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Theories and Laws

Theories and Laws. Is it a Theory?. Which statement(s) do you think BEST apply to scientific theories ? Theories include observations Theories are “hunches” scientists have Theories can include personal beliefs or opinions Theories have been tested many times

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Theories and Laws

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  1. Theories and Laws

  2. Is it a Theory? • Which statement(s) do you think BEST apply to scientific theories? • Theories include observations • Theories are “hunches” scientists have • Theories can include personal beliefs or opinions • Theories have been tested many times • Theories are incomplete, temporary ideas • A theory never changes • Theories are inferred explanations, strongly supported by evidence • A scientific law has been proven and a theory has not • Theories are used to make predictions • Laws are more important to science than theories

  3. Is it a Theory? • Which statement(s) do you think BEST apply to scientific theories? • Theories include observations • Theories are “hunches” scientists have • Theories can include personal beliefs or opinions • Theories have been tested many times • Theories are incomplete, temporary ideas • A theory never changes • Theories are inferred explanations, strongly supported by evidence • A scientific law has been proven and a theory has not • Theories are used to make predictions • Laws are more important to science than theories

  4. Theory = Explanation • Evidence-based explanation based on observations of events • Tested and supported with multiple lines of evidence • Widely accepted and strongly supported by the scientific • community • Can be used to make predications • Can be modified if new evidence becomes available • Examples: • Cell Theory • Plate Tectonics Theory • Atomic Theory

  5. Law • Generalizations or patterns in nature derived from scientific fact • Often describe how the natural world behaves under certain conditions • Describes an event but it does NOT explain it! • Some laws are expressed mathematically (F = ma) • Examples: • Newton’s Laws of Motion • Universal Law of Gravitation • The Law of Conservation of Matter • The Law of Conservation of Energy

  6. Lawsdescribewhatand Theories describe why

  7. Hypothesis Explanationbased upon prior experience, scientific background knowledge, preliminary observations, and logic How is a hypothesis different from a theory?????

  8. Scientific knowledge can change as new evidence or interpretations are encountered

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