Reference no: EM132592986

SC1102 Modelling Natural Systems - James Cook University

Open the file: Old Faithful Geyser.xlsx This file contains data on38 randomly selected eruptions of the Old Faithful Geyser (Figure 1), a popular attraction in Yellowstone National Park. The Old Faithful Geyser is recognized by many geologists as the most predictable geographical feature on Earth.

Row 2 of this excel file (Figure 2) shows that this eruption lasted 267 seconds in duration and reached a height of 140 feet. The next eruption occurred 104 minutes later.

This example considers eruptions that lasted for more than 200 seconds in duration. Records exist where the duration time is much quicker.

Figure 1: An eruption of the Old Faithful Geyser

Figure 2: first two rows in the spreadsheet Old Faithful Geyser.xlsx

Exercise 1:

a) Produce a frequency histogram for the data in column A.

b) Interpret key features of this histogram. (Hint: Don't take a microscope to the histogram and discuss every lump and bump, discuss the most notablefeatures in the histogram.Trust your instincts - usually your first reaction to the graph is the most notable feature. Once sentence should be enough)

Hints: for producing good graphs in excel. Maximise the data to ink ratio by
1. removing redundant white space: your graph is a piece of real estate, make the most of every pixel
2. remove unnecessary borders, backgrounds, redundant labels, special effects, bolding and remove gridlines.
3. Try lightening labels
4. Black and white is ‘alright'. Use colour only as a ‘weapon' to highlight key features.

Exercise 2: Using the data in column A, calculate the
a) mean ________________________ [1]
b) median ______________________ [1]
c) standard deviation ___________________ [1]
d) quartiles _________________________ [1]
e) interquartile range_____________________[1]
(Hint: write the units of duration in each answer ato e. Markers will penalize assessment quite heavily when the units are incorrect or not given).

Exercise 3:
a) Produce an appropriate plot to visualize the relationship between the interval (y) and the duration (x). [2]

b) Write the equation for the line of best fit for the interval (y) and the duration (x). _____________________________________ [1]

c) Compute the correlation between the interval (y) and the duration (x). _________

d) Interpret your findings.