Scientific Law and Theory

It describes a natural phenomenon that always happens under certain conditions.

• Scientific theory

• Scientific law

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NGSS.HS-PS2-1

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 describes a natural event, while a law explains it.

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

• A theory explains a natural event, while a law describes 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 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

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

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.

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.

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NGSS.HS-PS2-4

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?

• Theories more than ten years old are usually out of date.

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

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

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

Scientific theories can be tested.

• True

• False

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NGSS.HS-PS2-1

NGSS.HS-LS4-2

Einstein's _______ of General Relativity: gravity curves space and time. Tries to explain why starlight bends.

• Theory

• Law

A scientific law is a repeatable pattern in nature

• True

• False

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NGSS.HS-PS2-1

A scientific law can be demoted to a theory if information is produced questions it's validity.

• True

• False