Practice of Science Practice

Which statement is NOT an example of a scientific law?

• Objects in motion tend to stay in motion, and objects at rest tend to stay at rest unless an outside force acts upon them.

• As mass increases, the force of gravity increases as well.

• The universe was created sometime between 10 billion and 20 billion years

• Matter cannot be created nor destroyed, although it may change form.

Ryan made a list of activities that are scientific and activities that are not scientific. Which activity should Ryan classify as NOT scientific?

• sorting rocks by color and size

• measuring the height of a plant every day

• climbing to the top of a very tall mountain

• making notes about how many hours the sun shines each day

Cesar reads about the Big Bang Theory, which explains that the universe expanded as the result of an explosion. He wants to evaluate whether this theory is a good one. Which statement is a characteristic of a good theory?

• It is the idea of only one scientist.

• It does not change as time passes.

• It is not supported by scientific evidence.

• It changes with new observations made by scientists.

Scientific knowledge may change as new evidence or information is discovered. Which of the following would NOT be a result of gaining new knowledge due to new evidence?

• Modern technology determined that the Earth is round, which disproved the common idea that the Earth was flat.

• A new species being discovered in Madagascar that was not previously known.

• A newly discovered chemical element being added to the periodic table of the elements.

• Newton’s laws of motion persisting through time with support from multiple tests and observations.

Bryce observes that the sun always seems to rise in the east. He talks with others and finds that everyone has the same observation. Which statement is a scientific law?

• The sun rises in the east.

• Why does the sun rise in the east?

• The sun appears in the east because of Earth’s rotation pattern.

• If the sun appears in the east, then I am in the Western Hemisphere.

University of Florida scientists developed a new type of wound dressing that keeps bacteria out of the wound. What is a conclusion that you can make from this information?

• Scientific discoveries always lead to new technologies.

• Scientists often respond to the needs in our society.

• Scientific advances are always made in the field of medicine.

• Scientists may make discoveries that have no impact on society

Which of the following best describes the differences between a scientific law and theory?

• Theories are not supported by evidence, while laws are proven true.

• Theories are a testable explanation for an event while laws are not supported by facts.

• Laws explain why something occurs while theories describe what happens in nature.

• Theories explain why something occurs in nature while laws describe what happens in nature.

Which of the following best supports a scientific explanation?

• personal bias and the opinion of the scientist

• hypothesis formed after an initial observation

• imagination and originality of the hypothesis

• experimental data obtained with tools

A student is planning an experiment to find out how the height from which he drops a ball affects how high the ball bounces.

What is the dependent variable?

• The ball used.

• The height the ball bounces.

• The height of the ball being dropped.

• The weight of the ball.