Back to the lesson and practice
ActivityPractice worksheet
Do it🖨️ On paper✏️ On screen
New copyMake a new one

Works with a finger, a stylus or a mouse. Nothing is saved or sent anywhere.

Write your answers with a finger, mouse or stylus. Switch to Scroll to move around the page. A stylus always writes.

eurekami

Comparing scientific explanations (conflicting viewpoints)

11th grade (Year 12 in England) · 16 questions · Common Core: NGSS.SEP 7, NGSS.SEP 8 · England: KS4 Working scientifically

Name

Date

Score/ 16

  1. Question 1

    What makes a scientific explanation stronger than another?

    • A. It is older
    • B. It explains more of the evidence and makes predictions that are confirmed
    • C. It is more complicated
    • D. More people like it

  2. Question 2

    Two scientists explain why some lakes have fewer fish than ten years ago. Scientist 1: Farm fertiliser washed into the lakes caused algae to grow; when the algae died, bacteria used up the oxygen in the water. Scientist 2: Warmer water from climate change holds less dissolved oxygen, so fewer fish survive. A lake far from any farm also lost fish as it warmed. This supports…

    • A. neither scientist
    • B. Scientist 1
    • C. Scientist 2
    • D. only that fertiliser is harmless

  3. Question 3

    Two scientists explain why the Moon shows phases. Scientist 1: Earth's shadow covers different amounts of the Moon during the month. Scientist 2: Half of the Moon is always lit by the Sun; as the Moon orbits Earth, we see different amounts of the lit half. Which scientist's explanation is accepted by astronomers today?

    • A. neither
    • B. Scientist 1
    • C. Scientist 2
    • D. both

  4. Question 4

    A new observation contradicts a well-tested theory. What usually happens?

    • A. The theory is never changed
    • B. The observation is always thrown away
    • C. Science stops
    • D. Scientists check the observation, then improve or replace the theory if it holds up

  5. Question 5

    Two students explain why a ball rolling on a flat floor eventually stops. Student 1: Objects naturally slow down and stop when nothing keeps pushing them. Student 2: Friction and air resistance act against the motion; with no resistive forces, the ball would keep moving at a steady speed. The ball rolls much further on smooth ice than on carpet. This result…

    • A. shows friction makes things faster
    • B. supports Student 2
    • C. supports neither student
    • D. supports Student 1

  6. Question 6

    Two scientists explain why some lakes have fewer fish than ten years ago. Scientist 1: Farm fertiliser washed into the lakes caused algae to grow; when the algae died, bacteria used up the oxygen in the water. Scientist 2: Warmer water from climate change holds less dissolved oxygen, so fewer fish survive. What do both scientists agree on?

    • A. The water is getting colder.
    • B. Low oxygen in the water harms the fish.
    • C. Fertiliser is the only cause.
    • D. Fish numbers have increased.

  7. Question 7

    A new observation contradicts a well-tested theory. What usually happens?

    • A. Scientists check the observation, then improve or replace the theory if it holds up
    • B. Science stops
    • C. The theory is never changed
    • D. The observation is always thrown away

  8. Question 8

    Two students explain why a metal spoon in hot soup feels hotter than a wooden spoon in the same soup. Student 1: The metal spoon is at a higher temperature than the wooden spoon. Student 2: Both spoons reach a similar temperature at the end in the soup, but metal conducts thermal energy into your hand much faster, so it feels hotter. A thermometer shows the tips of both spoons in the soup at the same temperature. This result supports…

    • A. neither student
    • B. Student 2
    • C. Student 1
    • D. both students equally

  9. Question 9

    Two scientists explain why the Moon shows phases. Scientist 1: Earth's shadow covers different amounts of the Moon during the month. Scientist 2: Half of the Moon is always lit by the Sun; as the Moon orbits Earth, we see different amounts of the lit half. Which scientist's explanation is accepted by astronomers today?

    • A. Scientist 2
    • B. Scientist 1
    • C. both
    • D. neither

  10. Question 10

    A new observation contradicts a well-tested theory. What usually happens?

    • A. The observation is always thrown away
    • B. The theory is never changed
    • C. Scientists check the observation, then improve or replace the theory if it holds up
    • D. Science stops

  11. Question 11

    Two students explain why a ball rolling on a flat floor eventually stops. Student 1: Objects naturally slow down and stop when nothing keeps pushing them. Student 2: Friction and air resistance act against the motion; with no resistive forces, the ball would keep moving at a steady speed. The ball rolls much further on smooth ice than on carpet. This result…

    • A. supports Student 1
    • B. supports neither student
    • C. supports Student 2
    • D. shows friction makes things faster

  12. Question 12

    Two scientists explain why the Moon shows phases. Scientist 1: Earth's shadow covers different amounts of the Moon during the month. Scientist 2: Half of the Moon is always lit by the Sun; as the Moon orbits Earth, we see different amounts of the lit half. Which scientist's explanation is accepted by astronomers today?

    • A. Scientist 2
    • B. neither
    • C. both
    • D. Scientist 1

  13. Question 13

    Two hypotheses explain the same data. How can scientists decide between them?

    • A. Design an experiment where they predict different results
    • B. Ignore the data
    • C. Vote on them
    • D. Choose the shorter one

  14. Question 14

    Two students explain why a metal spoon in hot soup feels hotter than a wooden spoon in the same soup. Student 1: The metal spoon is at a higher temperature than the wooden spoon. Student 2: Both spoons reach a similar temperature at the end in the soup, but metal conducts thermal energy into your hand much faster, so it feels hotter. A thermometer shows the tips of both spoons in the soup at the same temperature. This result supports…

    • A. Student 1
    • B. neither student
    • C. both students equally
    • D. Student 2

  15. Question 15

    Two scientists explain why some lakes have fewer fish than ten years ago. Scientist 1: Farm fertiliser washed into the lakes caused algae to grow; when the algae died, bacteria used up the oxygen in the water. Scientist 2: Warmer water from climate change holds less dissolved oxygen, so fewer fish survive. What do both scientists agree on?

    • A. Low oxygen in the water harms the fish.
    • B. Fertiliser is the only cause.
    • C. The water is getting colder.
    • D. Fish numbers have increased.

  16. Question 16

    Peer review means…

    • A. other scientists check work before it is published
    • B. friends vote on the result
    • C. the result can never be questioned
    • D. the scientist checks their own work only

Write your answers right on the page. · Free from eurekami.com

All done? Check your answers
  1. It explains more of the evidence and makes predictions that are confirmed
  2. Scientist 2
  3. Scientist 2
  4. Scientists check the observation, then improve or replace the theory if it holds up
  5. supports Student 2
  6. Low oxygen in the water harms the fish.
  7. Scientists check the observation, then improve or replace the theory if it holds up
  8. Student 2
  9. Scientist 2
  10. Scientists check the observation, then improve or replace the theory if it holds up
  11. supports Student 2
  12. Scientist 2
  13. Design an experiment where they predict different results
  14. Student 2
  15. Low oxygen in the water harms the fish.
  16. other scientists check work before it is published