In 1897, Joseph Thomson discovered that atoms contained electrons. He proposed a change in the atomic theory of that time, and the theory was modified because of his discovery. Since Thomson’s discovery, atomic theory has been further modified. What is the best explanation for why scientific theories are modified?

New evidence that supports a change prompts scientists to modify earlier theories.

Theories more than ten years old are usually out of date.

Scientists want to prove that the work of other scientists is wrong.

So much information is available today that it is harder to focus research and disprove theories.

The law of universal gravitation states that both mass and distance of objects affect the gravitational force between them. Gravitational force increases as the mass of the objects increase. Gravitational force decreases as distance between the objects increases. Why are these statements considered scientific law, and not scientific theory?

The statements tells what happens, and not why it happens.

The statements involve mass and distance measurements.

The statements explain the attractive force between two objects.

The statements predict what will happen under certain conditions.

Lilly was trying to explain to her friend the difference between a theory and a law in science. She used the theory of plate tectonics and the law of superposition as examples. Lilli explained the difference by using non-scientific language. Which statement could Lilly use to correctly describe the difference between a theory and a law in science?

A theory explains a natural event, while a law describes it.

A theory describes a natural event, while a law explains it.

A theory explains a natural event, while a law predicts it.

A theory predicts a natural event, while a law explains it.

Scientists create both scientific theories and scientific laws as they make observations and conduct experiments about the natural world. Which of the following statements most accurately compares the difference between scientific theories and scientific laws

science theories are ideas that explain natural events, while science laws predict what will happen in a natural event.

science laws are based on evidence while science theories are not

science theories involve only biology, while laws involve all types of science

science theories involve mathematical equations, while science laws are based on observations

What is the advantage of Darwin's finches having different shaped beaks?

To be able to eat the food readily available in the environment.

To look different from other species.

To protect itself against predators.

To protect itself against prey.

The white fur color in polar bears is an example of

a trait influenced by the environment

a trait polar bears are not born with

What happens to organisms when there is a big change in their environment, like a forest fire?

organisms with the best adaptations survive

nothing, they just go on with life

Fossils provide evidence of evolution because

fossils show how current species are similar to ancestors

fossils do not provide evidence of common ancestors

fossils show how organisms lived

Homologous structures

are structures that are similar in related organisms that have a common ancestor

are structures that are similar in different organisms

are structures that are exactly the same in organisms

law and theory and natural selection test review

Authored by My Taylor

Biology

6th - 8th Grade

Used 2+ times

law and theory and natural selection test review

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MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTION

30 sec • 1 pt

Which of these can change when new evidence is presented?

theory

law

MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTION

30 sec • 1 pt

Which of these describes a natural phenomenon or relationship that always occurs under specific conditions

theory

law

MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTION

30 sec • 1 pt

Which of these can be represented mathematically and provide no explanation why a phenomenon occurs?

theory

law

MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTION

20 sec • 1 pt

Scientific theories can be tested.

True

False

MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTION

30 sec • 1 pt

What is a theory?

Describes what happens

Explains a process

MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTION

30 sec • 1 pt

What is a law?

Describes what happens

Explains a process

MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTION

30 sec • 1 pt

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.

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law and theory and natural selection test review

Which of these can change when new evidence is presented?

Which of these describes a natural phenomenon or relationship that always occurs under specific conditions

Which of these can be represented mathematically and provide no explanation why a phenomenon occurs?

Scientific theories can be tested.

What is a theory?

What is a law?

Scientific theories are based on

Scientists __________________ test scientific theories.

A scientific theory provides and explanation for how or why an event occurred.

A scientific theory can become a law if it has enough evidence to support it.

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