Nature of Science Review

An engineer built a model of a roller coaster for a new ride at Busch Gardens. He modeled magnetic repulsion to help the ride slow down and brake. Which statement below describes a benefit of the engineer building his model?

• A. A benefit of building the model allows the safety components of the ride to be tested.

• B. A benefit of building the model allows an exact copy of the ride to be built at another park.

• C. A benefit of building the model allows employees to test the ride before it opens to the general public.

• D. A benefit of building the model allows the park to measure the amount of fun theme park guests will have.

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A museum is designing a new exhibit for vehicle safety. They want the exhibit to be very similar to the actual conditions drivers' experience on the road. A scientist plans to visit an area where many crashes happen to observe and study the characteristics of the drivers' experience. Which best explains why the scientist would choose to investigate the drivers' road experience using systematic observations rather than an experiment?

• A. The research question involves changing one variable to see how it affects others

• B. The scientist does not have access to a laboratory in which an experiment can be performed.

• C. The research requires detailed observations of interactions between drivers and their environment over time.

• D. The scientist's research involves a conceptual model, which requires systematic observations to complete.

Devan drops balls made of various materials in a vacuum tube to test how the material of the ball affects the time it takes to fall. Vacuum tubes are devices that eliminate the effect of air resistance (a type of friction) on the balls as they fall. Each ball is dropped from the same height into the same vacuum tube. Devan measures the amount of time it takes each ball to hit the bottom of the tube resting on the floor. Which variables are held constant in this experiment?

• A. The speed at which the balls fall, and the vacuum tube used.

• B. The time the balls take to hit the floor and the vacuum tube used.

• C. The material the balls are made from, and the vacuum tube used.

• D. The height the balls are dropped from, and the vacuum tube used.

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A physicist wants other scientists to be able to perform the same experiment she performs in her laboratory. Which is the best way for the scientist to ensure her experiment is replicable by others?

• A. Repeat her experiment before publishing the results.

• B. Take photos of the experiment's materials and setup.

• C. Write detailed notes of each part of the experiment as it is performed.

• D. Watch the other scientists complete the experiment over a video call.

Which statement below best describes the use of scientific replication?

• A. A scientist performs several different experiments and compares the results obtained.

• B. Multiple scientists independently perform the same experiment and compare their results.

• C. A scientist conducts multiple trials of the same experiment and compares the results obtained.

• D. Multiple scientists observe another scientist's work, and they compare their notes on the results obtained.

Two friends want to decide whose car gets the best gas mileage. A car's gas mileage is the number of miles a car can go for each gallon of gas it uses. They decide to fill the gas tanks of each car, a Honda Civic and Toyota Corolla, with the same amount and type of gas and compare how far each car travels before the tank reaches empty. Why is it important that the two cars get the same type of gas?

• A. By using the same type of gas, the friends can learn which type of gas gets the best mileage.

• B. If the cars do not get the same type of gas, the friends cannot find out which car model has the best mileage.

• C. It is not important for both cars to have the same type of gas because they are not testing which type of gas gets the best mileage.

• D. By using the same type of gas, the friends can learn both which car model gets the best mileage and which type of gas gives the best mileage.

A roller coaster manufacturer publisher wants to increase the rate at which its riders speed down the hill. Which of the following is NOT an independent (test) variable the roller coaster manufacturer could investigate?

• A. The size of the cart on the track.

• B. The time it takes the cart to fall 1000 feet.

• C. The number of carts attached to each train.

• D. The type of track used to build the roller coaster.

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Results in science are not generally accepted as being accurate until they can be verified. Which is an example of repetition in science?

• A. A student designs an experiment on the distance a toy car travels that includes multiple trials.

• B. A scientist poses a new question for investigation after reading the results of another scientist's work.

• C. One scientist carries out the same experiment performed by another scientist to validate the results.

• D. A scientist analyzes the data included in the published work of another scientist and agrees with the conclusions.

The Law of Conservation of Energy states energy is not created nor destroyed. Why is this statement considered to be a scientific law, and NOT a scientific theory?

• A. This statement involves claims made by an individual without evidence.

• B. This statement is a testable prediction that can be proven right or wrong.

• C. This statement is a well-supported and widely accepted explanation of nature.

• D. This statement tells what happens under certain conditions in the natural world.

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Scientists conduct many types of scientific investigations. Their efforts include fieldwork, surveys, models, and experiments. Which statement about scientific investigations is not true?

• A. They often include multiple trials to increase consistency of data.

• B. They may focus on comparing or describing the natural world.

• C. They follow exactly the steps because there's one scientific method.

• D. They often involve the collection of data under controlled conditions.

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