Explanations in Science

What makes a scientific explanation good, and how explanations change with evidence.

9 questions, free, marked as you go with a worked explanation on every one.

What this covers

What makes an explanation scientific?
What is a hypothesis?
New evidence contradicts a widely accepted scientific explanation. What should happen?
What makes one explanation better than another? Select all that apply.
What is the difference between an observation and an inference?
Why is it useful when a scientific explanation makes a prediction?
A student tests whether salt water affects germination. Out of 25 seeds watered with plain water, 18 sprouted. Out of 25 seeds watered with salt water, 6 sprouted. How many percentage points higher was the sprouting rate for the plain water group?
A student notices that in her town both ice cream sales and cases of sunburn rise in July, and concludes that eating ice cream causes sunburn. What is the main problem with her explanation?
Use the table. Which explanation is better supported, based on the evidence behind it?