Original unit assessment

Question 1 · 1 mark

An investigator records a leaf as 61 mm long and proposes that extra light caused its size. Which distinction is correct?

1. Both statements are direct observations.
2. The length is an observation; the proposed light effect is an inference.
3. The proposed light effect is measured; length is an opinion.
4. Neither statement could inform an investigation.

Question 2 · 1 mark

A logger displays 0.001 s increments but is known to start 0.20 s late. Which claim is justified?

1. Its small display increment removes the delay.
2. Repeats prove there is no bias.
3. The logger has fine display resolution but a timing bias.
4. The display has no quantitative meaning at all.

Question 3 · 1 mark

A community-attributed seasonal resource is shared for a named place. Which proposed use preserves its evidential scope?

1. Claim the same indicators apply in every ecosystem.
2. Remove the community name to simplify the account.
3. Treat access as permission to reproduce all related knowledge.
4. Explain the publicly shared local relationships with attribution and sharing conditions.

Question 4 · 1 mark

Three readings from each of four separately built spinners give 12 records. How many independent builds were tested?

1. 4
2. 12
3. 3
4. 1

Question 5 · 1 mark

Which record is quantitative evidence?

1. The seedling is green.
2. A seedling has 7 fully unfolded leaves.
3. The seedling is labelled 7.
4. The seedling looks attractive.

Question 6 · 1 mark

Which claim about a synthetic dataset is correct?

1. It is a measured real-world result whenever it has decimals.
2. It becomes primary empirical evidence when downloaded.
3. It never needs a label.
4. It can teach analysis but does not establish that a real effect occurred.

Question 7 · 1 mark

A timer consistently starts late. Will more repeats remove the bias?

1. Yes, every repeated error cancels.
2. Yes, if the numbers are averaged without checking.
3. Only the hypothesis needs rewriting.
4. No; the procedure or timing tool needs a targeted correction.

Question 8 · 1 mark

Why does a three-point trend not establish every possible wing length?

1. Different behaviour can occur beyond the tested range.
2. Three points cannot show any pattern at all.
3. All larger wings have no mass.
4. Numerical data are always qualitative.

Question 9 · 3 marks

A notebook reads “The metal became heavier because oxygen joined it.” Separate a direct quantitative observation from the inference and propose one further observation.

Question 10 · 3 marks

Explain how Galileo’s repeated observations near Jupiter supported further investigation. Do not claim that one observation proved every feature of the Solar System.

Question 11 · 4 marks

Plan the variables for an investigation of paper-spinner wing length and descent time over a fixed reachable height. State the IV, DV and two implemented controls.

Question 12 · 4 marks

In a synthetic cell image, a 50-pixel scale bar represents 25 µm and the cell spans 160 pixels. Calculate its horizontal size. Explain what happens to the estimate and to the available detail if the whole image and bar are doubled in displayed size.

Question 13 · 4 marks

At 4 cm wing length, times are 1.4, 1.6 and 1.5 s. At 6 cm, times are 1.8, 2.0 and 1.9 s. Calculate each mean and range. State why the raw values should be retained.

Question 14 · 4 marks

Choose a graph for the preceding numerical wing-length data. Name axes and units, explain how you would label range bars, and identify one limit of predicting at 20 cm.

Question 15 · 5 marks

A report uses a simulated table, calls it “our practical measurements”, deletes an inconvenient value without a reason and claims the trend is always true. Evaluate these decisions and propose corrections.

Question 16 · 5 marks

Using the supplied capstone table, conclude how mean descent time varies across lengths. Evaluate the independent replication and propose one improved investigation.