Closing the Gap- Scientific law, theory & hypothesis

Which of the following best describes how theories relate to laws? *Can have multiple answers*

• Theories are laws that have not been proven true yet

• Theories attempt to explain why things happen

• Laws predict what will happen

• Laws are theories that have not been proven true yet

• Current theory is discarded: it can't explain the new data

• A current theory is modified to better explain the new data

• A current law is charged to account for the new data

• Data is discarded: more observations is needed to continue

What made Mendeleev's theory about organization of matter in the periodic table so powerful?

• His theory predicted unknown elements that were later found

• 1st scientist to attempt to organize elements in a pattern

• His theory later became a law about elemental properties

• When he paired oxygen with potassium, it went 'OK'

From the excerpt above, which of the following might be an example of a theory?

• A

• B

• C

• D

One can best compare the acceptance of a theory to:

• A race: 1st theory that comes up with an explanation wins

• A boxing match: winner must be ready to fight next opponent

• Lottery: if you happen to be really lucky, you get a prize

• A self-service: choose parts you like best from each theory

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

• guess or hunch about something that has occurred in nature

• comprehensive set of ideas explaining a phenomenon in nature

• A theory is based on verifiable laws and can be proven true

• hypothesis that uses observation to make an assumptio

• theory

• law

• conclusion

• hypothesis

Scientific theories can be tested.

• True

• False

Complete the following sentence so that it is correct: 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.

Why are scientific theories an important part of research and understanding?

• Scientific theories allow scientists to make predictions

• Scientific theories allow scientists to make assumptions

• Scientific theories determine research in future

• Scientific theories determine the subjects to research