Scientific Theories vs Laws

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

• science laws are based on evidence while science theories are not

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

• science theories involve mathematical equations, while science laws are based on observations

• science theories are ideas that explain natural events, while science laws predict what will happen in a natural event.

Joe tells Gabby his theory about why sea turtles nest on the beach instead of in the ocean. He says, “The turtle eggs would sink to the bottom of the ocean, and the baby turtle would drown. I know this because my uncle is a fisherman, and he told me this information. Gabby tells Joe that his theory is not scientific. Why does Joe’s idea not meet the requirements to be a scientific theory?

• Joe’s idea is already a scientific law.

• Joe’s idea is not supported by scientific evidence.

• Joe’s idea is a good guess that can be tested by experiments.

• Joe and his uncle are not scientists.

Which of these can change when new evidence is presented?

• theory

• law

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NGSS.HS-ESS1-2

Which of these explain how a natural phenomenon works or happens?

• theory

• law

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NGSS.HS-ESS1-2

NGSS.HS-ESS1-3

NGSS.HS-LS4-2

NGSS.HS-LS4-4

NGSS.HS-PS1-2

The law of universal gravitation states that both mass and distance of objects affect the gravitational force between them. Gravitational force increases as the mass of the objects increase. Gravitational force decreases as distance between the objects increases. Why are these statements considered scientific law, and not scientific theory?

• The statements tells what happens, and not why it happens.

• The statements involve mass and distance measurements.

• The statements explain the attractive force between two objects.

• The statements predict what will happen under certain conditions.

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NGSS.HS-PS2-4

Which of these can be represented mathematically and provide no explanation why a phenomenon occurs?

• theory

• law

Scientific theories and scientific laws can both be rejected or modified.

• True

• False

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NGSS.HS-PS4-3

The validity of scientific theories and laws depends on evidence. Which of the following statements of evidence supports a law rather than a theory?

• Electrons orbit the nucleus of an atom within a certain radius.

• DNA analysis reveals that a modern species is related to an extinct species.

• Seafloor spreading occurs at a rate of three centimeters per year in the mid-Atlantic.

• The amount of matter in a closed system is the same at the start of a reaction as at the end of the reaction.

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NGSS.HS-PS1-7

Is a well-tested EXPLANATION for a wide range of observations and experimental results.

• Law

• Theory

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NGSS.HS-ESS1-2

Predicts what will happen in the natural world.

• Law

• Theory

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NGSS.HS-PS2-1