Lesson 5 of 8 · Lab Skills
Lesson⭐ 30 XPAnomalies, Repeats and the Mean
Lab Skills.
🎯 Your mission
Learn the rule. Then catch nature using it.
⚡ The twist
Nature loves to surprise the careful watcher.
Mind = Blown
🔬 The more you look, the more nature shows you.
Make a hypothesis first
Before you start: write down what you think will happen, and why.
What You'll Learn
An anomalous result sits well outside the pattern of the others. Identify it, look for a cause, and exclude it from the mean only with that reason recorded. Never delete a point simply because it spoils an expected trend.
Key Words
Tap a word to see its definition.
Steps
Read the explanation above and note the two key terms before you start.
Given a data set of eight timings containing one obvious outlier, calculate the mean with and without it. Write two sentences justifying your decision to include or exclude, naming a plausible physical cause.
Record what actually happened, including anything that did not match what you expected.
Write a conclusion that answers the question this lesson opened with, and state your uncertainty.
Check Your Understanding
Question 1
1 of 2An anomalous result should be excluded:
Where you see this in real life
This shows up in your everyday life more than you'd think.
Stretch Challenge
Try this in real life this week.
Try one experiment in real life this week — even a tiny one.
For the dinner table
“What's the most surprising thing you learned today?”
Next Smart Experiment
We'll pick an experiment that matches exactly how you're thinking right now.
Share this experiment
Send it to a parent who's looking for a 10-minute kitchen science win.
Ready?
Anomalies, Repeats and the Mean
Learn the rule. Then catch nature using it.
Full screen — no distractions
Checkout complete lesson on Lab Skills for 9th Grade
Get the full Lab Skills track as a printable PDF — all lessons, worksheets, and answer keys.