Science Fundamentals and the Scientific Method

Practice questions covering measurement accuracy, precision, SI units, scientific notation, and the steps of the scientific method based on Chapters 1 and 2.

How is accuracy defined in a scientific context?

The degree to which the experimental results agrees with the accepted value.

What does precision refer to in measurement?

The degree to which measurements agree with one another, or how consistent multiple measurements are to each other.

How is the average of a set of values calculated?

Add up all values and divide by the total number of values.

What is a standard in the context of measurement?

An exact quantity that people use for comparison.

What is the SI system?

The system used by scientists around the world to make measurements.

How is length defined?

The distance between two points.

What is mass?

The amount of matter in an object.

What is the definition of volume?

The amount of space occupied by an object.

How is time defined in science?

The interval between two events.

What is temperature a measurement of?

The amount of heat in an object.

What is the purpose of the technique used for converting numbers into different units?

To convert numbers into different units without changing their value.

What are defined as 'Conversation factors' in the notes?

Ratios of equivalent values, meaning they equal $1$.

What is the purpose of scientific notation?

A technique used to rewrite very large or very small numbers into a format that is easier to use.

What is the format for scientific notation?

Just the digits with a decimal point after the first digits, followed by $\times 10^{\text{power}}$, which represents how many places the decimal was moved.

How is science defined?

A method for studying the natural world by gaining knowledge through observations and investigations.

What characterizes an observation?

It is objective and based on the five senses, not opinion.

What is an inference?

A subjective guess about an observation.

What is the difference between a scientific law and a theory?

A law is a description of how things happen in nature, while a theory is an explanation based on evidence of why things happen.

Can scientific laws become theories?

No, laws cannot become theories and vice versa.

What do all theories start off as?

Hypotheses, until sustained by evidence.

What is the scientific method?

A technique for investigating phenomenon.

What should observations lead a scientist to do?

Ask questions.

What is a hypothesis?

A testable prediction that attempts to answer a question.

What is an independent variable?

What is being purposefully changed or tested; the cause.

What is a dependent variable?

What is being measured; the data collected as a response.

According to the notes, what data types are compared in a line graph?

Quantitative data versus qualitative data.

What data types are compared in a bar graph?

Qualitative data versus quantitative data.

What is the specific use of a pie chart mentioned in the notes?

To represent percentages.

What elements should be included in a written analysis of data?

A brief overview of the variables, a clear explanation of what the data shows, an explanation for why results were obtained, and an error analysis.

What should be included in a scientific conclusion?

A clear statement of if the data supports the hypothesis or not.