The Methods of Science

About Science

Lesson 1 - Methods of Science

Multiple Choice

What is physics?

• a branch of science that involves the study of the physical world: energy, matter, and how they are related

• a branch of science that involves the study of the natural world: how processes involving matter and energy create and support life

• a discipline that reduces all phenomena in the universe to mathematical formulas and which therefore does not require experiment

• a discipline that depends on scientific experiments and does not require mathematical procedures

Multiple Choice

The science that is foundational to the other sciences is...

• physics

• chemistry

• biology

• astronomy

Multiple Choice

True or False: People who study physics go into fields such as engineering, teaching, medicine, or astronomy.

• True

• False

Fill in the Blank

Patterns of investigation procedures are called

Multiple Choice

True or false: A scientist could follow the general scientific methods illustrated in the diagram, but add new steps or skip some steps altogether.

• True

• False

Multiple Choice

What is generally the first step in a scientific investigation?

• Conduct general research.

• State the problem.

• Gather information.

• Form a hypothesis.

Multiple Select

Which of these statements about the first step in a scientific investigation are accurate? Check all that apply.

• The results of an investigation may raise a question which is the starting point for another one.

• An investigation should start with a question to be stated as the problem, but sometimes a new question arises before the investigation is done.

• There is no need to gather background information about an investigation since it will just bias your result

Multiple Select

Which statements are good reasons to research and gather information? Check all that apply.

• It can help to form a hypothesis.

• What is already known about the problem will cause  bias the results.

• Reliable interpretations may offer valuable guidance, and do not violate scientific objectivity.

• It is helpful in fine-tuning the question.

Multiple Select

Which of these are factors in drawing conclusions about a scientific experiment?

• taking into account the importance of the experiment

• repeating the results of the experiment

• revising the hypothesis or refining the procedure if the hypothesis is not supported

• deciding whether the hypothesis is supported

Objectivity and Validity of Science

• Bias - occurs when the scientist's expectations affect how the results are analyzed or how conclusions are drawn.

• To lessen bias, scientists can keep accurate notes of observations and run as many trials as possible.

• Peer Review - process by which the procedures and results of an experiment are evaluated by peer scientists who conducted the research.

Open Ended

When must a hypothesis, law, or principle be changed or abandoned?

Fill in the Blank

____ can occur when a scientist's expectations affect how the results are analyzed or the conclusions are drawn.

Multiple Select

Which of the following help scientists reduce bias? Check all that apply.

• running as many trials as possible

• selecting results from only some of the trials

• presenting only data that supports their hypothesis

• keeping accurate notes of each observation

Fill in the Blank

Evidence gathered during investigations are reviewed by other __________ who work in the same field of study in a process called peer review.

Multiple Select

Which statements are true regarding the importance of peer review? Check all that apply.

• The results of the experiments are reviewed for accuracy.

• The results are examined for bias.

• The procedures of the experiments are reviewed for accuracy.

• New hypotheses are proven by closely examining the procedure.

Multiple Choice

What is a hypothesis?

• an explanation of things or events based on knowledge gained from many observations and investigations

• a testable explanation for a problem using what you know and have observed

• a preliminary estimate of the quality of results obtained in an investigation

• an explanation for phenomena that has been proven beyond all possible doubt by repeated observations

Fill in the Blank

A(n) __________ is a testable explanation for a problem using what you know and have observed.

Multiple Choice

For a hypothesis to be scientific, it must

• be in agreement with what we know is true.

• have a test for proving it right.

• have a test for proving it wrong.

• be based on an existing scientific theory.

Multiple Choice

True or false: If an experiment does not support its hypothesis, the experiment should be repeated several times and an average of the results taken to assess whether the hypothesis is correct.

• True

• False

Multiple Select

Which statements about testing a hypothesis are accurate? Check all that apply.

• Hypotheses may be tested by making experimental observations, building a model, or analyzing data available in nature.

• Investigations must involve performing experiments, because descriptive investigations are unacceptable in science.

• Sometimes scientists must wait for new technologies to test a hypothesis.

• An experiment tests the effect of a control on another factor in a hypothesis.

Multiple Select

Which of these is a scientific hypotheses? Check all that apply.

• Atoms are the smallest particles of matter.

• The universe is surrounded by a second universe, the existence of which cannot be detected by scientists.

• Albert Einstein was the greatest physicist of the 1900s.

Computer Models

Computer models are useful for a variety of reasons such as running simulations to test different ways of solving a problem or for experiments that may be too dangerous for scientists to do in real life.

Multiple Choice

A representation of an idea, event, structure, or object that helps people better understand it is called a(n) _______.

• hypothesis

• scientific theory

• mathematical formula

• model

Fill in the Blank

A(n) _____ is a representation of an idea, event, structure, or object that helps people better understand it.

Fill in the Blank

A computer simulation is a conceptual _____ that tests a process or procedure and collects data.

Multiple Select

Which activities usually involve a computer simulation? Check all that apply.

• testing models of the formation of our solar system

• practicing all aspects of flying an aircraft without actually flying

• checking simple laboratory procedures for proper safety

Multiple Choice

When scientists cannot see everything they are testing, what will they likely need to use, regardless of the type of phenomena they are investigating?

• a model

• an estimation

• a computer

• a microscope or telescope

Multiple Select

Which are reasons for scientists to use models? Check all that apply.

• The objects to be observed are too large.

• The objects to be observed are too small.

• The process to be observed has never been studied before, and nothing is known about it.

• The process to be observed takes too long.

Fact, Hypothesis, Law, and Theory

https://www.conceptualacademy.com/course/conceptual-physics/12-scientific-methods

Multiple Choice

What is a scientific law?

• an explanation for phenomena that has been proven beyond all possible doubt by repeated observations

• a testable explanation for a problem using what you know and have observed

• an explanation of things or events based on knowledge gained from many observations and investigations

• a statement about what happens in nature that seems to be true all the time

Multiple Choice

What is a scientific theory?

• an explanation of things or events based on knowledge gained from many observations and investigations

• a statement about what happens in nature that seems to be true all the time

• an explanation for phenomena that has been proven beyond all possible doubt by repeated observations

• a testable explanation for a problem using what you know and have observed

Multiple Choice

A representation of an idea, event, structure, or object that helps people better understand it is called a(n) _______.

• scientific theory

• hypothesis

• model

• mathematical formula

Multiple Choice

Statements about things that happen in nature and seem to be true all the time is described by the word scientific...

• hypothesis

• theory

• law

• fact

Multiple Choice

Which explains things or events based on many observations?

• hypothesis

• theory

• law

• fact

Multiple Choice

Technology is a...

• body of scientific knowledge.

• tool of science.

• form of science

• solution to all of humankind’s problems.

Multiple Choice

Science differs from art and religion because it

• describes the human experience.

• discovers and records natural phenomena.

• describes the source, purpose, and meaning of everything.

• is based on faith.

Multiple Select

Which of the following involves great amounts of human passion, talent, and intelligence? Check all that apply.

• art

• literature

• music

• science

Multiple Select

Which of the following questions can be answered by science? Check all that apply.

• How does a force change the motion of an object?

• Which season is best?

• How does a battery work?

• Was Toni Morrison a good writer?

• Should we have pizza or hamburgers for lunch?

Multiple Select

Which statements describe limitations of science? Check all that apply.

• Science is based on observation, so it cannot be used to describe things or processes that cannot be seen by the human eye.

• Science cannot explain or solve everything.

• Scientific theories are likely to be misleading, because so many theories have been disproved in the past.

• Science cannot test opinions or emotions to see if they are "true."

Open Ended

How does progress today differ from progress thousands of years ago?