Year 9 Science · Unit 4 · Lesson 2
Challenge Worksheet
Learning Goals
Odd one out
Circle the item that does not belong in each group. Then explain why it doesn't fit in the answer column.
| # | Group | Your answer (odd one + reason) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Testable Falsifiable Measurable Popular | |
| 2 | This soap removes more grease This crystal has healing energy This battery lasts longer This fertiliser raises yield | |
| 3 | Number of tomatoes counted Mass lost to evaporation "It just feels healthier" UV blocked by sunscreen | |
| 4 | A claim A hypothesis A fair investigation A personal opinion |
Evaluate the claim
Someone claims...
A social media advertisement says: "Wearing our magnetic copper insole unlocks your body's natural energy field and makes you feel better all over. Thousands of happy customers agree, so you know it works! If you don't feel a difference, your energy flow is simply still blocked." The advertisement has no measurements and no study attached.
(a) State at least two reasons this claim, as written, cannot be scientifically tested. Use the ideas of measurability and falsifiability in your answer.
(b) The line "if you don't feel a difference, your energy flow is still blocked" is a problem for science. Explain why a claim built with this kind of escape route can never be shown false.
(c) Rewrite the claim so it becomes testable, then design a fair investigation to test it. Name your hypothesis, what you would change, what you would measure, and what you would keep the same. Explain why your design is scientific.
Wrap Up
In one sentence, what was the main idea of this lesson?