The Nature of Science
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Printed: August 23, 2014
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C HAPTER
Chapter 1. The Nature of Science
1
The Nature of Science
Lesson Quiz
Name___________________ Class______________ Date________
Multiple Choice
Circle the letter of the correct choice.
1. A mathematical model is a(n)
a.
b.
c.
d.
definition that explains how the earth works
set of equations that represent natural processes
physical representation of the subject being studied
model that cannot be tested
2. If a hypothesis explains all the data, there is a whole lot of data, and none of the data contradicts the hypothesis,
the hypothesis becomes a(n)
a.
b.
c.
d.
law
conclusion
theory
secondary hypothesis
3. If performing an experiment in the field, you should
a.
b.
c.
d.
wear appropriate clothes
bring enough food and water
tell others where you are going
all of the above
4. The lab instructor should be notified when
a.
b.
c.
d.
anyone is hurt or anything is damaged
you need an eraser to correct a mistake in your notebook
you hear a joke and it made you laugh
there is never a need to notify the lab instructor
5. The way scientists approach their work is called
a.
b.
c.
d.
faith-based
scientific method
program management
scientific notation
6. To support or refute a hypothesis, scientists must collect
a.
b.
c.
d.
influence
donations
opinions
data
7. When should you follow instructions in the lab?
a. at the end of class
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b. always
c. when the teacher is looking
d. only when there is a fire
8. Which of the following best describe a hypothesis?
a.
b.
c.
d.
A plausible explanation
A questionable assumption
A pretty good guess
The closest match
9. Which of the following is not a scientific model?
a.
b.
c.
d.
problematic
conceptual
mathematical
physical
10. The goal of science is to
a.
b.
c.
d.
disprove religious ideas
find the absolute indisputable truth
make tremendous inventions to advance humankind
understand the natural world
11. An independent variable
a.
b.
c.
d.
is the change that occurs because a measurement is not made precisely.
inconsistent with the results from other experiments.
is the factor that will be manipulated.
is the result of the experiments.
12. Which of the following is not an assumption that scientists must make?
a.
b.
c.
d.
Natural laws are the same everywhere and at any time.
Scientific ideas are less likely to be shown to be wrong the more they have been tested.
A scientific idea will be accepted if there is only a small amount of evidence that goes against it.
Scientific ideas can change or be thrown out, as needed.
True or False
Write true if the statement is true or false if the statement is false.
_______ 13. Always follow instructions in the lab
_______ 14. Never eat or drink in the lab
_______ 15. A scientific question does not need to be testable
_______ 16. An dependent variable can be manipulated
_______ 17. Science should not make moral judgments
Fill in the Blanks
Fill in the blank with the term that best completes the sentence.
18. A scientific question must be able to be proven wrong; that is it must be ____________.
19. A ____________ is a plausible answer to a question.
20. A ____________ model ties together many ideas in an attempt to explain a phenomenon.
21. A hypothesis that has been repeatedly tested that has no significant evidence against it is called a(n) ____________.
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Chapter 1. The Nature of Science
22. A touchable representation of an object, such as a globe, is a ____________.
23. F = G m1r2m2 is a ___________ of gravity.
24. In the experiment the ____________ were kept the same while the independent variable was tested.
25. The role of ____________ is to monitor scientific work.
Short Answer
Answer each question in the space provided.
26. List the steps involved in the scientific approach to solving a problem.
27. Why are student scientists sometimes told that they should try to disprove their hypotheses?
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