theory vs law

Tamar is talking about evolution with a friend. The friend says, “It’s just a theory, so I don’t believe it. When they prove it and it becomes the law of evolution, then maybe I’ll change my mind.” Which of these possible replies best describes scientific principles or the work of scientists?

• Scientific theories do not become scientific laws; they are explanations for natural phenomena based on evidence.

• Science always finds the right answer; the answers that scientists and researchers discover never change.

• He should be wary of science because it is based on research and evidence, not bias and opinion.

• Scientists take each other at their word regarding experimental results, and the public should, too

Tags

NGSS.HS-LS4-1

Which of the following are well supported descriptions about what happens in nature, without attempting to explain why it happens?

• Scientific law

• Scientific Theory

• Both a scientific law and theory

• Scientific Observations

Joe tells Gabby his theory about why sea turtles nest on the beach instead of in the ocean. He says, “The turtle eggs would sink to the bottom of the ocean, and the baby turtle would drown. I know this because my uncle is a fisherman, and he told me this information. Gabby tells Joe that his theory is not scientific. Why does Joe’s idea not meet the requirements to be a scientific theory?

• Joe’s idea is already a scientific law.

• Joe’s idea is not supported by scientific evidence.

• Joe’s idea is a good guess that can be tested by experiments.

• Joe and his uncle are not scientists.

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.

Match the following

• Explains why or how something happens in nature

• Scientific theory

• representation of a real event

• Hypothesis

• Describes what happens in nature

• Scientific law

• a proposed explaination, starting point of an experiment

• Scientific model