P9.2 Data Analysis

• What are the two main types of data in physics?

  Categorical and numerical
• Give an example of categorical data.

  Color of light
• Match the type of data with its description:

  Categorical ↔️ Data that can be grouped into categories or names

  Discrete ↔️ Data that can only take specific, separate values

  Continuous ↔️ Data that can take any value within a range
• Bar charts are suitable for displaying the frequencies or proportions of different categories in categorical data.


  True
• Numerical data is divided into discrete and continuous
• Scatter plots are best for representing the relationship between two continuous variables.


  True
• The standard deviation measures how spread out the values are from the mean.


  True
• The median divides the data into two equal halves when arranged in order.


  True
• Linear trends in data show a constant rate of change.


  True
• Cyclical trends repeat in a regular pattern.


  True
• Categorical data includes categories or names with no numerical value
• A bar chart is an appropriate representation for categorical data.
• Cyclical trends in data repeat in a regular pattern
• What type of trend is characterized by data increasing or decreasing at a constant rate?

  Linear trend
• What type of trend varies with the seasons?

  Seasonal trend
• Regression analysis quantifies the relationship between variables.


  True
• The equation for a cyclical trend is y = A\sin(kt)</latex>
• Temperature variations throughout the day are an example of a cyclical trend.


  True
• What type of error is characterized by inconsistent and unpredictable deviations?

  Random error
• Uncertainty is often expressed as $\pm$ the standard deviation.
• What physical model could explain an exponential decay in radioactive counts over time?

  Half-life model
• A graph showing exponential decay could support the half-life model of radioactive decay.
• Discrete data can only take specific, separate values
• Discrete data includes specific, separate values, such as the number of photons in a beam
• What types of graphs are suitable for categorical data?

  Bar chart, pie chart
• Arrange the following graphs in order of their suitability for categorical, discrete, and continuous data:

  1️⃣ Categorical: Bar chart, pie chart

  2️⃣ Discrete: Bar chart, histogram

  3️⃣ Continuous: Line graph, scatter plot
• Match the type of data with its description:

  Categorical ↔️ Data grouped into categories or names

  Discrete ↔️ Specific, separate numerical values

  Continuous ↔️ Numerical values within a range
• What is the formula for calculating the mean of a data set?

  $\sum x / n$
• What does standard deviation measure in a data set?

  Spread from the mean
• Match the measure of central tendency with its description:

  Mean ↔️ Average value

  Median ↔️ Middle value

  Mode ↔️ Most frequent value
• A linear trend can be described by the equation y = mx + b
• Match the data visualization technique with its description:

  Line graphs ↔️ Show continuous data changes

  Scatter plots ↔️ Identify correlations

  Histograms ↔️ Understand data distribution
• Discrete data can only take specific, separate values.

  True
• The mean is always the middle value of a data set.

  False
• Which type of trend varies with the seasons?

  Seasonal
• Data changes rapidly over time in an exponential trend.
• Methods to identify trends in data

  1️⃣ Visual analysis with graphs

  2️⃣ Regression analysis

  3️⃣ Statistical tests
• The equation for a linear trend is $y =$$mx +$$b$
• The linear trend equation includes a slope and a y-intercept.


  True
• What type of data varies with the seasons and requires a combination of sine functions to model?

  Seasonal data