Scientific Law and Theory

Check all the statements that apply to a scientific theory.

• States that an event will occur

• A repeatable pattern in nature

• Can be rejected or modified

• Based on repeated observations

• Explains how or why an event occurred

Tags

NGSS.HS-LS3-2

NGSS.HS-LS4-1

Check all the statements that apply to a scientific law.

• States that an event will occur

• A repeatable pattern in nature

• Can be rejected or modified

• Based on repeated observations

• Explains how or why an event occurred

Tags

NGSS.HS-PS2-1

Which of the following best describes a scientific law?

• A well-substantiated explanation of some aspect of the natural world that is based on a body of evidence.

• A statement that describes an observable phenomenon that always occurs under certain conditions.

• A proposed explanation for a wide range of observations and experimental results.

• A tentative explanation for an observation or phenomenon that can be tested.

Tags

112.43.b.3

112.43.b.3.A

112.43.b.3.B

What is the main difference between a scientific law and a scientific theory?

• Laws describe observations, while theories explain why those observations occur.

• Laws are based on evidence, while theories are based on speculation.

• Laws are proven to be true, while theories are still being tested.

• Laws are specific to certain fields, while theories apply to all scientific disciplines.

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112.43.b.3

112.43.b.3.A

112.43.b.3.B

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

• Newton's Law of Universal Gravitation

• The Theory of Evolution

• The Big Bang Theory

• The Law of Conservation of Energy

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112.43.b.3

112.43.b.3.A

112.43.b.3.B

Which of the following statements is true?

• Scientific laws can be changed or discarded if new evidence contradicts them.

• Scientific theories are always proven to be true beyond any doubt.

• Scientific laws and theories are interchangeable terms with the same meaning.

• Scientific theories are less reliable than scientific laws.

Tags

112.43.b.3

112.43.b.3.A

112.43.b.3.B

What is a scientific theory?

• A well-substantiated explanation of some aspect of the natural world that is based on a body of evidence.

• A statement that describes an observable phenomenon that always occurs under certain conditions.

• A proposed explanation for a wide range of observations and experimental results.

• A tentative explanation for an observation or phenomenon that can be tested.

Tags

112.43.b.3

112.43.b.3.A

112.43.b.3.B

Scientific laws and scientific theories share this characteristic

• based on scientific evidence

• explain natural phenomena

• based on opinions of scientists

• not subject to change

While a __________ predicts what will happen, a __________ explains why it happens

• scientific theory, scientific law

• scientific inference, scientific prediction

• scientific conclusion, scientific theory

• scientific law, scientific theory

A statement that scientists expect to happen every time under a particular set of conditions.

• Scientific theory

• Scientific law

Tags

NGSS.HS-PS1-7

NGSS.HS-PS2-1

NGSS.HS-PS2-2

NGSS.HS-PS3-4