What is a Science Experiment?

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Questions and Answers

What is the main goal of a science experiment?

To measure the dependent variable only

To find the cause-and-effect relationship between variables (correct)

To prove that a hypothesis is always correct

To change as many variables as possible and observe the outcome

What is the independent variable in an experiment?

The variable that is not related to the experiment

The variable that is being measured

The variable that is being changed (correct)

The variable that is kept constant

Why is it important to keep everything else constant in an experiment?

To ensure that the experiment is done quickly

To make the experiment more expensive

To ensure a fair test and accurate results (correct)

To make the dependent variable change

What does the accuracy of data refer to?

How close to being correct the data is Signup and view all the answers

What would cause all grass-length measurements to be wrong by a certain amount?

Measuring from the edge of the ruler Signup and view all the answers

What is reproducibility of data also known as?

Precision Signup and view all the answers

Why might the data be less accurate in an experiment?

There are issues with the measurement tools or methods Signup and view all the answers

What is the main difference between the two sets of measurements in the example?

One set of measurements was more precise and the other set was less precise. Signup and view all the answers

What does the graph of precise data show?

Data points that are close to the line of best fit. Signup and view all the answers

What does accuracy refer to in the context of measurement?

How close the data is to the true value. Signup and view all the answers

Why might the data about the amount of water that fell on the grass not be accurate?

Because the rain on the first morning was not included. Signup and view all the answers

What is the main purpose of taking multiple measurements of the same thing?

To get a result that is both accurate and precise. Signup and view all the answers

What is the difference between the two graphs shown?

One graph shows precise data and the other shows less precise data. Signup and view all the answers

What does reproducibility refer to in the context of measurement?

How similar and close together the data is. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following would make the data more precise?

Using a higher-tech equipment. Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

What is a Science Experiment?

A science experiment is a systematic method to figure out the structure and behavior of the world.
It involves changing one variable (independent variable) and observing its effect on another variable (dependent variable).
Everything else must be kept the same to ensure a fair test.

Example of a Science Experiment

Investigating how the amount of watering affects the height of grass.
The amount of water used is the independent variable, and the height of the grass is the dependent variable.
Other factors like sunlight, soil, and location must be kept the same.

Accuracy of Data

Accuracy refers to how close to being correct the data is.
Inaccurate data can occur due to measurement errors or uncontrolled variables.
Examples of inaccurate data include measuring from the edge of a ruler instead of the zero line, or not accounting for external factors like rainfall.

Reproducibility or Precision of Data

Reproducibility, or precision, refers to how close together the measurements are.
It is different from accuracy.
A high level of precision means that the measurements are consistent and close together.

Examples of Precision

Measuring the length of grass multiple times to ensure accuracy and taking an average of the numbers.
Using high-tech equipment to measure variables, such as a water collector that measures to the nearest milliliter.
Precise data appears as data points close to the best-fit line on a graph.

Comparison of Accuracy and Precision

Accuracy refers to how correct the data is, while precision refers to how similar and close together the data is.
Data can be accurate but not precise, or precise but not accurate.
Both accuracy and precision are important in science experiments.