What is Science? (6-8 Version)

Questions and Answers

What is science?

The process of identifying patterns in nature and developing explanations of how and why those patterns exist.

Which of the following is not a practice used in science and engineering?

Planning and Carrying Out Investigations

Ignoring Data (correct)

Asking Questions and Defining Problems

Analyzing and Interpreting Data

All scientists follow the scientific method in the same order.

False

What do scientists use to collect evidence?

Carefully planned investigations. Signup and view all the answers

What forms can models take?

All of the above Signup and view all the answers

Scientific explanations must be supported by __________.

evidence Signup and view all the answers

What is the purpose of a scientific law?

To describe the pattern of what happens Signup and view all the answers

How do scientists develop scientific explanations?

By forming arguments about evidence and communicating with each other. Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Understanding Science

Science is a systematic study of the natural world, aiming to identify patterns and formulate explanations.
It involves experimentation and observation to collect evidence supporting those explanations.
There isn't one definitive scientific method; scientists utilize eight science and engineering practices in various combinations.

Scientific Inquiry

Scientists begin with questions about the natural world that can be answered through evidence.
Evidence is gathered via planned investigations, which may include experiments or careful observations, especially in fields like paleontology and astronomy.

Data Analysis and Modeling

Investigations generate data in different forms, such as observations or numerical measurements.
Analysis of this data is crucial for identifying patterns and understanding relationships, often represented through graphs.
Models, whether physical, conceptual, or computer-based, help scientists visualize ideas or processes and form new questions.

Mathematical Tools in Science

Mathematics serves as a key tool in illustrating relationships between variables, from simple equations to complex computational models.
The goal across all science branches is to construct explanations supported by ample evidence, enhancing confidence in those explanations.

Distinction Between Laws and Theories

Scientific theories explain the "how" or "why" of phenomena, while laws describe patterns of what happens in nature without explanation.
Increasing evidence strengthens scientific explanations, leading to higher confidence levels in those claims.

Collaborative Nature of Science

Constructing scientific explanations requires rigorous debate over evidence, necessitating regular communication among scientists.
About half of a scientist's time is devoted to obtaining, evaluating, and sharing information through conferences and publications.

Description

Explore the fundamentals of science in this quiz designed for students in grades 6 to 8. Understand the process of identifying patterns in nature, experimentation, and the eight science practices used by scientists. Test your knowledge of key concepts related to scientific methods and observations.