Question

Which of the following is an example of a scientific theory?
Select one:
a. Scientists use three mathematical laws to predict the movement of planets in the solar system.
b. Scientists observe the effect of climate changes on plants and primary producers living in the ocean.
c. Scientists use the relationship between the DNA of various species to estimate how long ago they diverged evolutionarily from each other.
d. Scientists agree that there is an amount of attraction between any two objects, called gravity, and can describe the attraction in mathematical terms.

Answer 1

@ganeshie8 @AllTehMaffs

Answer 2

This is a terrible question. All I'm sure about is that it's not B.....

Answer 3

It's probably D, because they use the word "agree" instead of "use," but I dunno.

Answer 4

hmmmm @ganeshie8

Answer 5

I don't think it's A, either, because there's no explanation of *why the planets move, it's just a prediction of where they'll be. That's observation and data matching. Probably... :P

Answer 6

And it's probably not C, because they're *using a scientific theory to deduce something- it itself is not specifically a theory.

Answer 7

oh ok hmmm im waiting for @

Answer 8

@ganeshie8

Answer 9

Hmm, from what I know a theory is like a generalization to a particular phenomenon. So from what I understand, most of the statements there are like hypothesis testing. So which one do you think?

So - which one does you think sounds like an explanation to a phenomenon or scientific event?

Answer 10

i think a and d are scientific laws, not scientific throries

Answer 11

a looks like kepler law
d looks like law of gravity

Answer 12

good point

Answer 13

and b is just an observation and it doesnt explain any particular thing as @Miracrown says

Answer 14

Hmm, actually I was also looking at a and d. Because the other 2 sounds like hypothesis testing.

Answer 15

ask me

Answer 16

wat is the ansur ? :)

Answer 17

so what is the answer

Answer 18

Your call I think - we've reached an impasse ^_^

Answer 19

I can't tell you, because that would be cheating! ;)

Answer 20

Is it between A and D

Answer 21

Well I'm leaning more towards d. But I am not 100% sure.

Answer 22

between A and D
like B and C? because B and C are between A and D

Answer 23

lol

Answer 24

lol stop trying to confuse me

Answer 25

a scientific theory is a statement with predictive capability, falsifiable and may be expressed in mathematical expressions.

Answer 26

Yup, so a theory is a scientific explanation of the natural world. The explanation has to be repeatedly confirmed through observations and evidence.

So a. Is an example of scientists using models to make predication about planet orbits. - That really isn't a theory.

B. Is just observations some scientists are making - again, not a theory.

C. Is like a. Scientists using models to make predictions.

D. Is an idea that many many scientists agree on, and that idea can be explained by mathematical formulas, so it has very strong evidence it is true.

That one sounds like theory, and its not just any theory they are taking about, its the Theory of Relativity, by Einstein.

So does that make sense, how all those others aren't quite the same as D?