Theories and Laws

These can be modified when new evidence is presented

• theory

• law

These describe and predict a natural phenomenon or relationship that always occurs under specific conditions

• theory

• law

Tags

NGSS.HS-PS2-4

These can often be represented mathematically and provide no explanation why a phenomenon occurs

• theory

• law

Tags

NGSS.HS-PS2-1

Scientific theories and laws are based on the results of many investigations, are supported by large amounts of evidence, and are widely accepted by the majority of scientists in the given field of study

• True

• False

Tags

NGSS.HS-LS4-2

NGSS.HS-PS2-1

The development of microscopes allowed scientists to investigate living things in greater detail. Through many investigations, scientists found evidence that all living things are made of one or more basic units that divide to form new units. Scientists used their evidence to explain the relationship between these "building blocks of life" and the organisms to which they belong. What are these explanations called?

• cell theory

• germ theory

• law of mitosis

• law of biogenesis

Atomic theory, which describes the atoms that make up matter, has been explored for centuries. Scientists in Ancient Greece first proposed that matter was made of units called atoms. For many years, scientists thought atoms were solid and could not be divided. Then, in the nineteenth century, scientists began to discover the particles that make up atoms. Modern techniques have allowed scientists to split atoms into increasingly smaller particles. Which of the following statements about theories is supported by the history of the atomic theory?

• If new evidence contradicts earlier theories, it is a result of an experimental error

• Experiments with modern equipment can not be used to support earlier theories

• A theory is discarded when new evidence contradicts a part of the theory.

• Theories can change in response to new evidence

Joe tells Mai his theory about why sea turtles nest on the beach instead of in the ocean.  He says, “The turtle eggs would sink to the bottom of the ocean, and the baby turtle would drown.”  Joe says his uncle, a fisherman, told Joe this information.  Mai tells Joe that his theory is not scientific.  Why does Joe’s idea not meet the requirements to be a scientific theory?

• Joe’s idea is already a scientific law.
• Joe’s idea is not supported by scientific evidence.
• Joe’s idea is a good guess that can be tested by experiments.
• Joe and his uncle are not scientists.

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS2-4

The law of universal gravitation states that both mass and distance of objects affect the gravitational force between them.  Gravitational force increases as the mass of the objects increase.  Gravitational force decreases as distance between the objects increases.  Why are these statements considered scientific law, and not scientific theory?

• The statements tells what happens, and not why the even occurs.
• This statement involves mass and distance measurements.
• This statement explains the attractive force between two objects.
• This statement predicts what will happen under certain conditions.

Tags

NGSS.HS-PS2-4

Scientific theories are based on

• general assumptions of how systems work.
• mathematical principles that can be proven true.
• large amounts of data collected over time.
• observations from within only one scientific discipline.

Tags

NGSS.HS-LS4-1

Scientific theories do not change once they have been written down.

• True
• False