Practice Quiz for Nature of Science and Science Inquiry

What is a scientific theory?

• A guess with no evidence
  

• A well-tested explanation based on extensive research

• A hypothesis that has not been tested

• A prediction about future events

Which of the following is an example of a scientific theory?

• Theory of Evolution

• Law of Independent Assortment

• Law of Conservation of Mass

• Law of Gravity

What is the main difference between a theory and a law?

• Theories are guesses, laws are proven facts.

• Theories are based on mathematics, laws are not.

• Theories never change, laws always change.

• Theories explain why things happen, laws describe what happens

Which statement below is true about a scientific law ?

• Changes frequently with new evidence

• Describes relationships observed in nature

• Is always a mathematical formula

• Can explain the mechanisms behind natural processes

Scientific theories are developed over time through, ...

• A single experiment

• Guesswork

• Repeated experiments and observations

• A consensus of opinions

Which of the following is a key feature of scientific laws?

• They cannot be tested or observed.

• They explain why phenomena occur.

• They can be modified with new evidence.

• They are based on mathematical relationships.

How does new evidence affect scientific theories?

• Theories may be modified to accommodate new evidence.

• Theories are replaced by laws when new evidence is found.

• Theories cannot change regardless of new evidence.

• It always disproves the theory.

Which of the following statements is true about scientific inquiry?

• It does not adapt to new evidence.

• It relies solely on hypotheses and observations.

• It only uses laws, not theories.

• It uses both laws and theories to predict outcomes.

A scientific law can have exceptions when ?

• The law is not well tested.

• Conditions differ from those under which the law was established.

• The law contradicts a theory.

• The law is outdated.

A scientific theory explains how or why things happen in nature.

• True

• False