Scientific Reasoning

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?

• Scientific laws are based on evidence, while scientific theories are not.

• Scientific theories involve only biology, while laws involve all types of science.

• Scientific theories involve mathematical equations, while scientific laws are based on observations.

• Scientific theories are ideas that explain natural events, while scientific laws more reliably predict natural events.

__________ includes observations and conclusions that have been repeated.

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS2-4

Suzy is in 5th grade and has to create an experiment in her science class. She likes flowers and wants to know if flowers can grow in the dark. She gets 2 flower pots of the same size and fills them with the same amount of soil. She plants the same kind of flower and waters them the same amount. She puts one on her windowsill and one in her closet. She measures and observes her flowers for three weeks. What is the dependent variable?

• What she measures and observes

• Where she places the flowers to grow

• How she waters them

• The soil and flowerpots

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS1-5

NGSS.MS-LS2-1

NGSS.MS-LS1-6

Suzy is in 5th grade and has to create an experiment in her science class. She likes flowers and wants to know if flowers can grow in the dark. She gets 2 flower pots of the same size and fills them with the same amount of soil. She plants the same kind of flower and waters them the same amount. She puts one on her windowsill and one in her closet. She measures and observes her flowers for three weeks. What is her independent variable in this experiment?

• Flower pots

• Where she places the flowers to grow

• The soil

• How she waters them

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS1-5

A well tested explanation for wide range of observations and experimental results.

• Scientific Theory

• Scientific Law

Tags

NGSS.HS-LS4-2

Using your senses to describe a situation is known as a:

• quantitative observation

• hypothesis

• qualitative observation

• inference

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NGSS.MS-LS1-8

Stephen predicted that seeds would start to grow faster if an electric current traveled through the soil in which they were planted.

• recognize a problem

• test the hypothesis with an experiment

• form a hypothesis

• draw conclusions  

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS1-5

NGSS.MS-LS2-4

Susan said, “If I fertilize my geranium plants, then they will have more flowers.”

• recognize a problem

• test the hypothesis with an experiment

• form a hypothesis

• draw conclusions

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS1-5

NGSS.MS-LS2-1

A prediction or guess based on observations.

• data

• scientific process

• hypothesis

• question

Which of the following best describes the role of a control group in a scientific experiment?

• A) It is the group where the experimental variable is applied.

• B) It is the group that receives no treatment and is used for comparison.

• C) It is the group that receives double the treatment for accuracy.

• D) It is the group that is observed without any measurements.