ATAR Scientific Inquiry & Understanding 2

Question 1

A scientist repeats an experiment five times and gets results that are close together but far from the true value. This describes data that is:

Accepted Answer

Precise but not accurate

Answer

Precision refers to the consistency of repeated measurements, while accuracy refers to closeness to the true value.

Question 2

When graphing experimental results, placing the independent variable on the x-axis is important because:

Accepted Answer

The independent variable is the one the experimenter controls and changes

Answer

The independent variable is placed on the x-axis because it is the variable the experimenter deliberately manipulates.

Question 3

A student measures the boiling point of water at sea level and obtains 99.4°C instead of 100°C. This error is most likely due to:

Accepted Answer

Systematic error from an incorrectly calibrated thermometer

Answer

A consistent offset from the true value suggests a systematic error, often caused by faulty or uncalibrated equipment.

Question 4

In a controlled experiment testing the effect of fertilizer on plant growth, which of the following is a controlled variable?

Accepted Answer

Amount of water each plant receives

Answer

Controlled variables are kept constant to ensure only the independent variable affects the results; water amount must remain the same for all plants.

Question 5

A hypothesis must be:

Accepted Answer

A testable prediction about the relationship between variables

Answer

A hypothesis is a testable, falsifiable prediction that can be investigated through experimentation.

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