ScienceYear 8

Year 8 Science – Data Science 1

Practise reading tables, spotting trends, judging whether data support a prediction, and explaining how scientists use models and simulations. 20 questions. 25 minutes.

A team uses satellite images to predict how a bushfire will spread. Which set of skills does the team need?

Statistics and mathematics, without any computer systemsStatistics, programming and knowledge of fire behaviourProgramming and computer systems, without any statisticsKnowledge of fire behaviour, without statistics or computing

Which claim about rain is based on scientific inquiry?

A neighbour says rain follows whenever their cat washes its face, as it did last weekA magazine horoscope says that next Tuesday will be a wet day for everyoneA relative remembers one wet Tuesday and says every Tuesday is wetter than other daysA farmer's forecast built from 30 years of daily gauge readings, checked each season

Choose the word that completes the blank.

Because it draws on statistics, algorithms and scientific methods, data science is described as ₁.

Blank 1: single-discipline · interdisciplinary · non-scientific

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander seasonal calendars are used to predict when foods will be available. What makes these predictions reliable?

They come from long-term observation of the environment, passed on over generationsThey come from one observer's measurements during a single seasonThey come from computer simulations of future weather patternsThey come from guesses that were never compared with real events

Circle 2 words in the sentence below.

Click the two words that name the kind of evidence scientific inquiry relies on.

rumourrepeatedtrialshunchanecdote

A student grew plants with different amounts of fertiliser. Fertiliser (g): 0, 5, 10, 15 | Plant height (cm): 12, 16, 20, 24. If the trend continues, what height is predicted for a plant given 20 g of fertiliser?

26 cm30 cm28 cm32 cm

A shop recorded temperature (°C): 5, 10, 15, 20 and hot chocolate sold: 50, 40, 30, 20. Choose the words that complete each blank.

As the temperature rises, sales ₁. If the trend continues, the predicted sales at 25 °C are ₂.

Blank 1: increase · stay the same · decrease

Blank 2: 10 · 0 · 20

The water in a dam was measured each day. Day: 1, 2, 3, 4 | Water (ML): 80, 68, 56, 44. If the trend continues, how much water will be in the dam on day 6?

32 ML24 ML8 ML20 ML

Why do scientists use a computer simulation to study how fox numbers affect rabbit numbers?

Fox numbers can be changed quickly without harming real animalsPredictions from a simulation are always certain, so fieldwork is unnecessaryA simulation can be built without needing any real dataA simulation gives results that never need to be compared with reality

10.

Choose the word that completes each blank.

In a simulation, scientists can change a ₁ and see the effect right away. The results are only as good as the ₂ and assumptions used to build it.

Blank 1: trend · variable · conclusion

Blank 2: hardware · graphics · data

11.

Circle 2 words in the sentence below.

In this simulation, click the two words that name the variable being measured.

Foxnumbersaresetto20,then40;rabbitcountisrecorded.

12.

A weather model's predictions disagree with the observed weather for many weeks. What should scientists do?

Discard the observations, since the model was built firstCall the model a theory, since it has now been testedModify the model using the new observationsKeep the model unchanged, since a model is a final truth

13.

Choose the word or phrase that completes each blank.

When a model's predictions agree with observations again and again, the model is ₁. When observations disagree, the model is ₂.

Blank 1: supported · proven · finished

Blank 2: kept the same · modified or rejected · made a theory

14.

Choose the word or phrase that completes each blank.

Aboriginal seasonal calendars were built by watching plants, animals and stars over ₁, and the knowledge was passed on through ₂.

Blank 1: a single season · one week · many generations

Blank 2: teaching and storytelling · a printed textbook · a computer simulation

15.

A student uses a ball and a torch to model a solar eclipse. Which is a limitation of this model?

The shadow falls on the ball when the objects line upThe ball and torch are much closer together than the real Moon and SunThe torch light travels in straight lines like sunlightThe model can be repeated as many times as needed

16.

Circle 1 word in the sentence below.

Times for a trolley to roll down a ramp (s) are shown. Click the value that does not fit the pattern.

2.12.22.05.92.1

17.

A student predicts that plants given more light grow taller. Light (h per day): 2, 4, 6, 8 | Mean height (cm): 8, 11, 15, 18. What can the student conclude?

The data prove the prediction for every kind of plantThe data refute the prediction, because the height gains were not equalThe data show no relationship, because only four light levels were testedThe data support the prediction, because height rose as light increased

18.

Choose the word that completes each blank.

Data that agree with a prediction ₁ it. A single dataset cannot ₂ the prediction is always true.

Blank 1: support · define · prove

Blank 2: test · prove · change

19.

A student predicts that a steeper ramp makes a toy car travel faster. Ramp angle (°): 10, 20, 30 | Time to reach the bottom (s): 4.0, 2.9, 2.1. Which conclusion fits the data?

The data refute the prediction, because the time values got smallerThe data show no pattern, because the times change by different amountsThe data support the prediction, because less time means a faster carThe data prove the prediction, because 30° gave the shortest time

20.

Four groups each timed a pendulum three times. Every group's mean was 10 s. Group A: 7, 10, 13 | Group B: 9, 10, 11 | Group C: 5, 10, 15 | Group D: 8, 10, 12. Which group's results are the most reliable?

Group BGroup AGroup CGroup D

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Year 8 Science – Data Science 1