person or group, using the same equipment and method

31
Q

Reproducible

A

Measurements are very similar when repeated by a different person or group, using different equipment and/or methods

32
Q

If someone else repeats your investigation /

If you do same investigation with different equipment =

A

Reproducible

33
Q

Repeat several times using same method and equipment and get similar results, results are ?

A

Repeatable

34
Q

Table, which columns for independent variable, which for dependent , where units written ?

A
  • IV in left column
  • DV in right column
  • write units in column headings, not next to each piece of data
35
Q

What chart/graph for categoric data?

A

Bar chart

Cat, dog, Guinea pig

36
Q

Chart/graph for continuous data

A

Line graph

37
Q

Variable on x + y axis

A

Independent, x

Dependent, y

38
Q

Scale of y axis =

A
  • scale is even

- chart should be as big as possible

39
Q

Tell me about outliers

  • what it is
  • included in mean or no
A
  • any value in a set of results that you judge its not part of the natural variation you expect
  • consider outliers carefully, and decide whether or not to include them when calculating mean
40
Q

Line of best fit (3)

- incl shape

A
  • circle any outliers
  • decide whether the LOBF is a straight line or curve
  • draw line through middle of points - should be roughly same number of points above the line as there are below it
41
Q

2 parts of a scientific conclusion

A
  • description of a pattern

- scientific explanation of the pattern, linked to the hypothesis

42
Q

Relationships between variables

A
  • linear

- positive/ negative

43
Q

TO EVALUATE an investigation. Think about 2 questions:

A
  • how to improve method

- what is the quality of the data

44
Q

Quality of data can be evaluated by considering (4)

A

Accuracy, precision, repeatability, reproducibility

45
Q

2 types of errors

Confidence in accuracy o results. Data cannot always be relied upon

A

Random error, systematic error

46
Q

Random error

A

Random errors are unpredictable and can be due to human error.
eg in judging when to stop a timer, changes to em or e.g. changes in environmental conditions

47
Q

Action against random errors

A
  • you cannot control the chase of random errors

- however, you can reduce their effect by repeating measurements and calculating a mean

48
Q

Systematic errors

A

Systematic errors cause results to differ from the true value by the same amount each time. These could be due to:

  • a fixed error in the measuring instrument, eg not being correctly zeroed (ammeter that doesn’t read zero when no current)
  • influence of the environment, eg allowing a reaction to take place at a hotter temperature
  • method of observation, eg not reading the volume of a liquid correctly using bottom of the meniscus
49
Q

Against a systematic error

A
  • if you think you have a systematic error, repeat the measurements with a different piece of equipment
  • then compare the two sets of measurements
50
Q

Uncertainty definition

A

The interval within which the true value can be expected to lie, with a given level of confidence

I.e. temperature is 65.5 degrees C +- 0.5 C with a confidence of 95 percent

51
Q

Uncertainties are due to

A

Measuring instrument

52
Q

If the smallest scale division is 1 degrees, you can estimate the uncertainty as

A

+- 0.5 degree

53
Q

Range and confidence in results

A

The range describes the difference between the highest and lowest repeat results. The smaller the range, the greater the confidence will be in the accuracy of the results.

Bio B1-B3 (15 decks)

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