Earth/Space into review

In the early 1900s, several scientists supported the now disproved concept that "Earth is continually shrinking". Supporters claimed that the many landforms on Earth's surface and under the ocean provided proof that it was indeed shrinking. This concept explained that mountains form as Earth becomes smaller and the continental crust crumples together. It went further to predict that volcanoes and mountain ranges occur randomly.  Which of these terms may be used to best define this concept?

• scientific law

• scientific theory

• scientific evidence

• scientific hypothesis

A group of students performed an investigation using a prism, a protractor, and a source of white light to measure the angle of refraction for different colors of light. The angle of incidence was held constant throughout the procedure.

What was the independent variable in this investigation?

• the color of the refracted light

• the angle of incidence

• the angle of refraction

• the prism

Tags

NGSS.MS-PS4-2

A scientist tries to distinguish among different substances that give off a similar color flame by using the simple flame-test experiment. Which method would best help the scientist to identify the substances?

• measuring the wavelength of light given by each flame

  
  

• asking another scientist to see the final result

• reading about different studies of visible light

• finding the brightest burning substance

Tags

NGSS.HS-PS4-1

Why are Newton’s laws of motion NOT considered theories?

• because laws can change and theories cannot

• because laws need more evidence to become theories

• because laws are well-supported explanations of natural occurrences, whereas theories are descriptions

• because laws are well-supported descriptions of natural occurrences, whereas theories are explanations 

  
  

Which statement about theoretical models is true?

• Theoretical models are based on measurements from real systems.

• Theoretical models are based on scaled-down models of the real world.

• Theoretical models are based on physical laws or principles

• Theoretical models are based on drawings and prototypes

Water from Tampa Bay is used to cool a power plant along the coast. After cooling the power plant, the heated water is then returned to the bay. During the winter months, manatees can be seen in the area where the water is discharged. Which investigation could be performed to explain this observation?

• Create a model of a manatee to study locomotion in the water.

• Record the change in water temperature outside of Tampa Bay for one month

• Perform a controlled experiment to determine the amount of body heat released from one manatee.

  
  

• Conduct a yearlong field study to determine which water temperatures manatees inhabit most often.

  
  

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS2-1

NGSS.MS-LS2-4

A professor in Gainesville, Florida, is using a 1-kilogram mass attached to a spring to demonstrate the relationship between kinetic and potential energy and the conservation of total mechanical energy. Another professor in Europe is demonstrating the same concept; however, she uses a 0.25-kilogram pendulum instead. Which of the following best explains how the results of the two demonstrations are most likely to compare?

• The results will likely be very different, because of the difference in mass of the materials used by the professors.

• The results will likely be very similar, because they were demonstrating universal scientific relationships.

• The results will likely be very different, because the demonstrations are conducted in different parts of the world.

  
  

• The results will likely be very similar, because students all over the world generally enjoy watching demonstrations

Tags

NGSS.MS-PS3-1

NGSS.MS-PS3-5

A hypothesis is tested using new methods. Results supporting the hypothesis are published in a scientific journal.

Which outcome will make it most difficult for the new hypothesis to gain support among the scientific community?

• Only one scientist came up with the initial hypothesis.

  
  

• Many scientists criticize the method as new and untested.

• The current theories all predict that the hypothesis is incorrect.

• Other scientists repeat the experiment and obtain different results.

  
  

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS2-4

An astronomer decides to observe the number and intensity of storms on Jupiter’s surface over a period of three months. Which of the following explains why this investigation is NOT an experiment?

• He cannot draw any conclusions from this investigation.

• He will not get any data from this investigation.

  
  

• He cannot make a prediction prior to the start of this investigation.

• He cannot manipulate the variables for this investigation.

Greek mythology states sailors in the early days had seen mermaids swimming in the oceans. Today, we know that they had most likely mistaken Sirenians, which includes dugongs and manatees, as mermaids. Which of the following would have provided sailors with evidence that mermaids existed?  

• tissue sample extracted from a decomposing mermaid

• notes that accurately describe what the sailors saw

• eyewitness accounts of mermaid sightings

  
  

• drawings and illustrations of mermaids