C165 Scientific Inquiry

Question 1

Which field of physical science deals MOST directly with which atoms join together to form molecules, such as the water molecule or the nitrogen molecule, represented below?

Model of a water molecule consisting of two hydrogen atoms and one oxygen atom, and a model of a nitrogen molecule consisting of two atoms of nitrogen.

chemistry

physics

Earth science

Answer 1

chemistry

Question 2

Which field of physical science MOST directly explains how the motion of the continents over 100 million years led to mountains and volcanoes in some places above land, and deep ocean trenches in other places beneath the ocean surface?

physics

chemistry

Earth science

Answer 2

Earth science

Question 3

Satellites orbiting Earth scan the light reflected from below, and the data can then be analyzed to get information about the objects that reflected the light. This technology is called “remote sensing.” For example, they can even distinguish between astroturf in a football field and real grass on the ground below, even though these look the same to the human eye.

Which field of science would MOST directly devise ways to detect and analyze reflected light obtained by remote sensing?

chemistry

physics

life science

Earth science

Answer 3

physics

Question 4

Which of these fields relies the MOST on laboratory studies?

chemistry

Earth science

Answer 4

chemistry

Question 5

Many species of fish contain a swim bladder within their body that is filled with gas and helps the fish to control and maintain their depth below the water. What two fields of science MOST directly explain the operation and evolution of the swim bladder of fish?

Earth science and life science

physics and chemistry

physics and life science

chemistry and Earth science

Answer 5

physics and life science

Question 6

When the electric eel needs electricity, its complex system of nerves simultaneously activates thousands of electricity-producing cells. As each cell receives the signal, it releases a tiny amount of the molecule called AChE. The study of the properties and interactions of AChE would be in the realm of ______?

Chemistry

Physics

Life Science
.

Answer 6

Chemisrty

Question 7

The statement, “The total energy in a closed system stays constant,” is based on many years of experimental observations. The statement is an example of a
.
Law

Theory

Hypothesis

Answer 7

Law

Question 8

While on a hiking trip, several children become sick after drinking water from a well. Which of the following is a hypothesis concerning this situation?

Most children were nauseous.

Bacteria in the well may have caused the sickness.

Everyone who drank the well water became sick.

The parents were very worried about the children.

Answer 8

Bacteria in the well may have caused the sickness.

Question 9

A scientific theory is discarded

Answer 9

if it contradicted by new experiments or observations

Question 10

In what sense was the ancient Ptolemaic system used to describe the motion of the planets a model?

It described the motion of the sun and planets along imaginary spheres.

It was based on the assumption of a flat Earth.

It described Earth orbiting the sun but neglected the motion of the moon.

It described Earth orbiting the sun but neglected Earth’s rotation on its axis.

Answer 10

It described the motion of the sun and planets along imaginary spheres.

Question 11

Someone hypothesizes that there are invisible beings living on Earth that cannot be detected by any possible means. What is the BEST reason why the scientific community would be unlikely to plan a scientific investigation to test the hypothesis?

There is no conceivable way to prove the hypothesis false.

Scientists do not like controversy.

The government cannot fund research of this sort.

It is worded as a religious question and, therefore, leads to personal conflicts.

Answer 11

There is no conceivable way to prove the hypothesis false.

Question 12

Which of these is true about scientific theories and scientific laws?

A theory is about something very specific, while a law covers a broad range of phenomena.

Laws are those theories that scientists have agreed at research conferences to accept.

Laws are theories that have been thoroughly tested and proved true.

A law describes something specific that always happens, while a theory explains why or how a range of phenomena happen.

Answer 12

A law describes something specific that always happens, while a theory explains why or how a range of phenomena happen.

Question 13

What has generally happened when new evidence was discovered that was inconsistent with a well-established theory?

The theory was usually modified.

The new evidence was ignored rather than allowed to overturn a good theory.

The theory was left unchanged if a committee of reputable scientists decided so.

The theory changed to become a law instead.

Answer 13

The theory was usually modified.

Question 14

Which of these has values that are expressed in terms of derived SI units?

speed

mass

length

time

Answer 14

speed

Question 15

What is the SI base unit for mass?

gram

kilogram

pound

ounce

Answer 15

kilogram

Question 16

Which pair of variables are inversely related to each other?

the speed traveled and the time needed to travel a specific distance

the speed of a river and volume of water that flows each minute

the length of a side of a square and the area of the square

the volume of a liquid and the mass of the liquid

Answer 16

the speed traveled and the time needed to travel a specific distance

Question 17

_________ is the study of atoms and molecules, their structures, and their interactions to form new substances.

Chemistry

Physics

Life Science

Answer 17

Chemistry

Question 18

Iron ore consists mainly of iron atoms and oxygen atoms joined to each other to form iron oxide. Which branch of physical science MOST directly deals with determining the kinds of rock formations likely to contain iron ore?

