Automated systems in science

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Quick Questions

Shade in the A or B circle for each question.

1. A scientist wants temperature readings every minute for 3 weeks. Which is the better method?

A Sensor and microprocessor log the data automatically

B The scientist stays and writes down every reading by hand

2. Which place is a good use of an automated system in science?

A Measuring the temperature of a classroom desk

B Measuring gas and temperature inside a volcano crater

3. An experiment must stay at 37 degrees Celsius. What does the microprocessor do when the temperature sensor reads 34 degrees?

A Ignores the reading and switches the heater off

B Compares it with the stored value and switches the heater on

4. Which statement about a space probe is true?

A Sensors collect data and send it back to scientists on Earth

B A scientist must travel with it to read each sensor

5. In a pH-controlled experiment, the pH sensor reads 5 but the target is 7. What happens next in the automated system?

A The microprocessor tells an actuator to add alkali

B The pH sensor adds the alkali itself

Match the Pairs

Draw a line connecting each item on the left to its match on the right.

Left column		Right column
1IF temperature < 25 THEN heater ← ON		AData logging: the system records a sensor reading at regular intervals so readings can be collected over a long period without a person present
2WAIT 60 seconds; STORE reading		BThe wrong comparison is used. The heater should switch on when the temperature is BELOW the set value, not above it, otherwise the experiment gets hotter and hotter.
3A pH-controlled experiment: if the pH sensor reading is too high, the microprocessor makes a pump add acid		CKeeps an experiment at a set temperature by switching a heater on when the sensor reading drops below the stored value
4A probe in a dangerous place such as a volcano sends sensor readings to scientists instead of a person going there		DOUTPUT gas_reading TO base_station
5IF temperature > 25 THEN heater ← ON		EIF pH > 7.5 THEN pump ← ON
6WHILE experiment_running: STORE reading (no WAIT)		FThere is no time interval between readings, so the system stores huge amounts of data very quickly and the memory fills up long before a long experiment ends.

Definitions

automated system in science

Fill in the Blanks

Complete each line of code by filling in the missing parts.

IF temperature _ 30 THEN heater ← ON ENDIF

_____ running = TRUE reading ← ReadSensor(pH) ENDWHILE

reading ← ReadSensor(gas) ______ reading WAIT 60

IF pH < 7 THEN alkaliPump ← __ ENDIF

IF temperature > 30 THEN heater ← OFF _____

Spot the Error

Shade in the letter of the line that contains an error.

Question 1

A REPEAT

B temp ← READ_TEMP()

C STORE temp IN log

D WHILE experiment_over

Question 2

A target ← 37

B IF temp > target THEN

C heater ← ON

D ELSE

E heater ← OFF

F ENDIF

Question 3

A ph ← READ_PH()

B IF ph < 7 THEN

C OPEN acid_valve

D ENDIF

Question 4

A REPEAT

B READ_GAS() ← gas

C SEND gas TO base

D UNTIL probe_lost

Question 5

A FOR hour ← 1 TO 24

B light[day] ← READ_LIGHT()

C WAIT 1 HOUR

D NEXT hour

Answer Key

Automated systems in science

Section A: Quick Questions

A — Sensor and microprocessor log the data automatically

B — Measuring gas and temperature inside a volcano crater

B — Compares it with the stored value and switches the heater on

A — Sensors collect data and send it back to scientists on Earth

A — The microprocessor tells an actuator to add alkali

Section B: Match the Pairs

IF temperature < 25 THEN heater ← ON → Keeps an experiment at a set temperature by switching a heater on when the sensor reading drops below the stored value

WAIT 60 seconds; STORE reading → Data logging: the system records a sensor reading at regular intervals so readings can be collected over a long period without a person present

A pH-controlled experiment: if the pH sensor reading is too high, the microprocessor makes a pump add acid → IF pH > 7.5 THEN pump ← ON

A probe in a dangerous place such as a volcano sends sensor readings to scientists instead of a person going there → OUTPUT gas_reading TO base_station

IF temperature > 25 THEN heater ← ON → The wrong comparison is used. The heater should switch on when the temperature is BELOW the set value, not above it, otherwise the experiment gets hotter and hotter.

WHILE experiment_running: STORE reading (no WAIT) → There is no time interval between readings, so the system stores huge amounts of data very quickly and the memory fills up long before a long experiment ends.

Section C: Definitions

automated system in science — Sensors and a microprocessor measure and control conditions in experiments, and collect data in places too dangerous or remote for people, such as volcanoes or space.

Section D: Fill in the Blanks

IF temperature < 30 THEN
  heater ← ON
ENDIF

WHILE running = TRUE
  reading ← ReadSensor(pH)
ENDWHILE

reading ← ReadSensor(gas)
OUTPUT reading
WAIT 60

IF pH < 7 THEN
  alkaliPump ← ON
ENDIF

IF temperature > 30 THEN
  heater ← OFF
ENDIF

Section E: Spot the Error

D — A REPEAT loop must finish with UNTIL and a condition. WHILE does not close a REPEAT loop. The last line should be UNTIL experiment_over.

B — The heater should switch on when the temperature is below the target, not above it. Using > would heat the experiment when it is already too hot. It should be IF temp < target THEN.

C — A pH below 7 means the liquid is too acidic. The microprocessor must open the alkali valve to raise the pH. Adding more acid would make it worse.

B — In pseudocode the variable goes on the left of the arrow and the value goes on the right. The line should be gas ← READ_GAS() so the sensor reading is stored in gas.

B — The loop counter is hour, so the array index must be hour. The variable day does not exist in this program. It should be light[hour] ← READ_LIGHT().