SC 6 N 2 2

SC.6.N.2.2 EXPLAIN THAT SCIENTIFIC
KNOWLEDGE IS DURABLE BECAUSE IT
IS OPEN TO CHANGE AS NEW EVIDENCE
OR INTERPRETATIONS ARE
ENCOUNTERED.

RELIABILITY OF
SCIENTIFIC
KNOWLEDGE

ESSENTIAL QUESTIONS:
• When new evidence is discovered, how can

you determine if it is valid?

• When presented with new valid evidence,

what effect will it have on existing scientific
ideas?

Durability of Scientific Knowledge
April 8, 2024 Homework

Make sure to go along with your paper guided notes and the reading provided to you to complete this homework assignment.​

Multiple Choice

Bellringer

In recent scientific history, the classification of protists has changed several times. They now have been regrouped to consider their development over time instead of simply by how they move or look.

Which statement best describes such changes in scientific knowledge?

• An entire species must be discovered before a classification system can be made.

• Early ideas about taxonomy should be unchallenged so that scientists can continue to classify new species.

• Modern technology and processes make it possible to prove an idea so further research is not necessary.

• As more knowledge is gained about organisms and natural events, scientific interpretations change as necessary.

I DO GUIDED NOTES

EVALUATING EVIDENCE

◼In order for scientific knowledge to change,

reliable evidence must be presented and
evaluated. After much discussion and debate,
scientific knowledge can be changed if the
evidence is valid.

evidencia
confiable
prèv serye
evidência
confiável

CONSISTENT:

◼ The results of repeated observations and/or experiments are reasonably

the same when replicated by reliable investigators. The evidence is also
compatible with well established observations and limits.

Example:

◼ Green plants will grow towards a light source. ✔

◼ Walking under a ladder will cause bad luck.

consistente
konsistan
consistente

OBSERVABLE:

◼ The event, or evidence of the event can be observed and

explained. Observations are limited to basic human
senses and technology that extends our senses
(microscopes).

Example:

◼ Some plants eat meat.

◼ Aliens have visited Earth.

observable
obsèvab
observável

NATURAL:

◼ A natural cause must be used to explain why or how the

naturally occurring event happens. Supernatural
explanations cannot be tested and are, therefore outside of
the realm of science.

Example:

◼ Green plants convert sunlight into energy.

◼ Magicians can make humans, cars and rabbits disappear.

natural
natirèl
natural

PREDICTABLE:

◼ The natural cause (mechanism) of the naturally occurring event

can be used to make specific predictions. Each prediction can be
tested to determine if it is true or false.

Example:

◼ Without sunlight (or comparable artificial light) green plants will

die.

◼ If you are a Scorpio, and your horoscope tells “You that you will

become rich”, then you will win the lottery.

previsible
previzib
previsível

TESTABLE:

◼ The cause of the naturally occurring event must be testable

through the process of science and controlled experiments.
Supernatural events cannot be tested for validity.

Example:

◼ Life comes from life and cannot come from non-living things.

◼ The Bermuda Triangle causes ships to sink and planes to

disappear.

comprobable
teste
testável

TENTATIVE:

◼ Scientific theories are subject to revision and correction. Scientific

theories have been and will continue to be modified as new
observations and evidence is found.

Example:

◼ Kingdoms used to be the highest classification, but scientists added

Domains when more organisms were discovered.

◼ We know that the Earth is flat and nothing will change that.

tentativo
konfimen
provisório

EXAMPLES OF WHEN SCIENTIFIC KNOWLEDGE
CHANGED:

�Evidence supports that the Earth is a sphere, not

flat.

�Cells come from pre-existing cells, not

spontaneous generation.

�The continents are in constant motion through

plate tectonics, instead of fixed landforms.

Use the reading about Galileo Galei to complete this section

Open Ended

What challenges or opposition did Galileo face in having his theories accepted? Why?

Open Ended

What are some reasons why other scientists rejected Galileo’s new claims about the moons of Jupiter and the Moon?

Open Ended

Why didn’t other scientists’ claim that there was an invisible crystal layer around the Moon become widely accepted?

Open Ended

Galileo made claims to support Copernicus’ heliocentric model of the Solar System. What was necessary for the heliocentric model to become as widely accepted as it is today?

Open Ended

Kepler reviewed Galileo’s work, conducted the same experiments, and confirmed his findings. Why is this step important when evaluating scientific ideas?