Nature of Science (Environmental Systems E.1B, E.2ABCD)

Select the incorrect response:

SCIENCE ...

• ... deals with the natural world.

• ... is a collection and organization of information in careful, orderly ways, always looking for patterns, processes, and connections.

• ... is a proposal of predictions and explanations that can be tested.

• ... is a collection of beliefs or practices.

Answer explanation

As defined by the national academy of sciences;

SCIENCE IS the "use of evidence to construct testable explanations and predictions of natural phenomena, as well as the knowledge generated through this process”

This vast body of changing and increasing knowledge is described by physical, mathematical, and conceptual models.

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS1-1

NGSS.MS-LS2-4

NGSS.MS-PS1-2

SCIENTIFIC METHOD is not linear - the steps are not always completed in the same order, and not all scientific investigations involve all steps.

However, which of the following best describes the scientific method?

• Question;

  Experiment;

  Analysis;

  Communicate

• Question;

  Research & Observe;

  Hypothesis;

  Experiment;

  Analysis;

  Communicate;

  Peer review and repeat

• Question;

  Guess answer;

  Communicate;

• Theory;

  Experiment;

  Analysis;

  Communicate

Answer explanation

SCIENTIFIC METHOD is the process for all scientific knowledge.

It is not linear - the steps are not always completed in the same order, and not all scientific investigations involve all steps. steps.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ETS1-3

NGSS.MS-ETS1-4

Which is the correct explanation for the difference between OBSERVATIONS and INFERENCES?

• OBSERVATIONS are logical interpretations of the data based on prior knowledge and experience.

  INFERENCES use one or more of the senses to gather information (data).

• OBSERVATIONS use one or more of the senses to gather information (data).

  INFERENCES are logical interpretations of the data based on prior knowledge and experience.

Tags

NGSS.MS-PS1-2

Which best defines a HYPOTHESIS?

• ... a prediction to the observations or an answer to a question that can be tested.

• ... describes HOW or WHY something happens (the process), and is a proposed explanation based on evidence.

• ... describes WHAT happens (the pattern) under certain conditions.

Answer explanation

A HYPOTHESIS is a testable prediction based on observations.

Which best defines a THEORY?

• ... a prediction to the observations or an answer to a question that can be tested.

• ... describes HOW or WHY something happens (the process), and is a proposed explanation based on evidence.

• ... describes WHAT happens (the pattern) under certain conditions.

Answer explanation

A well tested hypothesis that unifies a broad range of observations is called a THEORY.

A THEORY describes HOW or WHY something happens (the process), and is a proposed explanation based on evidence.

A theory unifies hypotheses and provides a general explanation for a phenomena and may become the dominant view, but is not absolute truth and can be revised or replaced with more useful, more supported explanations.

A collection of beliefs or practices mistakenly regarded as being based on scientific method, and are often fake or false science that makes claims based on little or no scientific evidence - known as ... ?

• Hypothesis

• Theory

• Law

• Pseudoscience

Answer explanation

PSEUDOSCIENCE is a collection of beliefs or practices mistakenly regarded as being based on scientific method.

Pseudoscience is often fake or false science that makes claims based on little or no scientific evidence.

Examples include: 

Flat earth, astrology, ESP (extra sensory perception)

Which of the following is NOT an example of pseudoscience?

• physics

• ghost hunters

• flat earth

• astrology

Answer explanation

PSEUDOSCIENCE is a collection of beliefs or practices mistakenly regarded as being based on scientific method.

Pseudoscience is often fake or false science that makes claims based on little or no scientific evidence.

Examples include: 

Flat earth, astrology, ESP (extra sensory perception)

Information that you get from your five senses (sight, hearing, smell, taste, touch) are ...

• Inferences

• Observations

• Predictions

Answer explanation

OBSERVATIONS use one or more of the senses to gather information (data).

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS1-8

An explanation that is supported by a lot of evidence is a scientific ... ?

• Theory

• Hypothesis

Answer explanation

A HYPOTHESIS is a testable prediction based on observations.

A well tested hypothesis that unifies a broad range of observations is called a THEORY. A THEORY describes HOW or WHY something happens (the process), and is a proposed explanation based on evidence. A theory unifies hypotheses and provides a general explanation for a phenomena and may become the dominant view, but is not absolute truth and can be revised or replaced with more useful, more supported explanations.

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS1-5

The thing you change or manipulate in an experiment is the _________ variable

• Independent

• Dependent

• Control

• trial

Answer explanation

INDEPENDENT VARIABLE is the manipulated variable. These are the things that are changed in an experiment.

Example: temperature, light intensity, or water subjects receive.