SCIENTIFIC TERMS

A description of natural events that has been proven to be true time after time, without exception. This describes

• data.

• a theory.

• a conclusion.

• a law.

The object fell 10 meters in 1.5 seconds.

The above statement is an example of

• a law.

• a theory.

• a conclusion.

• an observation.

A student notices that frogs are all gathering at one end of the pond. What has the student just done?

• observed

• experimented

• hypothesized

• collected data

A ______________ is a prediction of an outcome and the basis for experimentation.

• conclusion

• constant

• hypothesis

• variable

Curious Carl conducted an experiment on the eating habits of black bears. While living in the woods, Carl was able to record the daily diet of five bears. After a year of observation, Carl summarized his findings in the graph. According to his data, which statement is an inference rather than an observation?

• The bears ate more plants than animals.

• The bears ate more large animals than fish.

• Given a choice, bears would rather eat plants.

• Only a small portion of the bears' diets were rodents.

Curious Carl conducted an experiment on the eating habits of black bears. While living in the woods, Carl was able to record the daily diet of five bears. After a year of observation, Carl summarized his findings in the graph. Which statement is an observation rather than an inference?

• Land animals were more abundant than fish.

• The bears ate more large animals than fish.

• Given a choice, bears would rather eat plants

• Rodents were hard for the bears to find and catch.

Which of these BEST describes the difference between a hypothesis and a theory?

• A hypothesis is true; a theory MAY be true.

• Hypotheses are accepted by the scientific community; theories are not.

• A theory has been tested and based on data, which a hypothesis has not yet been tested.

• A hypothesis has been tested and is based on facts, while a theory has yet to be tested.

If worms prefer dark, damp places then the worms will move to the dark side of the box. This is an example of a(n)

• hypothesis.

• inference.

• law.

• theory.

This is an example of a scientific ___________ ; a statement that describes, predicts, and/or explains why things behave as they appear to in the natural and physical world.

• hypothesis

• inference

• law

• theory

A scientific observation is different from a inference. An inference involves a degree of probability that an scientific observation does not. Elaborate on this statement.

• An inference is a statement that goes beyond what can be observed.

• An inference provides the closest approach to certainty without actual observation.

• An inference is a prediction based on new knowledge that you acquire from research.

• An inference is the result of running one or more tests about what you believe to be true.