Scientific Theories and Laws

What is a scientific theory?

• A guess made by a scientist

• A well-supported and widely accepted explanation of nature

• A law that describes a relationship in nature

• A rule made by the government

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Which of the following best describes a scientific law?

• A rule that scientists must follow in the laboratory

• A description of a specific relationship under certain conditions in the natural world

• A theory that has been proven true

• A law made by society

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

• The Law of Gravity

• The Theory of Evolution

• The Big Bang Theory

• The Cell Theory

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What is the main purpose of a model in science?

• To entertain scientists

• To represent and explain objects, systems, or processes that are difficult to observe directly

• To replace scientific laws

• To make scientific theories less complicated

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How is the term "theory" used differently in science compared to everyday life?

• In science, a theory is just a guess, while in everyday life it is a proven fact

• In science, a theory is a well-supported explanation, while in everyday life it often means a guess or assumption

• In science, a theory is a law, while in everyday life it is a rule

• In science, a theory is an opinion, while in everyday life it is a law

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Which statement best explains why scientific laws are different from societal laws?

• Scientific laws are made by scientists, societal laws are made by governments

• Scientific laws describe natural relationships, societal laws are rules for behavior

• Scientific laws can be broken, societal laws cannot

• Scientific laws are opinions, societal laws are facts

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Which of the following is NOT a scientific law?

• Newton’s First Law of Motion

• The Law of Conservation of Mass

• The Theory of Plate Tectonics

• The Law of Universal Gravitation

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Why do scientists use models when studying things like atoms or the solar system?

• Because models are more fun to use

• Because some things are too small, large, or complex to observe directly

• Because models are always correct

• Because models replace experiments

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Which of the following best describes the Law of Conservation of Mass?

• Mass can be created or destroyed in a chemical reaction

• Mass is always lost during a chemical reaction

• Mass is neither created nor destroyed in a chemical reaction

• Mass is only important in physics, not chemistry

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A student says, "I have a theory that my favorite team will win the game." How is this use of the word "theory" different from its use in science?

• In science, a theory is a random guess

• In science, a theory is a well-tested explanation, but in everyday life it often means a guess or prediction

• In science, a theory is a law, but in everyday life it is a rule

• In science, a theory is an opinion, but in everyday life it is a fact

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