Scientific Explanation Lesson 1(Chapter 2)
Name_____________________ TB_____ Date___
Understanding Main Ideas
Answer the following questions on a separate sheet of paper.
1. What are three methods scientists use to form scientific explanations?
2. Give an example of how different scientists might use these different
methods.
3. What is the basis for scientific explanations?
4. By what process do scientists form scientific explanations?
5. What steps do scientists take when they find differing explanations
based on the same evidence?
6. Explain why scientific explanations based on an opinion are not valid.
(SEE BELOW)
Building Vocabulary
Fill in the blank to complete each statement.
7. Scientists _____________, or determine the value of, differing scientific evaluate p.67
explanations based on the same evidence.
8. Scientists explanations are always based on _____________ empirical evidence p.67
_____________.
9. A scientific explanation based on a(n) _____________ is one that has not been
confirmed by evidence. Opinion p.67
10. A(n) _______________________ describes how something works or
why something happens. scientific explanation p.65
Scientists and Society(Chapter 2 Lesson 2)
Understanding Main Ideas
Answer the following questions in the spaces provided.
1. What impact does science have on society? Give an example.
The work that scientists do changes society. Scientific discoveries havehelped to bring
products such as cars to society. P.69
2. What impact does society have on science? Give an example.An example of the impact society
has had on science is Galileo’s heliocentric model that was banned and he was arrested, tried
and found guilty. He spent the rest of his life under house arrest. P69
3. What controversy did Galileo’s work cause?
The model of the universe conflicted with the beliefs of his society’s leaders and the book that
supported this model was banned and so was Galileo’s book. P.69
Building Vocabulary
Write a definition for the term on the lines below.
4. controversy
A public disagreement between groups. P.69
How Science Changes(Chapter 2 Lesson 3)
Understanding Main Ideas
Answer the following questions on a separate sheet of paper.
1. Scientific knowledge can change as a result of which two things?
2. Describe one example of a scientific theory.
3. Under what circumstances would scientists discard a previously
accepted scientific theory?
4. Describe one example of a scientific law.
5. What is the main difference between scientific theories and
scientific laws?
6. What is the main similarity between scientific theories and
scientific laws?
Building Vocabulary
Write a definition for each of these terms on the lines below.
7. scientific theory
Refer to no. 5 on understanding main idea
8. scientific law
Refer to no. 5 on understanding main idea
(SEE BELOW)
Models as Tools in Science(Chapter 2 Lesson 4)
Understanding Main Ideas
Answer the following questions on a separate sheet of paper.
1. Why do scientists use models?
Scientist use models to understand things they cannot observe directly. P.77
2. What is a system?
A system is a group of parts that work together to perform a function or produce a result.
P.78
3. What three things do all systems have?
All systems have input, process, output, storage and feedback. P.78
4. What are two ways that scientists use models?
Scientists use models to understand how systems work. They also use models to predict
changes in a system as a result of feedback or input changes. P.80
Building Vocabulary
Match each term with its definition by writing the letter of the correct definition in the
right column on the line beside the term in the left column.
5. ___ feedback
a. output that changes a system in some way p.78
6. ___ output
b. a group of parts that work together to perform a
function or produce a result p.78
7. ___ process
c. the material or energy that goes into a system p.78
8. ___ input
d. what happens in a system p.78
9. ___ model
e. a representation of a simple or complex object or
process p.77
10. ___ system
f.
the material or energy that comes out of a system p.78
Chapter 2 Lesson 1
Understanding Main Idea
1. Researching information, design experiments, making models p.65
2. A geologist might research information about a land area to advise a drilling company.
A physicist might design an experiment to understand how matter behaves on a tiny scale.
A biologist might make models of cell division to better understand the process.p.65
3. Scientific explanations are formed through empirical evidence. P.66
4. Scientist collect evidence, analyze the evidence, and form a scientific explanation. P.66-67
5. When scientists have differing explanations they must study all the evidence and other scientists
conclusions and they point out any errors in the analysis. P.67
6. Scientific explanations based on opinion has not been confirmed by evidence. P.67
Chapter 2 Lesson 3
Understanding Main Idea
1.Scientific knowledge can change as a result of new evidence or new interpretations of existing
evidence. P.73
2. One example of scientific theory is the atomic theory that states that all substances are made up of tiny
particles called atoms. P.74
3. Scientists would discard a previously accepted scientific theory if future testing proved it was incorrect.
P.74
4. One example of scientific law is that gravity states that all objects in the universe attract each other.jp.
75
5. Scientific theory, an explanation of a wide range of observations or experimental results. P.74
Scientific Law is a statement that describes what scientists expect to happen every time under a
particular set of conditions, it describes an observed pattern in nature without attempting to explain it. P.
74-75