SSA: Nature of Science

Scientific knowledge may change as new evidence or information is discovered. Which of the following would NOT be a result of new scientific research and information?

• Binomial nomenclature is assigned to a recently identified plant species

• An endangered monkey species is put in a reserve for protection from extinction

• A newly discovered chemical element will be added to the periodic table of the elements

• A nonnative plant species will begin to reproduce rapidly after being introduced into a swamp ecosystem

If a theory is challenged by new evidence, which of the following could occur?

• The theory could be altered

• The theory is accepted, not the evidence

• The evidence is wrong

• A vote is taken to accept new evidence

How is a scientific experiment different from other investigations? (select all that apply)

• A procedure is followed

• Only one variable is changed

• Precision and accuracy are used to record data

• It is easier to become famous

Tags

NGSS.MS-PS1-2

The model represents a rocket in flight. What would be the best use of this model by a scientist?

• To model one-directional forces, as the rocket is affected only by one force

• To model the idea of zero gravity, as the rocket is not affected by gravity

• To model the transition between the kinetic and potential energy of the rocket

• To model the effects of wind resistance on the rocket’s descent to the ground

Which of the following describes a limitation of the drawing but NOT the clay model?

• The drawing does not represent the main parts of a cell

• The drawing does not contain the correct number of nuclei

• The drawing cannot represent a living cell, since a true cell is three-dimensional

• The drawing cannot represent a living cell, since the cytoplasm should be in constant motion

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

• Theories are upgraded into laws once they are proven

• Laws use mathematical explanations and theories do not

• Laws describe what happens but theories explain why or how

• Theories combine several laws into one

A timeline of some models of atoms throughout the history is shown. Those models have contributed to the formation of the atomic theory. Which of the following statements best summarizes the formation of atomic theory?

• The discovery of new evidence resulted in changes to the atomic theory

• Advancements in atomic models proved the atomic theory was accurate

• The atomic theory was modified with the discovery of every new element

• Changes in the atomic models showed that the atomic theory was based on opinions

Mai tells Jaz his theory about what sea turtles nest on the beach instead of in the ocean. She says, “The turtle eggs would sink to the bottom of the ocean, and the baby turtle would drown.” Mai says her uncle, a fisherman, told Mai this information. Jaz tells Mai that her theory is not scientific.

Why does Mai’s idea not meet the requirement to be a scientific theory?

• Mai’s idea is already a scientific law

• Mai’s idea is not supported by scientific evidence

• Mai’s idea is a good guess that can be tested by experiments

• Mai and her uncle are not scientists

What is the best definition of the term "theory", as it’s used in science?

• It is just a guess

• It is well tested set of ideas that explains events that occur in nature

• A theory is based on laws that can be proven true

• It is a hypothesis that has been confirmed

Keesha did an experiment to study the rate of photosynthesis in the water plant Elodea. She placed a piece of Elodea in a beaker of water and set the beaker 10 centimeters (cm) from a light source. Keesha counted the bubbles released from the plant every minute for five minutes (min). She repeated the process two more times. First, she moved the light to 20 cm from the beaker, and then she moved the light to 30 cm from the beaker. Keesha’s setup and data are shown.

What is the outcome variable (dependent variable) in this experiment?

• the number of bubbles produced

• the type of plant placed in the beaker

• the distance of the light source from the plant

• the amount of time the bubbles were counted

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS1-6