Year 7 Science · Unit 4 · Lesson 2
Foundation Worksheet
Learning Goals
Match each term to its meaning
Write the letter of the correct meaning next to each term. Each letter is used once.
| Term | Letter | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Hypothesis | A. A statement that describes a pattern seen again and again | |
| Scientific theory | B. Fellow experts checking work for mistakes before it is shared widely | |
| Scientific law | C. Other scientists repeating an experiment to see if they get the same result | |
| Collaborative | D. A well-tested explanation of why something happens, backed by lots of evidence | |
| Replication | E. Working together with other people | |
| Peer review | F. A testable idea or prediction that has not been checked yet |
True or false? Fix the false ones
Circle T or F. If a statement is false, correct it on the line.
1. Scientists read what others have already found, so they do not have to start from zero.
Correct it:
2. A scientific law describes what happens; a scientific theory explains why it happens.
Correct it:
3. In science, a theory is just a wild guess.
Correct it:
4. If careful new evidence disagrees with a theory, scientists take it seriously and look again.
Correct it:
5. Once it has enough evidence, a theory turns into a law.
Correct it:
Sort it: does it build trust?
Does each event make an idea more trustworthy? Write each one in the correct box. The boxes do not hold the same number of items.
Builds trust
Does not build trust
1. Explain what it means to say that scientific research is collaborative and builds on the work of others. Give one Australian example.
Read the data: five classes, one pendulum
Scenario
Five classes at different schools each build the same pendulum: a 50 cm string with the same 100 g mass on the end. Each class uses a stopwatch to time 10 full swings, then shares its result.
| Class | A | B | C | D | E |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Time (s) | 14.2 | 14.0 | 14.3 | 18.9 | 14.1 |
Source: made-up class results for this worksheet.
2. Which class’s result does not agree with the others? Suggest one mistake that could explain it.
3. Class A says: “Our result can be trusted.” Use the idea of replication to explain whether Table 1 supports Class A. Then say what should happen about Class D’s result.
4. Priya says: “I got one good result in my experiment, so my idea is proven true straight away.” Explain why this is not how science works.
Match each term to its meaning
Hypothesis → F; Scientific theory → D; Scientific law → A; Collaborative → E; Replication → C; Peer review → B.
True or false
1. True. 2. True. 3. False: a theory is a well-tested explanation backed by lots of evidence. 4. True. 5. False: a theory never turns into a law; a law describes what happens, a theory explains why.
Sort it: does it build trust?
Builds trust: labs in five countries repeat it; fellow experts check the report; the team publishes its method. Does not build trust: a famous scientist on TV; secret data; one lucky result; changing the data; thousands sharing it online.
Question 1
Collaborative: scientists work in teams and share results (1). Building on others: each discovery uses what earlier scientists found (1). Example: CSIRO teams developing fast wireless internet, or astronomers sharing Murriyang at Parkes (1). [3 marks]
Question 2
Class D (18.9 s) (1). Any sensible mistake, such as counting more than 10 swings, stopping the stopwatch late, or using a longer string (1). [2 marks]
Question 3
Yes: B, C and E repeated the test and got almost the same time, 14.0 to 14.3 s (1). Separate teams getting the same result is what makes it trustworthy (1). Class D should check its method and repeat the test, not ignore or believe the odd result (1). [3 marks]
Question 4
Marking guide: 1 one result could be a mistake, luck or a one-off; 1 replication: others repeat the experiment to see if they get the same result; 1 peer review: experts check the work for mistakes; 1 theories and laws rest on repeated experiments and observations; 1 Marshall and Warren were doubted until labs worldwide repeated their work. [5 marks]
Model answer: One result could be a mistake or luck, so it is a start, not proof. Experts peer review the work for mistakes, and others replicate it to see if they get the same result. Theories and laws are trusted because they rest on repeated experiments and observations. Marshall and Warren’s ulcer idea was accepted only after labs worldwide repeated their work.
Common error: thinking a theory is a guess, or that a theory “graduates” into a law.