Concept 1

According to the National Academy of Sciences, what is science?

• A way of knowing about the world based on empirical evidence.

• A method of guessing about natural phenomena.

• A belief system based on personal opinions.

• A collection of unverified theories.

What must scientific explanations be based on to be considered part of science?

• Observations and experiments that can be substantiated by other scientists.

• Personal beliefs and opinions.

• Historical texts and ancient wisdom.

• Speculations and assumptions.

Which of the following is NOT considered part of science according to the National Academy of Sciences?

• Explanations based on empirical evidence.

• Explanations that cannot be based on empirical evidence.

• Observations that can be verified by other scientists.

• Experiments that can be repeated by other scientists.

What is a fact in scientific terms?

• A subjective opinion

• An objective, verifiable observation

• A hypothesis

• A theory

Which of the following is an example of a fact?

• The Earth is flat

• Water boils at 100 degrees Celsius

• Gravity is a force

• Evolution is a theory

What is a principle in scientific terms?

• A random guess

• A statement based on repeated experimental observation that describes an aspect of the world

• A single experiment result

• A philosophical idea

Which of the following is an example of a principle?

• Water freezes at 0 degrees Celsius

• The greenhouse effect

• The sky is blue

• Plants need sunlight

What does a scientific law describe?

• Patterns in nature

• An explanation of an observed phenomenon

• Theories in science

• Hypotheses in experiments

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

• Evolutionary theory

• Newton's laws of motion

• Theory of relativity

• Hypothesis of continental drift

What is the main purpose of a scientific theory?

• To describe patterns in nature

• To explain why phenomena occur

• To become a scientific law

• To provide a hypothesis