Nature of Science Test

Which of the following scientific investigations do NOT include independent and dependent variables?

• Testing to see if less sleep affects student test scores

• Surveying favorite movie types

• Investigating the affects of light pollution on sea turtle populations

• Observing how the speed of a bird's dance increases its likelihood to mate

A science class is studying pea plants. They plan to measure the length, height, and flower color of each pea plant. Which of these items should the class use to record their measurements as the class takes the measurements?

• Camera

• Data Table

• Graph

• Drawing

A scientist used a computer model to predict the path of a tropical storm. The tropical storm did not follow the exact path predicted, but it did follow a similar path.

How does this example demonstrate a LIMITATION of models?

• Models cannot account for how every factor may suddenly change.

• Models can be used to predict weather events before the event occurs.

• Models cannot be used to predict things.

• Models can only be used to show physical structures, not events such as tropical storms.

Which of these answers BEST describes a scientific theory?

• an explanation based on the opinion of two scientists

• a well-supported and widely accepted explanation of nature

• a description of what happens under certain conditions

• a statement describing what always happens under certain conditions

Which of these is NOT a model?

• a computer simulation

• a diagram

• a map

• a data table

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.MS-LS4-1

Which of these explain how a natural phenomenon works or happens?

• theory

• law

Tags

NGSS.HS-ESS1-2

NGSS.HS-ESS1-5

NGSS.HS-ESS2-4

Which of these describes a natural phenomenon or relationship that always occurs under specific conditions

• theory

• law

Tags

NGSS.HS-PS2-1

Models are used to better understand a complex thing.

• True

• False

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-1

NGSS.MS-LS2-3

NGSS.MS-ESS2-4

Models can be helpful in scientific investigations because

• it may not be possible to work with the real thing.

• they can be smaller and more manageable than the real thing.

• they can be safer to work with than the real thing.

• all of the above

Tags

NGSS.HS-ETS1-4