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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

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Date

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1
Question 1
Two hypotheses explain the same data. How can scientists decide between them?
- A. Ignore the data
- B. Design an experiment where they predict different results
- C. Vote on them
- D. Choose the shorter one
2
Question 2
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. Student 2
- D. both students equally
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. Scientist 1
- B. Scientist 2
- C. neither
- D. both
4
Question 4
A new observation contradicts a well-tested theory. What usually happens?
- A. The observation is always thrown away
- B. Science stops
- C. Scientists check the observation, then improve or replace the theory if it holds up
- D. The theory is never changed
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 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. Which student's view agrees with Newton's first law?
- A. Student 1
- B. Neither
- C. Student 2
- D. Both
7
Question 7
Two hypotheses explain the same data. How can scientists decide between them?
- A. Vote on them
- B. Design an experiment where they predict different results
- C. Ignore the data
- D. Choose the shorter one
8
Question 8
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. Earth's shadow is only on the Moon during a lunar eclipse, which happens at full moon. This evidence weakens…
- A. Scientist 2
- B. neither scientist
- C. both scientists
- D. Scientist 1
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. neither
- C. Scientist 1
- D. both
10
Question 10
A new observation contradicts a well-tested theory. What usually happens?
- A. Science stops
- B. The observation is always thrown away
- C. The theory is never changed
- D. Scientists check the observation, then improve or replace the theory if it holds up
11
Question 11
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. Student 2
- C. both students equally
- D. neither student
12
Question 12
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. Which student's explanation depends on how fast energy is transferred?
- A. Student 1
- B. Both students
- C. Student 2
- D. Neither student
13
Question 13
Peer review means…
- A. the result can never be questioned
- B. the scientist checks their own work only
- C. other scientists check work before it is published
- D. friends vote on the result
14
Question 14
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. only that fertiliser is harmless
- B. neither scientist
- C. Scientist 1
- D. Scientist 2
15
Question 15
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. both
- B. neither
- C. Scientist 2
- D. Scientist 1
16
Question 16
Two hypotheses explain the same data. How can scientists decide between them?
- A. Ignore the data
- B. Vote on them
- C. Design an experiment where they predict different results
- D. Choose the shorter one

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Answer key: Comparing scientific explanations (conflicting viewpoints)

1. B. Design an experiment where they predict different results
2. C. Student 2
3. B. Scientist 2
4. C. Scientists check the observation, then improve or replace the theory if it holds up
5. B. supports Student 2
6. C. Student 2
7. B. Design an experiment where they predict different results
8. D. Scientist 1
9. A. Scientist 2
10. D. Scientists check the observation, then improve or replace the theory if it holds up
11. B. Student 2
12. C. Student 2
13. C. other scientists check work before it is published
14. D. Scientist 2
15. C. Scientist 2
16. C. Design an experiment where they predict different results