Scientific Theories Flashcards

1️⃣ Familiarise yourself with the flashcards:

  • Look through all the flashcards to see what's on both sides.
  • Make sure you understand the information on each card. If something's unclear, click the link to the revision notes at the bottom of the page for more details.

2️⃣ Test yourself:

  • Look at the question or prompt on each card and try to remember the answer before flipping it over.
  • Check the answer and make a note of any cards you find challenging and need to go over more.

3️⃣ Consistently Review and Practice:

  • Use spaced repetition: spend more time on the cards you struggle with and go over them more often.
  • Regularly review all the flashcards to help you better understand and retain the information over time.

Note: We may include questions that have multiple correct answers. It's useful to remember specific examples to understand these concepts better.

PERSONALISED 1-TO-1 TUTORING

Need more help on this topic? Get 1-to-1 support

Get support with clear explanations, practice and feedback (Ages 5 to 16).

  • DBS-checked tutors
  • Flexible times
  • Parents can be updated

Want an ad-free experience? Subscribe to remove ads

What is a scientific theory?

A scientific theory is a well-tested explanation for how or why something happens in nature, based on lots of evidence.

How is a scientific theory different from a guess or opinion?

A guess or opinion does not have to be tested, but a scientific theory is based on many careful observations and experiments.

What is a hypothesis in science?

A hypothesis is a testable idea or prediction that scientists check with observations or experiments.

How is a hypothesis different from a scientific theory?

A hypothesis is an idea that is still being tested, while a theory is an explanation that has already been strongly supported by many tests.

What makes a good scientific theory?

A good theory explains many observations, makes clear predictions, fits with other scientific ideas, and can be tested again and again.

Why do scientists say that theories can never be proved 100% true?

New evidence might appear in the future, so scientists can never be completely certain, only very confident if a theory keeps passing tests.

What happens if new evidence disagrees with an existing scientific theory?

Scientists may change the theory or replace it with a new one that better explains all the evidence.

Why are scientific theories useful to scientists?

They help scientists understand patterns in nature and make predictions that can be tested in new investigations.

Give one example of a scientific theory used in biology.

One example is the theory of evolution by natural selection, which explains how species change over time.

How does a scientific theory become widely accepted?

It becomes widely accepted when many scientists test it in different ways and the results all support the same explanation.