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ISA Key Terms
Key Terms for preparation for AQA ISA test
11
Science
10th Grade
03/28/2009

Additional Science Flashcards

 


 

Cards

Term
Precision
Definition
How small a measurement is. Millimetres are more precise than centimetres because they are smaller.
Term
Accuracy
Definition
How close a measurement is to its true value.
Term
Random errors
Definition
Errors caused by factors we can’t control, like tiny temperature changes in a room. They can also happen if you make a mistake – like pushing the stopwatch button too early.
Term
Systematic errors
Definition
Errors caused by inaccurate equipment, equipment that doesn’t zero properly or by problems with a method.
Term
Reliability
Definition
If someone else can repeat your measurements and get the same results then your results are reliable. Carrying out repeat measurements checks the reliability of your results.
Term
Independent variable
Definition
The variable you change to see what happens.
Term
Dependent variable
Definition
The variable that you measure.
Term
A fair test
Definition
An investigation or experiment where only the independent variable has been allowed to affect the dependent variable. This means only changing one variable and keeping everything else the same.
Term
Validity
Definition
Your results must be valid if you are going to be able to draw a conclusion from them. To get valid results you need to carry out a fair test.
Term
Continuous variables
Definition
Variables that can have any numerical value. You should use a line graph to show this type of data.
Term
Categoric variables
Definition
Variables that are described by labels. You should use a bar chart to show this type of data.
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