1. Section 1.3 Organizing Data
The Nature of Science
Section 1.3
Organizing Data

2. Organizing Data Section 1.3 Objectives:
Interpret line graphs, bar graphs, and pie graphs.
Identify the significant figures in calculations.
Use scientific notation and significant figures in problem solving.
Understand the difference between precision and accuracy.

3. Presenting Scientific Data
How can the actual results of an experiment be interpreted (color change, mass, explosion, etc ) by a person reading the data report?
For the reader to better understand the results of an experiment, scientists make a graph.

4. Parts of a Graph Title: describes the objective of the experiment
Independent Variable: is what the experimenter manipulates or changes and is reported on the x-axis.
Dependent Variable: is measured, counted or observed. It depends on the independent variable and is reported on the y-axis.

5. Line Graphs Line graphs are best for continuous changes.
Scientists prefer to use a line graph for displaying data that change.

6. Bar Graphs Bar graphs compare items!
Bar graphs are used when you want to compare data for several individual items or events.

7. Pie Charts
A pie chart is ideal for displaying data that are parts of a whole.
Balanced Diet

8. Scientific Notation
Scientists sometimes need to express measurements using numbers that very large or very small.
For example:
The speed of light through space is about 300,000,000 m/s.
Neptune and Earth are 4,600,000,000,000 meters (m) apart
T: distance from Earth to Neptune (m)
Distance light travels in 1 s (m/s)
T= 4,600,000,000,000 m
300,000,000 m/s
Scientific Notation: is a value written as a simple number multiplied by a power of 10
When Earth and Neptune are 4,600,000,000,000 m apart, the distance can be written in scientific notation as 4.6 x 1012 m and the speed of light is space is 3.0 x 108 m/s.

9. Accuracy and Precision
Using Significant Figures is a popular way for scientists to show the precision and accuracy of the measurement.
Precision: the degree of exactness of a measurement.
Accuracy: the extent to which a measurement approaches the true value.