Using Graphs and Visual Data in Science

What information is shown on the x-axis of the graph?

• a.time
• b.sea level
• c.deviation
• d.error

What information is shown on the y-axis of the graph?

• a.time
• b.sea level
• c.deviation
• d.error

Which statement best describes the error associated with the measurements displayed in this graph?

• a.The error increases with time.
• b.The error decreases with time.
• c.The error stays the same over time.
• d.There is no error with these measurements.

Which of the following statements best describes the trend of sea level as shown in the graph?

• a.Sea level jumps around a lot over time.
• b.Sea level decreases steadily through time.
• c.Sea level increases steadily through time.
• d.Sea level increases, but not steadily.

Which measurements have less error associated with them - the red or blue measurements?

• a.Blue
• b.Both have the same amount of error.
• c.Neither has any error associated with it.
• d.Red

Review the topographic map shown below of a portion of the Warren Peak USGS 7.5’. Based on this image, what kind of information does this map provide?

• a.the elevation and contours of the Warren Peak area
• b.the GPS location of specific peaks in the area
• c.the names of all the geologic features in the area
• d.the soil composition of the Warren Peak area

Why is it useful to present data in a visual way, rather than simply listing it?

• a.Visual representations break up the text in a scientific article so it is easier to read.
• b.Visual representations let us see things we can’t see otherwise, such as trends.
• c.Visual representations let us see where we made errors in our data collection.
• d.Visual representations make reading scientific articles more interesting.