Earth science

physics

life science

chemistry

Answer 18

Earth science

Question 19

Which topic dealt with by physics would be the MOST DIRECTLY important in life science?

how the moon’s motion is affected by Earth’s motion

how drag forces influence the motion of bacteria as they swim through water

how sound waves travel through water

how protons and neutrons interact inside the nucleus

Answer 19

how drag forces influence the motion of bacteria as they swim through water

Question 20

At a scientific conference, a researcher suggests that fossil fuels did not originate from the decomposition of organic materials, but instead were produced by inorganic means. What does this statement represent?

experiment

scientific theory

scientific law

hypothesis

Answer 20

hypothesis

Question 21

Which of the following models can be touched?

physical

computational

mathematical

conceptual

Answer 21

physical

Question 22

Scientists discovered that the pressure, volume, and temperature of any gas are all related by a simple mathematical equation, to a good approximation, according to all available evidence. The mathematical equation giving this relationship is best described as a_____?

Law

Theory

Hypothesis
.

Answer 22

Law

Question 23

If new data were found to disagree with a long-standing theory, which of the following could happen?

The new data would be considered wrong.

A vote would be taken by scientists on whether to accept the new data.

The theory could be modified or discarded.

The theory would continue to be accepted.

Answer 23

The theory could be modified or discarded.

Question 24

Using the base SI unit for temperature, the boiling point of water can be written as

100 °F

373 K

100 K

Answer 24

373 K

Question 25

If each side of a square is decreased two times, the resulting area of the new square will__________
. Therefore, the area of the square is __________
the length of its sides.

Decrease

Increase

Indirectly related to

Directly related to

Answer 25

Decrease

Directly related to

Question 26

Which type of scientific study is BEST suited for collecting data that will be used to analyze statistical information about the kinds of meanders, or turns, in the path of rivers such as the one shown in the photograph below?

Image of a rock arch formed by wind and rain.

field study

laboratory study

controlled experiment

Answer 26

field study

Question 27

Which physical science MOST directly deals with the fundamental nature of time, space, energy, forces, and motion of matter?

Earth science

chemistry

life science

physics

Answer 27

physics

Question 28

A scientific procedure done in order to test a hypothesis is a(n) ____?
.
experiment

field study

hypothesis

Answer 28

experiment

Question 29

Science can be defined as

Answer 29

A body of Knowledge that is subject to change as more evidence is gathered

Question 30

Why is it useful for there to be an official size for each unit?

to encourage use of metric units

to keep units from getting too large or too small

to encourage people to include units in their calculated answers

to allow people in different locations to compare measured values

Answer 30

to allow people in different locations to compare measured values

Question 31

Which of the following is the closest to your height?

2 cm

2 mm

2 km

2 m

Answer 31

2 m

Question 32

Ocean tides are caused by the force of gravity mainly from the moon and secondarily from the sun as Earth rotates on its axis. Which two of the following physical sciences MOST directly deal with the tides and what causes them?

physics and Earth science

chemistry and Earth science

physics and chemistry

life science and Earth science

Answer 32

physics and Earth science

Question 33

Medical researchers want to be able to classify samples of cells by shape rapidly from the way light shining on the cells from a laser is scattered into different directions. Why might they run a computer program to calculate the scattering from different tiny egg-shaped particles for different lengths and widths instead of doing the tests on real cells?

It is messier to use real cells.

The length, width, and height of the model cells can be adjusted more easily than with real cells.

A model of the cells is more realistic than the real cells.

The calculated scattering from the model is more accurate than from real cells.

Answer 33

The length, width, and height of the model cells can be adjusted more easily than with real cells.

Question 34

When might scientists analyze or test a model instead of the real system of interest?

when more accurate results are needed

when the real system is simpler and easier to analyze or test

when the real system is too complex or difficult to analyze

Answer 34

when the real system is too complex or difficult to analyze

Question 35

Which of these BEST describes how atomic theory developed?

Many people at different times contributed to the discovery of the atomic nature of matter and subatomic particles.

J.J. Thomson discovered that matter consists of atomic nuclei and electrons.

Ancient scholars in Greece postulated that matter is made of atoms that consist of electrons circling nuclei.

John Dalton deduced that matter consisted of atoms made from electrons and nuclei.

Answer 35

Many people at different times contributed to the discovery of the atomic nature of matter and subatomic particles.

Question 36

You have a piece of play dough. If you cut the piece in two equal parts, its density will

Stay the same

will be halfed

will be doubled

Answer 36

Stay the same

Question 37

A mathematical model is used to predict the trajectory of a bullet fired from a gun.

Which discipline of physical science is used to develop this model?

Physics
Chemistry
Earth science
Astronomy

Answer 37

Physics

Question 38

An environmental scientist monitors pollutants in a lake.

Which two disciplines of physical science does this scientist use?

Choose 2 answers

Astronomy
Chemistry
Earth science
Physics

Answer 38

Chemistry

Earth science

Question 39

Which study involves both Earth science and physics?

