Nature of Science Honors

Multiple Choice

According to the National Academy of Sciences, what distinguishes scientific explanations from non-scientific ones?

• They are based on personal beliefs.

• They rely on empirical evidence and can be substantiated by other scientists.

• They are based on traditions and customs.

• They are accepted without question.

Open Ended

Why is it important for scientific explanations to be based on empirical evidence?

Multiple Choice

Which of the following best describes a scientific fact?

• An objective, verifiable observation

• A statement based on repeated experimental observation

• A broad concept or principle

• An explanation of an observed phenomenon

Open Ended

Explain the difference between a scientific law and a scientific theory using examples.

Multiple Select

Which of the following are examples of scientific laws?

• Newton’s laws of motion

• Boyle’s gas laws

• Law of Conservation of Mass

• Greenhouse effect

Multiple Choice

What is the main difference between an observation and an inference?

• An observation is a description using senses, while an inference is a guess based on observations.

• An observation is always an opinion, while an inference is always a fact.

• An inference uses numbers, while an observation does not.

• An observation is a guess, while an inference is a measurement.

Multiple Choice

Which of the following is a quantitative observation?

• Green liquid

• Large hole

• 7.2 grams

• Sweet smell

Multiple Choice

Which of the following best describes 'accuracy' in quantitative data?

• How close your measurements are to each other

• How close your measurement is to the correct/accepted value

• How quickly you can take measurements

• How many measurements you take

Multiple Select

Which of the following statements are true about precision and accuracy?

• Precision is about consistency of measurements.

• Accuracy is about how close measurements are to the true value.

• A measurement can be precise but not accurate.

• Precision and accuracy mean the same thing.

Open Ended

How can you tell if a set of measurements is both precise and accurate? Use examples from the target diagrams to support your answer.

Multiple Choice

What is the main purpose of conducting background research in a scientific investigation?

• To collect as much data as possible

• To define the purpose/objective of the experiment

• To prove your hypothesis is correct

• To write a report

Open Ended

Describe the difference between an independent variable and a dependent variable in the context of forming a hypothesis.

Multiple Choice

Which of the following best describes an independent variable in an experiment?

• The variable that is measured in response to changes

• The variable that is deliberately changed or manipulated

• The variable that remains constant

• The variable that is used for comparison

Open Ended

In the running experiment example, what would be considered the independent variable and what would be the dependent variable?

Multiple Choice

How does the dependent variable differ from the independent variable in an experiment?

• It is manipulated by the experimenter

• It is always on the X-axis of a graph

• It changes in response to the independent variable

• It is not measured during the experiment

Multiple Choice

Which of the following should be included when listing materials for an experiment?

• Only the names of the items

• Amounts and brands if important

• Only the brands of the items

• A summary of the hypothesis

Multiple Choice

When designing an experiment, what is the purpose of a control group?

• To provide a baseline for comparison

• To ensure all variables are manipulated

• To increase the number of experimental groups

• To measure the dependent variable

Multiple Choice

What are two main purposes of having repeated trials in an experiment?

• To ensure results aren’t due to chance and to eliminate errors

• To make the experiment longer and more complicated

• To use more materials and resources

• To change the independent variable

Multiple Choice

Why is it important to have constants in an experiment?

• To ensure that only the independent variable affects the dependent variable

• To make the experiment more interesting

• To increase the number of variables

• To reduce the number of trials

Multiple Select

Which of the following are important when analyzing data in a scientific investigation?

• Highlighting trends or patterns

• Making statements not supported by data

• Discussing potential errors

• Collecting data in an organized form

Open Ended

Describe the steps involved in analyzing data and drawing conclusions in a scientific investigation.

Multiple Choice

What are the main stages of the technological design process?

• Problem Identification, Solution Design, Implementation, Evaluation

• Hypothesis, Experiment, Data Collection, Conclusion

• Observation, Question, Hypothesis, Experiment

• Design, Build, Test, Publish

Open Ended

How has your understanding of the nature of science changed after this lesson?

Multiple Choice

According to the National Academy of Sciences, what is a key requirement for an explanation to be considered scientific?

• It must be based on empirical evidence and be substantiated by other scientists.

• It must be accepted by the general public.

• It must be based on personal beliefs.

• It must be written in a scientific journal.