Embedded Files
A group of students notices a dramatic difference in the vegetation on the two slopes of a valley: the vegetation is much greener and more abundant on slope A than on slope B. This difference is shown in the illustration above.
The students investigate why the vegetation on the slopes is so different from one slope to the other. As part of this investigation, the students measure three environmental factors over a given period of time:
Solar radiation: how much sunlight falls on a given location
Soil moisture: how wet the soil is in a given location
Rainfall: how much rain falls on a given location
Data Collection
The students place two of each of the following three instruments on each slope, as shown below.
Refer to "Data Collection" above. Write your answer in the box.
Question 1
In investigating the difference in vegetation from one slope to the other, why did the students place two of each instrument on each slope?
Data Analysis
The students take the average of the measurements collected over a given period of time from each pair of instruments on each slope and calculate the uncertainty in these averages. Their results are recorded in the following table. The uncertainty is given following the "±" sign.
Two students disagree about why there is a difference in soil moisture between the two slopes.
Student 1 thinks that the difference in soil moisture is due to a difference in solar radiation on the two slopes.
Student 2 thinks that the difference in soil moisture is due to a difference in rainfall on the two slopes.
Question 2
According to the data, which student is correct? Check the box for your answer.
☐ Student 1
☐ Student 2
Explain your answer.
Page updated
Google Sites
Report abuse