Understanding science will help evaluate many issues

Review Questions. The following statement, “The presence of water will accelerate the growth of bread mold.” is an example of a ________________ Given the following research question, “What is the effect of soapy water on the growth of tomatoes?” The soapy water is the ______________variable.

The growth of the tomatoes is the ___________variable. Light and temperature would be identified as ________________variables.

Evidence in Science How is evidence defined? A collected body of data from observations and experiments. Repeatability is a hallmark of scientific evidence.

Define reliability. The degree of trustworthiness. **Repeated trials contribute to the degree of an experiment’s reliability.

Theories in Science Define theory. A well-tested explanation that makes sense of a great variety of scientific observations. Define law. Statement of a relation or sequence of phenomena invariable under the same conditions. Example: Newton’s laws

How is a theory different from a hypothesis? A theory is broader and explains many observations. A theory gives rise to a hypothesis that can be tested. Define model. A physical, mental, or mathematical representation of how people understand a process or an idea. Examples: map, drawing, graph

Scientists judge the value of a model by noting if it explains observations related to it and if predictions can be made.