From Mars to Mardi Gras: A Lesson in Generalizations
The Curiosity rover made this hole after it scooped samples of Martian soil.
Image Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/MSSS
Relate this experience with the cake to the Mars rover. Scientists must consider how deep to dig up a sample of dirt in order to obtain a sample that is representative of the entire surface of Mars. It wouldn’t be good enough to scrape the surface. Samples must be taken with precision to insure that they represent the population from which they are taken.