Scientific Theory and Law Lesson

What is scientific law?

If you can do the same experiment

over and over again, ...

and the results are identical (the same) every time,

then, you have a scientific law.

Multiple Choice

Force = mass x acceleration.

This is a scientific

• hypothesis

• theory

• law

• experiment

Multiple Choice

We know "Force=Mass x Acceleration" is a scientific law because

• science is always right

• this formula always gets the same results

• this formula sometimes gets the same results

• there is evidence to support it

The Law of Gravity

was discovered by Sir Isaac Newton.

Drag and Drop

Every time we drop something, it falls. So, we know gravity is a​

Placeholder

Drag these tiles and drop them in the correct blank above

scientific law

scientific theory

• describes what happens

• the same experiment gets the same results.

​Scientific Laws

What happens to the ball and feather ?

The ball and feather fall.

The ball and feather fall.

fall.

Why does the feather

fall slower than the ball?

​احتكاك
摩擦

軋轢（あつれき）, いざこざ, 不和
rozamiento, fricción

​FRICTION:
when one surface rubs against another

Friction is why a

feather falls slower

than the ball.

Which experiences more friction,

the feather or the ball?

The feathers

met more

air

resistance

than the ball.

What
happens if
there is no
air
resistance?

Draw the feather and ball falling through the air.

Draw the feather and ball falling when there is no air.

Scientific
laws, like
gravity,
describe

what

happens.

The Law of Conservation of Energy says …

Scientific law tells us what will happen.

If scientific law describes “what” happens,

then scientific theory describes _____ it happens.

Scientific theory
explains why or

how

something
happens.

Match

Casual Theory or Scientific Theory

• I think I know who did this.

• Humans evolved.

• Earth moves on plates.

• Old dogs don't learn.

Casual Theory

Scientific Theory

Scientific Theory

Casual Theory

• Casual Theory

• Scientific Theory

• Scientific Theory

• Casual Theory

What is the difference between a law

and a theory about gravity ?

Law

Theory

What is the difference between a law about
gravity and a theory about gravity?

Law

Theory

A law says
what gravity is.

Theory says
why gravity
works.

Whereas, scientific laws
describe WHAT happens,

Multiple Choice

Scientific Theory tells us _______ something happens.

• how

• why

• when

• what

Scientific theories answer WHY or HOW

something happens.

Scientific theory explains

HOW the universe was born.

Multiple Choice

True or False: Scientific theories are probably true (accurate).

• True

• False

Multiple Choice

True or False: Scientific theories can change over time.

• True

• False

Multiple Choice

True or False: Scientific theories are based on facts.

• True

• False

Scientific theory comes from facts, data,
evidence.

Scientific data comes from experiments

that always get the same results.

A scientific theory is a fact based explanation

Match

True or False?

Scientific Theory is based on

• claims

• fact

• evidence

• data

• repeated testing

false

true

true

true

true

• false

• true

• true

• true

• true

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