Question

1. for each of the following experiments, choose “scatter plot” or “bar graph” as the most appropriate way to display the data. justify your answer.

a. students heated oil on a hot plate at the #4 setting for different amounts of time. they wanted to answer the question “how long do you need to heat an oil bath to reach a given temperature?”
table with columns: volume oil (ml), hot plate setting, initial temp. of oil (°c), time heated (min), final temp. of oil (°c). rows: 250 ml, #4, 21°c, 0 min, 21°c; 250, #4, 21, 5, 30; 250, #4, 21, 10, 38; 250, #4, 21, 15, 47; 250, #4, 21, 20, 57

Explanation:

Step1: Analyze Data Type

The data consists of two continuous variables: Time Heated (min) and Final Temperature (°C). A scatter plot is used to show the relationship between two continuous variables. A bar graph is better for categorical data or comparing discrete groups.

Step2: Justify Scatter Plot

Since we want to see how time (continuous) affects temperature (continuous), a scatter plot will display the trend (positive correlation here, as time increases, temp increases) clearly. Bar graphs are not suitable for showing trends between two continuous variables.

Answer:

Scatter plot; because the data has two continuous variables (time heated and final temperature) to show their relationship, while a bar graph is for categorical/discrete comparisons.