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Making Science Graphs and Interpreting Data

1. Scientific graphs are usually line graphs with best-fit lines that do not necessarily touch all data points but get close to most. 2. The document provides examples of graphing various scientific concepts and interpreting data from graphs. 3. It includes questions to test the reader's ability to interpret different graphs related to topics like distance over time, prices, and more.

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931 views7 pages

Making Science Graphs and Interpreting Data

1. Scientific graphs are usually line graphs with best-fit lines that do not necessarily touch all data points but get close to most. 2. The document provides examples of graphing various scientific concepts and interpreting data from graphs. 3. It includes questions to test the reader's ability to interpret different graphs related to topics like distance over time, prices, and more.

Uploaded by

shafiqaisah
Copyright
© Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as DOC, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Making Science Graphs and Interpreting Data

Scientific Graphs:
Most scientific graphs are made as line graphs. There may be times when other types would be appropriate, but they are rare. The lines on scientific graphs are usually drawn either straight or curved. These "smoothed" lines do not have to touch all the data points, but they should at least get close to most of them. They are called best-fit lines. In general, scientific graphs are not drawn in connect-the-dot fashion.

Here are two examples of best-fit graph lines. One is drawn correctly, the other is not. Best-Fit Line #1 Best-Fit Line #2

Graphs are made using:


Paper Microsoft Excel

Graphing problems:

Oxygen Production Ionization Energy Hormone Levels Gas Volume Distance/Time

Plant Hormone Tree Growth Tadpole Population Clam Development Hookworms

Practice Interpreting Data:


In addition to drawing graphs, it is also important that you be able to intrepret data that is represented in graph form. The following examples are provided to help you develop the ability to read information shown on a graph. 1. Identify the graph that matches each of the following stories: a. I had just left home when I realized I had forgotten my books so I went back to pick them up. b. Things went fine until I had a flat tire. c. I started out calmly, but sped up when I realized I was going to be late.

2. The graph at the right represents the typical day of a teenager. Answer these questions: a. What percent of the day is spent watching TV? b. How many hours are spent sleeping?

c. What activity takes up the least amount of time? d. What activity takes up a quarter of the day? e. What two activities take up 50% of the day? f. What two activities take up 25% of the day?

3. Answer these questions about the graph at the right: a. How many sets of data are represented? b. On

approximately what calendar date does the graph begin? c. In what month does the graph reach its highest point?

4. Answer these questions about the graph on the right: a. How many total miles did the car travel? b. What was the average speed of the car for the trip? c. Describe the motion of the car between hours 5 and 12? d. What direction is represented by line CD? e. How many miles were traveled in the first two hours of the trip? f. Which line represents the fastest speed?

5. Answer these questions about the graph at the right: a. What is the dependent variable on this graph? b. Does the price per bushel always increase with demand? c. What is the demand when the price is 5$ per bushel?

6. The bar graph at right represents the declared majors of freshman enrolling at a university. Answer the following questions: a. What is the total freshman enrollment of the college? b. What percent of the students are majoring in physics? c. How many students are majoring in economics? d. How many more students major in poly sci than in psych?

7. This graph represents the number of A's earned in a particular college algebra class. Answer the following questions: a. How many A's were earned during the fall and spring of 1990? b. How many more A's were earned in the fall of 1991 than in the spring of 1991? c. In which year were the most A's earned? d. In which semester were the most A's earned?

e. In

which semester and year were the fewest A's earned?

8. Answer these questions about the graph at the right: a. How much rain fell in Mar of 1989? b. How much more rain fell in Feb of 1990 than in Feb of 1989? c. Which year had the most rainfall? d. What is the wettest month on the graph?

9. Answer these questions about the data table: a. What is the independent variable on this table? b. What is the dependent variable on this table? c. How many elements are represented on the table? d. Which element has the highest ionization energy? e. Describe the shape of the line graph that this data would produce?

Atomic Number 2 4 6 8 10

Ionization Energy (volts) 24.46 9.28 11.22 13.55 21.47

10. Answer the following using the data

Solar System Data Table


Distance

table: a. How many planets are represented? b. How many moons are represented? c. Which moon has the largest mass? d. Which planet has a radius closest to that of Earth? e. How many moons are larger than the planet Pluto? f. Which of Jupiter's moons orbits closest to the planet? g. Which planet is closest to Earth?

Radius Name (km)

Mass Orbits (000 km) (kg)

--------- ------- -------------- ------Sun 697000 1.99 x 1030 778000 1429000 2870990 4504300 149600 108200 227940 1070 1222 57910 1883 422 384 671 355

Jupiter Sun 71492 1.90 x 1027 Saturn Sun 60268 5.69 x 1026 Uranus Sun 25559 8.69 x 1025 Neptune Sun 24764 1.02 x 1026 Earth Sun 6378 5.98 x 1024 Venus Sun 6052 4.87 x 1024 Mars 3398 Sun 6.42 x 1023

Ganymede Jupiter 2631 1.48 x 1023 Titan Saturn 2575 1.35 x 1023 Mercury Sun 2439 3.30 x 1023 Callisto Jupiter 2400 1.08 x 1023 Io 1815 Moon 1738 Jupiter 8.93 x 1022 Earth 7.35 x 1022

Europa Jupiter 1569 4.80 x 1022 Triton Neptune

1353

2.14 x 1022 5913520

Pluto Sun 1160 1.32 x 1022

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