Calculating how much energy is associated with a hurricane

Measuring the energy produced by a generator

Comparing the composition of crude oil from different regions

Monitoring changes in phosphorus levels of a lake

Answer 39

Calculating how much energy is associated with a hurricane

Question 40

Which question could be answered with a controlled experiment?

Does ice melt faster in an empty glass or in a glass full of water?
Do all planets have the same shape of orbit around the sun?
What is the maximum distance between Earth and Jupiter?
What is the length of the longest river in North America?

Answer 40

Does ice melt faster in an empty glass or in a glass full of water?

Question 41

Which topic would be appropriate for a controlled experiment?

Determining how fast different chemical pollutants dissolve in water

Comparing the elements present in different stars

Measuring how fast a river flows

Predicting the path of a tornado

Answer 41

Determining how fast different chemical pollutants dissolve in water

Question 42

Which question requires a controlled experiment to answer?

Which type of rock contains the most calcium?
Which planet has the most moons?
Which elements are found in Earth’s atmosphere?
Which fossils formed earliest in Earth’s history?

Answer 42

Which type of rock contains the most calcium?

Question 43

Sir Isaac Newton discovered that the force of gravity between two masses increases if the masses increase, and decreases if the distance between the masses increases. No experiments have ever contradicted this relationship.

Which type of scientific statement is this?

Hypothesis
Theory
Law
Inference

Answer 43

Law

Question 44

The well-accepted scientific explanation for many characteristics of Earth’s crust states that the crust is broken into several large plates. These plates move slowly over the mantle below because of convection and other processes. Earthquakes and volcanoes are most common at places where the plates interact. Evidence from physics, chemistry, and geology supports this explanation.

Which type of scientific idea is this explanation an example of?

Hypothesis
Theory
Law
Prediction

Answer 44

Theory

Question 45

A student proposes that sugar will dissolve faster in rubbing alcohol than in water. The student reasons that sugar and rubbing alcohol both contain carbon so they will mix more easily.

Which type of scientific idea is the student’s proposal an example of?

Hypothesis
Theory
Law
Observation

Answer 45

Hypothesis

Question 46

Why was the shrinking Earth idea replaced by the theory of plate tectonics?

Plate tectonics was a new theory, which made it more reliable.

Plate tectonics explained observations about Earth that the shrinking Earth idea could not explain.

Geologists voted on which theory to accept, and chose plate tectonics.

Many well-known geologists were involved in proposing plate tectonics.

Answer 46

Plate tectonics explained observations about Earth that the shrinking Earth idea could not explain.

Question 47

Astronomers have long accepted that plate tectonics exists nowhere in our solar system except on Earth. In 2011, a scientist analyzed 100 NASA-space-mission photographs of Valles Marineris on Mars, the longest known series of canyons in the solar system. The scientist found that Valles Marineris showed features found only in locations on Earth where major tectonic plates divide.

What would be the appropriate response of scientists to this information?

Reject plate tectonics on Mars as the explanation because it contradicts accepted science

Decide whether to accept plate tectonics on Mars based on the reputation of scientists involved

Hold public debates among scientists and then vote whether plate tectonics occurs on Mars

Carry out further research to gain more understanding of possible plate tectonics on Mars

Answer 47

Carry out further research to gain more understanding of possible plate tectonics on Mars

Question 48

According to the theory of plate tectonics, volcanoes are especially likely to form along plate boundaries because of rising magma. New satellite data mapping the ocean floor reveals thousands of seamounts, which are small volcanoes. Some of the seamounts are in lines that could correspond to past or present plate boundaries, but many are not aligned in this way.

How should scientists appropriately respond to the idea that some new mechanism of forming the volcanoes is involved?

Reject it because it contradicts the theory of plate tectonics
Accept it if the person proposing it is a credible expert on plate tectonics.
Carry out more research to understand better how the seamounts form
Stage public debates to get a consensus on how the seamounts form

Answer 48

Carry out more research to understand better how the seamounts form

Question 49

For many decades, scientists thought they understood how ozone breaks down in the stratosphere, creating ozone holes. However, new data show significantly lower reaction rates than can be explained by the long-held model.

What is the appropriate scientific approach for dealing with this contradiction?

Conduct additional experiments to confirm the new data

Ignore the new data because it contradicts the accepted model

Ask the general public to vote on which data are correct

Accept whichever data the most famous scientists support

Answer 49

Conduct additional experiments to confirm the new data

Question 50

For almost 1500 years most scientists in Europe accepted Ptolemy’s geocentric planetary model that suggested the sun revolved around Earth. By the eighteenth century, most scientists supported a heliocentric model that suggests that Earth revolves around the sun.

What is an appropriate scientific basis for this change in view?

The most prominent scientist that supported the geocentric model died

The existing theory was changed to account for new data

The old theory was voted down by a scientific council

The heliocentric model was supported by a popular scientist

Answer 50

The existing theory was changed to account for new data