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Combined Science (General) > Working Scientifically - UNFINISHED > Flashcards

Working Scientifically - UNFINISHED Flashcards

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1
Q

What is a hypothesis?

A

An explanation made on the basis of limited evidence as a starting point for further investigation

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2
Q

How do scientists test hypotheses?

A

They make a prediction based on it and test the prediction by gathering evidence from investigations

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3
Q

How do scientists share their findings?

A

Peer-reviewed journals and/or at conferences

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4
Q

What is peer-review?

A

Where other scientists check results and explanations to make sure they are scientific before publishing

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5
Q

Why do scientists peer-review?

A

It helps detect false claims

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6
Q

What do scientists do once they’ve found out about a hypothesis?

A

They carry out their own experiments and try to reproduce the original experiment

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7
Q

What are accepted hypotheses called?

A

Theories

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8
Q

What is a representational model?

A

A simplified description or picture of what is going on in ‘real life’

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9
Q

What can representational models be used for?

A

To explain observations and make predictions

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10
Q

What are computational models?

A

Models that have been formed by a computer to make simulations of complex ‘real life’ processes

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11
Q

What are computational models used for?

A

When there is a lot of variables to consider

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12
Q

Why would you use a computational model if there is a lot of vaiables?

A

You can easily change their design to take in new data

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13
Q

Why is it important for scientists to tell the public about their discoveries?

A

Some discoveries show that humans should change habits or provide ideas for new technology

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14
Q

What are issues with scientific studies in the media?

A

They aren’t often peer-reviewed, they are often simplified leading to misinterpretation, information may be biased and it may be inaccurate

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15
Q

What are the 4 issues presented by scientific developments?

A

Economic, social, personal and environmental issues

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16
Q

What economic issues are presented by scientific developments?

A

Society can’t always afford to do things scientists recommend without cutting back elsewhere

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17
Q

What social issues are presented by scientific developments?

A

Decisions based on scientific evidence made will have an affect people’s lives e.g. scientists may believe alcohol should be banned to prevent health problems

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18
Q

What personal issues are presented by scientific developments?

A

Some scientific developments will only affect certain individuals, how would you decide which individuals?

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19
Q

What environmental issues are presented by scientific developments?

A

Human activity affects the environment but some development could cause environmental problems

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20
Q

Why can’t scientists answer all questions?

A

Some questions are ethically based, or the data can’t be collected or there isn’t enough data to support a theory

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21
Q

What is a hazard?

A

Something that could potentially cause harm

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22
Q

What is risk?

A

The chance that a hazard will cause harm

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23
Q

What needs to be considered with new scientific technology?

A

The benefits and risks

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24
Q

How do you estimate risk?

A

By how many times something could happen in a large sample

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25
Q

Why might people underestimate or overestimate risk?

A

Based on the familiarity of the activity and the effect an activity will have

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26
Q

What are some hazards from experiments?

A

Microorganisms, chemicals, fire and electricity

27
Q

What are investigations used for?

A

To see if there is patterns or relationships between two variables

28
Q

What three things does evidence need to be?

A

Repeatable, reproducible and valid

29
Q

What does ‘repeatable’ mean?

A

If the same person does an experiment again using the same methods and equipment, they’ll get similar results

30
Q

What does ‘reproducible’ mean?

A

If someone else does the experiment, or a different method or piece of equipment is used, the results will be similar

31
Q

What does it mean if data is ‘reproducible’ and ‘repeatable’?

A

It’s reliable and scientists are more likely to have confidence in it

32
Q

How do you make an experiment a fair test?

A

Control the variables

33
Q

What is the name of the variable that you change?

A

The independent variable

34
Q

What is the name of the variable that you measure?

A

The dependent variable

35
Q

What is the name of the variables you keep the same?

A

The control variables

36
Q

What is a control experiment?

A

An experiment that’s kept under the same conditions as the rest of the investigation, but doesn’t have anything done to it

37
Q

Why isn’t a small sample as good as data based on a large sample?

A

A sample should represent the whole population

38
Q

How do you check reliability of data?

A

Repeat the readings and check the results are similar

39
Q

How many times should you repeat each reading?

A

3

40
Q

What is resolution?

A

The smallest change a measuring instrument can detect

41
Q

Why does equipment need to be calibrated?

A

If it’s not calibrated, it could affect the accuracy of measurements

42
Q

What are random errors?

A

Errors caused by random things like human errors in measuring

43
Q

How do you reduce the chance of random errors?

A

Taking repeat readings and finding the mean

44
Q

What is a systematic error?

A

When a measurement is wrong by the same amount every time

45
Q

What is a zero error?

A

Equipment that isn’t zeroed properly

46
Q

What is an anomalous result?

A

If you get one result that doesn’t fit in with the others

47
Q

How do you calculate the mean?

A

Add the data together and divide by the total number of values

48
Q

How do you calculate the range?

A

Find the biggest number and subtract the smallest number

49
Q

How do you calculate the mode?

A

The number that appears the most often in a set of data

50
Q

How do you calculate the median?

A

Put all the data in order and the middle value is the median

51
Q

What is the first significant figure?

A

The first number that isn’t zero

52
Q

What should you do if your calculation has multiple steps?

A

Only round the final answer

53
Q

What 3 types of data can bar charts show?

A

Categoric data, discrete data and continuos data

54
Q

What is categoric data?

A

Data that comes in distinct categories eg flower colour, blood group

55
Q

What is discrete data?

A

Data that can be counted in chunks, where there is no inbetween values eg number of people, you can’t have half a person

56
Q

What is continuous data?

A

Numerical data that can have any value in a range e.g length or temperature

57
Q

Should you include a key with a bar chart?

A

Yes, if there is more than one set of data

58
Q

On a graph, which axis does the dependent variable go on?

A

Y-Axis

59
Q

On a graph, which axis does the independent variable go on?

A

X-Axis

60
Q

How should you plot points on a graph?

A

Use a sharp pencil, make neat little crosses, don’t do dots

61
Q

What should you always include?

A

Units and axis labels

62
Q

What is a line of best fit?

A

A line that goes through or near as many points as possible, ignoring anomalous points

63
Q

What is the gradient?

A

A line/slope which shows you how quickly the dependent variable changes if you change the independent variable

Combined Science (General) (5 decks)

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