Science South Carolina

A scientific theory can be defined as a well-supported and widely accepted explanation of nature. According to this definition, which statement describes a scientific theory.

• The Sun will die in 7.5 billion years

• The Sun will rise tomorrow morning.

  
  

  .

• Matter is comprised of atoms.

• The universe was created at the Big Bang.

Tags

NGSS.HS-ESS1-2

Which best describes the difference between a theory and a hypothesis?

• A hypothesis can be tested and a theory has already been tested.

• A theory can be tested and a hypothesis has already been tested.

• A hypothesis must be testable and theory does not need to be testable.

• A theory must be testable and hypothesis does not need to be testable.

The graph depicts the velocity of an unmanned wheeled cart over time. Two opposing forces acted on the cart during the course of the investigation. What is the BEST conclusion as supported by the data in the graph?

• the forces are consistently equal

• the forces are consistently unequal

• the forces were equal, then became unequal

• the forces were unequal, then became equal

Tags

NGSS.MS-PS2-1

NGSS.MS-PS2-2

There are three types of plate boundaries. Which choice is NOT a type of plate boundary?

• convergent

• thrust

• divergent

• transform

This cold river of air travels from west to east in the northern hemisphere. Last winter, it dipped far south to bring cold air and snow to many southern states. This is the

• Hadley wind.

• polar jet stream.

• Arctic jet stream.

• tropical jet stream.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-5

NGSS.MS-ESS2-6

After a flood, people should guard against

• many days of bright sunshine.

• a period of prolonged drought.

• the chance of water-borne diseases.

• a sudden drop in groundwater levels.

The Earth system is made up of many spheres. These spheres interact. Imagine humans, part of the biosphere, have built this dam. The water in the lake behind the dam seeps in the ground. Some of the water flows over the dam and is converted into energy. Some water evaporates into the air. What spheres does the water, or hydrosphere, interact with in this example?

• geosphere and atmosphere

• atmosphere and biosphere

• cryosphere and atmosphere

• aesthenosphere and cryosphere

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-1

NGSS.MS-ESS2-4

Divergent plate boundaries

• move toward each other

• move away from each other

• slide past each other

• create mountains

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-2

NGSS.MS-ESS2-3

A cold air mass that moves through the United States and reaches New York, Kansas, and even South Carolina is air that came from the

• polar convection region.

• arctic convection region.

• Canadian convection region.

• temperate convection region.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-5

What was Pangaea? When did it form and when did it break apart? It was

• a large ocean basin that opened in the Triassic and closed in the Paleocene

• the supercontinent that formed in the late Paleozoic and broke apart in Mesozoic

• the huge mountain range formed when Africa pushed northward into Europe in Eocene time

• a large, Precambrian shield area of Africa and South America that broke apart early in the Proterozoic

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-3