Hypothesis Or Theory?

Scientific Methods 2D Hypothesis or Theory?

TEACHER NOTES AND ANSWERS

Teaching Tips Draw a Venn diagram on the board to compare and contrast hypotheses and theories. Work with students to fill in the information to complete the organizer. (Hypothesis: can be stated before research is conducted; can begin as an opinion or even a guess; tries to predict the specific results of research or an experiment. Theory: is developed from the results of research; is accepted because it has been tested many times by different groups; provides a general explanation for how and why things happen the way they do. Both: are tools used by scientists.)

Answers 1. hypothesis 2. theory 3. hypothesis 4. theory 5. Possible answer: If the force acting on an object is increased, then the acceleration of the object will increase. 6. Possible answer: A hypothesis is a testable statement that can be used as the basis for an experiment, while a theory is a broad explanation based on a large amount of data accumulated over a long period of time. 7. hypothesis 8. hypothesis 9. neither 10. theory 11. theory 12. theory

Complete eachstatement below, hypothesis usingtheterm ortheory. information. because theyare basedonsuchlarge amountsof for natural phenomena. New scientifictheories are introduced only occasionally, been repeatedly verified by many individuals, andare highly reliable explanations new scientificinformation,are occasionally theyhave modifiedastheresult of manyaccurately experiments. predict theresults of Althoughscientific theories generalizations information that andobservations canexplain abody of andcan the observations, many data, scientists. andexplanations of Theoriesare broad data accumulated time. over Theoriesusuallyof incorporate longperiodsof otherexperiments andexplain observations.used topredict results of thehypothesismore before data collectedinsupportof thehypothesis canbe that experiment. Many more experiments would have tobeperformed andmuch hypothesis issupportedby thedata, itmay beconsidered correct, but only for experiment and,therefore, a data. If relates only toalimitedamountof as “if…then” statements. Ahypothesis usually serves asabasisfor asingle supported by observational evidence. Scientistfrequently writehypotheses can you distinguishonefrom theother? are toolsusedby scientists, but theyare very different from oneanother. How hypotheseslead totheformation andtheories. of Bothhypotheses andtheories analyze, andcompare data. Theirobservations, analyses, andcomparisonscan Read thetext below andanswer thequestionsthat follow. Worksheet: Hypothesisor Theory? Name 4. 3. 2. 1. Theories, ontheotherhand,are explanations that are basedonvast amounts Hypotheses are testable statements that must beable tobesupportedornot As scientistsmake observations andcarryoutinvestigations, theygenerate, about atoms. thestructure andbehavior of investigationsScientists usea______tointerpret theresults of moves through air. ______that soundwillmove more quickly through water thanit A studentnoticesthat soundtravels quickly underwater. She develops a light thatand behavior isbasedonwork performed of by many scientists. Scientists have developed a______toexplain thecharacteristics efficient thantraditional boats. propulsion systemthat moves like apenguin,thentheboat willbemore aboat isdesignedwitha scientist makes a______that if A scientistobserves that penguinsmove efficiently thoughwater. The Period Date

For eachdescription,circle theappropriate term. 12. Write shortanswers tothefollowing questions. 10. 11. Name 5. 9. 8. 6. 7.

hypothesis repeatedly many verified by scientists thework of hypothesis a broad explanation results that applies toawiderange of hypothesis many scientists timeusingtheworkdeveloped over of alongperiodof hypothesis knowledge a guessabout what willhappen, notbasedonany previous observations or hypothesis often writtenasan“if…then” statement hypothesis often usedasthebasisfor asingleexperiment theeditorial? that you couldpointouttothewriterof interchangeably. What theseterms isonedifference between themeaningsof You read anewspaper editorialthat usesthewords hypothesisand theory which thisinvestigation mightbebased. more force, andagain measures theacceleration. Write onehypothesis on acceleration. Thestudentthenplacesthesamecarontable, pusheswith A studentplacesatoy caronatable, pushesthecar, andmeasures the theory theory theory theory theory theory

neither neither neither neither neither neither Period Date