Observations and Experiments
What do scientists use to test a hypothesis?
Observations and experiments
What is a hypothesis?
An educated guess that can be tested.
What does evolution mean?
Change over time in living organisms.
What is a physical model?
A smaller or simpler version of the thing being studied.
In science, what is a law?
A statement that describes a consistent phenomenon under certain conditions.
What is an observation?
Watching something closely to gather information.
Why is a theory important?
It explains why something happens based on evidence.
What does natural selection mean?
The process where organisms best suited to their environment survive.
What is a conceptual model?
A model that explains many ideas together.
In science, what is the difference between a theory and a law?
A theory explains why something happens; a law tells you that it happens.
What is an experiment?
A test done to find out if a hypothesis is true or false.
What does the theory of plate tectonics explain?
It explains the movement of Earth's plates and geological activity.
What is the Theory of Evolution?
Darwin's idea that organisms change over time through natural selection.
or
The scientific explanation for how species change and develop over time.
What is a mathematical model?
A model using equations to represent a phenomenon.
What do scientists do with evidence?
They collect it to support or refute hypotheses and theories.
What is a variable in an experiment?
A factor that can change in an experiment.
What is the Theory of Climate Change?
The idea that human activities are causing the Earth’s climate to change.
What is seafloor spreading?
The process that causes ocean floors to move apart.
Why do we need models?
They help us understand complex systems and make predictions.
What are some natural phenomena that are caused by plate tectonics?
Earthquakes, volcanoes, mountain ranges, and other geological features such as mid-ocean ridges.
What is a control group?
A group in an experiment where nothing is changed, used for comparison.
What is a scientific theory?
A well-supported explanation for a phenomenon based on evidence.
What does the theory of seafloor spreading prove?
Seafloor spreading explains how all the continents were once one giant landmass that separated and moved apart.
What do climate models help us predict?
Future climate changes based on current data.
What type of boundaries cause earthquakes and why?
Transform boundaries cause earthquakes because two plates slide against each other.