Scientific Hypothesis, Theory, and Law

Scientific Hypothesis, Theory, and Law

Open Ended

What is a hypothesis, theory, and law?

​Review Scientific Inquiry

Some text here about the topic of discussion

• asking a q_______.

• performing i____________.

• collecting e_______.

• providing e___________.

• communicating r______.

Involves

• Is not just for ________

• Involves _________ ______

• Uses similar ____________ and _________

​Scientific inquiry is any process used to ask and answer q________ about the natural world.

Multiple Select

Scientific inquiry, doing science, involves:

• performing investigations

• asking questions

• collecting data

• providing explanations

• barely sleeping

What is a Hypothesis?

• An educated "guess" based on observations

• A hypothesis is a possible explanation of or answer to a scientific question that is testable and based on prior knowledge or research​

• Explains a single event

• Can be created by just a single scientist

• Can be supported or rejected by one or more experiments

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​​Hypotheses: If . . . Then . . . Because . . . Format

When you write a hypothesis using this format, you are identifying the independent and dependent variables and explaining what will happen to them if you make some kind of a change.

• If the independent variable changes, then something will happen to the dependent variable because . . . [give explanation].​

​

Example Hypothesis could be:

• “If the distance between a light source and an object decrease, then the size of the object’s shadow will increase because the object blocks out more light.”

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Multiple Choice

What two words should be in your hypothesis?

• I think

• My guess

• If... then

• No idea

Multiple Choice

When writing your hypothesis, what information follows IF?

• dependent variable

• how you know it will happen

• independent variable

• anything

Multiple Choice

When writing a hypothesis, what information do you fill in after THEN?

• dependent variable

• independent variable

• how you know it will happen

• anything good

Multiple Choice

Choose the correct hypothesis for "What effect does studying have on your test grade?"

• IF I study for hours, THEN my test grade will be better.

• IF I have a good test grade, THEN I will study.

• Good grades are from studying.

What is a Scientific Theory?

• A theory is a well-tested, widely accepted explanation that combines several hypotheses and observations.

• Can predict what may happen in the future

• Can be modified or replaced based on new information or technology.

• Based on proven hypotheses

• Verified many times

• Supported and accepted by the scientific community

Scientific Theory

• Explains why something happens.

What is a Scientific Law?

• A law is a statement about how something

  behaves or functions in the natural world.

• Is based on observations

• Does not explain observations

• Is a factual statement

• Cannot be changed or replaced. accepted to be true and universal

• Sometimes expressed as a mathematical equation

• Cornerstone of scientific discovery (if ever found not true, science based on it would collapse)

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DESCRIBES what happens in nature

​Some text here about the topic of discussion.

Scientific Law

Multiple Select

A description of what will always happen.

• Hypothesis

• Theory

• Law

Multiple Select

Widely accepted as true.

• Hypothesis

• Theory

• Law

Multiple Select

The cornerstone of scientific discovery.

• Hypothesis

• Theory

• Law

Multiple Select

A well proven explanation of why something is happening for a set of observations.

• Hypothesis

• Theory

• Law

Multiple Select

An explanation of how something happens.

• Hypothesis

• Theory

• Law

Multiple Select

Based on a single event or observation.

• Hypothesis

• Theory

• Law

Multiple Select

Based on proven hypotheses by many different scientists.

• Hypothesis

• Theory

• Law

Multiple Select

Can be created and tested by just one scientist.

• Hypothesis

• Theory

• Law

Poll

How well do you think you understand the difference between a scientific hypothesis, theory and law?

• Great

• Ok

• A little

• I'm lost

Open Ended

What is the difference between a scientific hypothesis, theory and law?