Scientific Laws Theory Fact Hypothesis Belief NAME: ______Instructions: Use the Definitions of the Terms Below to Determine Is #1-10
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Scientific Laws Theory Fact Hypothesis Belief NAME: _____________ Instructions: Use the definitions of the terms below to determine is #1-10. Bubble in your answers for questions #1-20 on the zipgrade at the bottom of the A - Fact: A basic statement established by experiment or observation. All facts are true under specific conditions. Some facts may be false when re-tested with better instruments. B - Law: A logical relationship between two or more things that is based on a variety y of facts and proven hypothesis. It is often a mathematical statement of how two or more quantities relate to each other. C- Hypothesis: A tentative statement such as ‘if A happens then B must happen’ that can be tested by direct experiment or observation. A proven hypothesis can be expressed as a law or a theory. A disproven hypothesis can sometimes be re-tested and found correct as measurements improve. D - Theory: An explanation for why certain laws and facts exist that ca n be tested to determine its accuracy. E - Belief: A statement that is not scientifically provable in the same way as facts, laws, hypotheses or theories. Scientifically disproven beliefs can still be held to be true. 1. For every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction. 2. Water freezes at 32 F 3. The sun will die in 7.5 billion years. 4. There are such things as ghosts. 5. The positions of the planets can cause humans to act in specific ways. 6. The Milky Way is a spiral-type galaxy. 7. The Earth is older than 10,000 years. 8. The universe was created at the Big Bang. 9. Some numbers are luckier than others. 10. The inverse-square law for gravity and Newton’s Laws of motion explain why orbits are ellipses. 11. What is the best definition of the term "theory," as it is used in science? a. A theory is a guess or hunch about something that has occurred in nature. b. A theory is a comprehensive set of ideas explaining a phenomenon in nature. c. A theory is based on verifiable laws and can be proven true. d. A theory is a hypothesis that uses laws and observation to make an assumption. 12. While speaking to a colleague, a scientist makes the following statement: "I propose that Bald Eagle eggs in northern Maine will have thinner shells than those from birds in southern Alaska due to increased levels of pesticides in the water." This statement is a a. Theory B. law C. conclusion D. hypothesis 13. Scientific laws can be tested. a. True B. false 14. Complete the following sentence so that it is correct: Scientific theories are based on a. general assumptions of how systems work. b. mathematical principles that can be proven true. c. large amounts of data collected over time. d. observations from within only one scientific discipline. 15. Why are scientific theories an important part of research and understanding? a. Scientific theories allow scientists to make predictions. b. Scientific theories allow scientists to make assumptions. c. Scientific theories determine the work that future scientists can do. d. Scientific theories determine the subjects that scientists research. 16. Scientific theories do not change once they have been written down. a. True B. false 17. Which statement below correctly identifies the difference between laws and theories? a. Laws describe phenomena, while theories explain why phenomena exist. b. Laws are a statement of fact, while theories are a statement of opinion. c. Laws explain why phenomena exist, while theories explain how. d. Laws are a prediction of phenomena, while theories are an explanation. 18. Why do scientists develop a hypothesis before conducting research? a. It gives them direction on how to interpret the results of their research. b. It helps to predict outcomes and define the parameters of the research. c. Hypotheses give the researcher an outcome to shape their work around. d. Hypotheses help a researcher decide which observations to record and which to ignore. 19. Scientific theories are always broad and cover many concepts. a. True B. false 20. Choose the sentence below that is a correct description of scientific theory. a. Scientific theories in one discipline can influence theories in other disciplines. b. Theories in one scientific discipline do not affect theories in other disciplines. c. New scientific theories are always original and do not connect to those that came before. d. Creativity and insight are not important parts of developing new scientific theories. .