Organizing Data POGIL

Scientists rely on data to describe nature and uncover relationships. The raw data - measurements taken in the lab - are most useful when they are organized in a way that makes the relationships clear. In this activity you will explore two common ways that scientists organize data to help in analysis. Model 1 Room Temperature: 21.7 oC Group Number Volume (cm3) Mass (g) Substance 1 2.0 17.92 Copper 2 6.0 50.89 Copper 3 10.0 93.45 Copper 4 8.0 79.30 Copper 5 14.0 125.44 Copper 6 4.0 39.80 Copper 7 12.0 103.85 Copper What substance were the students working with to obtain the data in Model 1? What variables did the students measure to produce the data in Model 1? Briefly describe an experiment that the class might have done on the day that the data in Model 1 was collected. Independent and Dependent Variables Watch the video and answer the questions as they arise. Consider the data in Model 1. a. Which variable was the independentvariablein the experiment, and why do you think so? b. Which variable was the dependentvariablein the experiment, and why do you think so? c. List the two controlled variables in this experiment. Consider the data in Model 1.a. How is the data organized?b. Is the table in Model 1 organized in a way that helps determine the relationship between the dependent and independent variables in the experiment? Explain. Propose a better way to organize the data in Model 1, and transcribe the data into the table below. The data table in the previous question should allow you to state a relationship between the variables involved in the class's experiment. Complete the following statement:As the volume of copper increases, the mass of copper _. increases When scientists design an experiment they are usually looking for a cause-and-effect relationship between the independent variable and the dependent variable. Therefore, organizing the data by the independent variable is the easiest way to reveal a relationship. When the data is not organized, the relationships are not apparent. Watch the video, and answer the questions as they arise. Can you see how this video relates to cause and effect? Model 2 - Graphs for Copper Data Identify each of the graphs in Model 2 as a bar graph or a scatter plot. One of the data points in graph B indicates that a volume of 8 cm3 has a mass of 80g. Which other graph in Model 2 shows this same data? Of the three graphs, in Model 2, which illustrates the relationship between the variables that you outlined in your table most clearly? graph A graph B graph C Scientists use graphs to clearly illustrate whether or not there is a relationship between variables. In most cases a scatter plot is used. Bar graphs are sometimes used if the independent variable is limited to specific numerical values (where the values in between are not possible) or is no-numeric. A special type of bar graph called a histogram is used in cases where the scientist wants to show how often something happens. Watch the video, and answer the questions as they arise.