Download Nature of Science #3 Proficiency Review

High School Science
Proficiency Review
Performance Benchmark N.12.A.3
Students know repeated
experimentation allows for statistical
analysis and unbiased conclusions.
A student measures the length of a pendulum
three times. The measurements were 1.42
meters, 1.43 meters, and 1.45 meters. The actual
length of the pendulum was 1.89 meters. What
can be said about these measurements?
a. the measurements are accurate
b. the measurements are precise
c. the measurements are both accurate and
precise
d. the measurements are neither accurate nor
precise
A student measures the length of a pendulum
three times. The measurements were 1.42
meters, 1.43 meters, and 1.45 meters. The actual
length of the pendulum was 1.89 meters. What
can be said about these measurements?
Accurate and
Precise
Precise but not
accurate
A student measures the length of a pendulum
three times. The measurements were 1.42
meters, 1.43 meters, and 1.45 meters. The actual
length of the pendulum was 1.89 meters. What
can be said about these measurements?
The circled numbers above are precise
but not accurate because they are close
together (precise), but not close to the
true value of 1.89 meters (not accurate).
A student measures the length of a pendulum
three times. The measurements were 1.42
meters, 1.43 meters, and 1.45 meters. The actual
length of the pendulum was 1.89 meters. What
can be said about these measurements?
a. the measurements are accurate
b. the measurements are precise
c. the measurements are both accurate and
precise
d. the measurements are neither accurate nor
precise
What makes a scientific explanation
different from a non-scientific explanation?
a. scientific explanations are based
on assumptions
b. scientific explanations are
predictable
c. scientific explanations cannot be
changed
d. scientific explanations are
testable
What makes a scientific explanation
different from a non-scientific explanation?
a. scientific explanations are based
on assumptions
b. scientific explanations are
predictable
c. scientific explanations cannot be
changed
d. scientific explanations are
testable
The degree to which data matches the true
or accepted value is
a. accuracy
b. correlation coefficient
c. precision
d. none of the above
The degree to which data matches the true
or accepted value is
a. accuracy
acc
b. correlation coefficient
c. precision
d. none of the above
think bull’s eye – accuracy – accepted value
A student throws five darts at the bull’s eye
(centermost circle) of a target and the following
pattern results. What can be said about the
grouping of darts?
a. the grouping is accurate
b. the grouping is precise
c. the grouping is both accurate and precise
d. the grouping is neither accurate nor precise
A student throws five darts at the bull’s eye
(centermost circle) of a target and the following
pattern results. What can be said about the
grouping of darts?
Read through all the
choices to make sure
you have marked the
best one.
a. the grouping is accurate
b. the grouping is precise
c. the grouping is both accurate and precise
d. the grouping is neither accurate nor precise
Accurate and
Precise
a. the grouping is accurate
b. the grouping is precise
c. the grouping is both accurate and precise
d. the grouping is neither accurate nor precise
Students conduct a laboratory
investigation to determine the acceleration
due to Earth’s gravity (g). They calculate g
to be 8.0 m/s2. The actual (true)
acceleration due to Earth’s gravity is 9.8
m/s2. What is the percent error for their
experiment?
a. 7.0%
b. 15%
c. 18%
d. 23%
MEASURED
VALUE
Students conduct a laboratory
investigation to determine the
acceleration due to Earth’s gravity
(g). They calculate g to be 8.0 m/s2.
The actual (true) acceleration due to
Earth’s gravity is 9.8 m/s2. What is
the percent error for their
TRUE VALUE
experiment?
measured value – true value
% Error =
X 100
true value
8.0 – 9.8
= -18.4%
% Error =
X
100
9.8
Students conduct a laboratory
investigation to determine the acceleration
due to Earth’s gravity (g). They calculate g
to be 8.0 m/s2. The actual (true)
acceleration due to Earth’s gravity is 9.8
m/s2. What is the percent error for their
experiment?
a. 7.0%
b. 15%
The NEGATIVE SIGN
c. 18%
shows that the
experimental result was
d. 23%
LOW, but percent error
is often reported as an
ABSOLUTE VALUE.
