Scientific Theories and Laws ESSENTIA
L
QUESTION
SC.7.N.3.1 Recognize and :
explain the difference between How can
theories and laws and give you
several examples of scientific differentia
theories and the evidence that te
supports them. between
scientific
A scientist spends a month observing
two prairie animals, prairie dogs and
ferrets, in their natural habitat. Based
on his observations, the scientist states
Bell that ferrets are more active than prairie
dogs. Why is his statement NOT a
scientific theory?
Ring a) It is an observation of something in
nature.
er b) Prairie dogs and ferrets are different
species.
c) The statement is not widely accepted
and supported by sufficient evidence.
d) The scientist has not conducted enough
trials to draw a valid conclusion.
Have students watch the
TedEd video: What’s the
Ted Difference between a
ED Scientific Law and Theory? By
Matt Anticole (5:11 minutes)
Video at:
https://www.youtube.com/wat
ch?v=GyN2RhbhiEU
I DO
Guide
d
Notes
“If a hypothesis is
supported, it becomes
TRUE? a theory. If a theory is
OR proven it becomes a
FALSE? law”.
FALSE: Theories and Laws are different
ways to look at how the world works.
Theories don’t become laws don’t
become theories.
Scientific Theories explain how a
natural phenomenon works.
Theories are the best explanation for a
Scientifi phenomenon with all of the available
evidence.
c Theories can change when new
Theorie evidence is presented.
Examples of common theories:
s Theory of Plate Tectonics
Theory of Evolution
Cell Theory
Atomic Theory
Scientific laws describe a natural
phenomenon or relationship that
always occurs under specific
conditions.
They can often be represented
Scientific mathematically and provide no
explanation why a phenomenon
Laws occurs.
Examples of Laws:
oLaw of Universal Gravitation
oLaw of Superposition
oLaws of Conservation of Mass &
Energy
Both scientific theories and
scientific laws are based on
Scientifi the results of many
investigations, are supported
c by a large amount of
Theorie evidence, are widely accepted
by the majority of scientists in
s vs the given field of study, and
Laws can be modified as new
evidence is discovered.
We Do
Collaborati
ve
Activity
A scientist spends a month observing
two prairie animals, prairie dogs and
ferrets, in their natural habitat. Based
on his observations, the scientist states
Revisiti that ferrets are more active than prairie
dogs. Why is his statement NOT a
ng the scientific theory?
Bell a) It is an observation of something in
nature.
Ringer b) Prairie dogs and ferrets are different
species.
c) The statement is not widely accepted
and supported by sufficient evidence. *
d) The scientist has not conducted enough
trials to draw a valid conclusion.
YOU DO
TIME!
Scientists create both scientific theories and scientific
laws as they make observations and conduct
experiments about the natural world. Which of the
following statements most accurately compares the
difference between scientific theories and scientific
You Do laws?
a) Scientific laws are based on evidence, while
Questio scientific theories are not.
b) Scientific theories involve only biology, while laws
n #1 involve all types of science.
c) Scientific theories involve mathematical equations,
while scientific laws are based on observations.
d) Scientific theories are ideas that explain natural
events, while scientific laws more reliably predict
natural events.
The development of microscopes allowed
scientists to investigate living things in
greater detail. Through many
investigations, scientists found evidence
You Do that all living things are made of one or
more basic units that divide to form new
Questio units. Scientists used their evidence to
explain the relationship between these
n #2 “building blocks of life” and the organisms
to which they belong. What are these
explanations called?
a) Cell theory
b) Germ theory
c) Law of mitosis
d) Law of biogenesis
Atomic theory, which describes the atoms that make up
matter, has been explored for centuries. Scientists in ancient
Greece first proposed that matter was made of units called
atoms. For many years, scientists thought atoms were solid
and could not be divided. Then, in the nineteenth century,
scientists began to discover the particles that make up atoms.
Modern techniques have allowed scientists to split atoms into
You Do increasingly smaller particles. Which of the following
statements about theories is supported by the history of the
Questio
atomic theory?
a) If new evidence contradicts earlier theories, it is a result of
an experimental error.
n #3 b) Experiments with modern equipment cannot be used to
support earlier theories.
c) A theory is discarded when new evidence contradicts a
part of the theory.
d) Theories can change in response to new evidence.
How can you
CLOSIN
differentiate
G between
(Exit scientific
Ticket) Theories and
Laws?