In August 2006, the International Astronomical
Union removed Pluto’s status as a planet and
named it a dwarf planet. What prompted the
reclassification of Pluto?
a. A new telescope introduced in 2006
allowed scientists to see a better view of
Pluto.
b. Scientists based their decision on
known data from Pluto and other objects
in the solar system.
c. A manned mission to Pluto provided
evidence to make it a dwarf planet.
d. Scientists were biased to make the
solar system have ten planets.
In August 2006, the International Astronomical
Union removed Pluto’s status as a planet and
named it a dwarf planet. What prompted the
reclassification of Pluto?
a. A new telescope introduced in 2006
allowed scientists to see a better view of
Pluto.
b. Scientists based their decision on
NO manned known data from Pluto and other objects
missions that in the solar system.
far away.
c. A manned mission to Pluto provided
evidence to make it a dwarf planet.
Scientists try d. Scientists were biased to make the
never to be
solar system have ten planets.
Too specific
biased.
Scientists publish the details of important
experiments so that
a. their work can be repeated.
b. their experimental procedures can be
reviewed.
c. others can try to reproduce the
results.
d. all of the above
Read through all the
choices to make sure
you have marked the
best one.
Scientists have observed data that shows the
average temperature of the Earth has risen over
the past century. However, there is a debate
among some scientists if the temperature rise is
caused by human activity or natural climate
change. What is the source of the global
warming debate?
Many
different
scientists
have
collected
data.
a. Errors in the data collection process.
b. Political bias among scientists and
their position.
c. Different interpretations of the same
data.
d. Failure of some scientists to publish
their data.
Scientists have observed data that shows the
average temperature of the Earth has risen over
the past century. However, there is a debate
among some scientists if the temperature rise is
caused by human activity or natural climate
change. What is the source of the global
warming debate?
Scientists
try to
remain
free from
bias.
a. Errors in the data collection process.
b. Political bias among scientists and
their position.
c. Different interpretations of the same
data.
d. Failure of some scientists to publish
their data.
Scientists have observed data that shows the
average temperature of the Earth has risen over
the past century. However, there is a debate
among some scientists if the temperature rise is
caused by human activity or natural climate
change. What is the source of the global
warming debate?
A lot of
climate
data are
available
a. Errors in the data collection process.
b. Political bias among scientists and
their position.
c. Different interpretations of the same
data.
d. Failure of some scientists to publish
their data.
Scientists have observed data that shows the
average temperature of the Earth has risen over
the past century. However, there is a debate
among some scientists if the temperature rise is
caused by human activity or natural climate
change. What is the source of the global
warming debate?
a. Errors in the data collection process.
b. Political bias among scientists and
their position.
c. Different interpretations of the same
data.
d. Failure of some scientists to publish
their data.
Pellagra is a disease that first appeared in the United
States in the 1820s and was known as the disease of
the four Ds: dermatitis, diarrhea, dementia, and
death. There was a debate among scientists if
pellagra was caused by poor diet or an infectious
agent. Which of the following evidence supports the
fact that pellagra is caused by a poor diet?
a. Pellagra was common in the South, especially in
mental hospitals, orphanages, and prisons.
b. Orphans provided with fresh vegetables, meat,
and milk recovered from Pellagra or never got it.
c. Staff at institutions (such as hospitals, prisons,
and orphanages) did not develop Pellagra.
d. Both b. and c.
Which of the following evidence supports the fact
that pellagra is caused by a poor diet?
Can’t tell from choice A … could be diet or infection.
a. Pellagra was common in the South, especially in
mental hospitals, orphanages, and prisons.
b. Orphans provided with fresh vegetables, meat,
and milk recovered from Pellagra or never got it.
c. Staff at institutions (such as hospitals, prisons,
and orphanages) did not develop Pellagra.
d. Both b. and c.
Which of the following evidence supports the fact
that pellagra is caused by a poor diet?
Choice B: only diet is changed
Choice C: staff has better diet than patients
a. Pellagra was common in the South, especially in
mental hospitals, orphanages, and prisons.
b. Orphans provided with fresh vegetables, meat,
and milk recovered from Pellagra or never got it.
c. Staff at institutions (such as hospitals, prisons,
and orphanages) did not develop Pellagra.
d. Both b. and c.