Lesson Worksheet: Drawing Conclusions Physics
In this worksheet, we will practice analyzing and interpreting information in order to determine what can be known from it using scientific methods.
Q1:
Newton’s first law of motion states that an object in motion will not change its speed unless something pushes or pulls the object. A student gives a single, short push to a ball and the ball rolls along flat ground. The student observes that the ball slows down but does not see anything push or pull the ball. Which of the following conclusions that the student might arrive at is correct?
- ANewton’s first law of motion is incorrect.
- BEarth’s motion around itself opposes the ball’s motion.
- CThe ground is not as flat as the student originally thought, so the ball was actually rolling uphill.
- DThe ball is pulled or pushed by something that the student cannot see.
Q2:
A student observes that the temperature of some water placed on a hot plate increases over a two-minute time interval. The student concludes that the temperature increase of the water will be fifty times greater if the water is left on the hot plate for a time interval that is fifty times longer. Which of the following statements about the student’s conclusion is correct?
- AThe water will not increase in temperature after two minutes.
- BThe student’s conclusion is correct.
- CHow much the temperature of the water changes depends on how much the water temperature is higher or lower than the hot plate. The more the water increases in temperature, the slower it will continue to increase in temperature.
Q3:
A scientist performs an experiment. He observes that a sample of a substance normally floats on water but sinks in the water if the sample is first heated to a temperature greater than then immediately placed in room-temperature water. Determine whether the experiment supports, contradicts, or neither supports nor contradicts each of the following statements.
A sample that has been heated to a temperature above sinks if the water it is placed in is at room temperature.
- AThe experiment neither supports nor contradicts this statement.
- BThe experiment contradicts this statement.
- CThe experiment supports this statement.
A sample that has been heated to a temperature above sinks if the water it is immediately placed in is at a temperature that is less than but greater than room temperature.
- AThe experiment supports this statement.
- BThe experiment contradicts this statement.
- CThe experiment neither supports nor contradicts this statement.
A sample that has been heated to a temperature above will not sink if it has a temperature less than when it is placed in water at room temperature.
- AThe experiment supports this statement.
- BThe experiment contradicts this statement.
- CThe experiment neither supports nor contradicts this statement.
An unheated sample would sink when placed in water that has a temperature of at least .
- AThe experiment neither supports nor contradicts this statement.
- BThe experiment supports this statement.
- CThe experiment contradicts this statement.
Q4:
A student does an experiment involving heating cubes made of iron, stone, and glass. The student observes that the cubes all expand the same amount when heated. Which of the following conclusions can the student correctly reach?
- AIron, stone, and glass all expand when heated.
- BIron, stone, and glass all expand the same amount when heated equally.
- CIron, stone, and glass all contract when cooled.
- DCubic objects expand when heated.
Q5:
Two runners run around a circular track, starting separated by a straight-line distance shown in the diagram. Runner B starts to run faster than runner A and the distance between them increases. Runner B concludes that the more his speed increases, while runner A’s speed stays constant, the greater the distance between them will be, as shown in the graph. Which of the following statements about runner B’s prediction is correct?
- ARunner B’s prediction is incorrect.
- BRunner B’s prediction is correct, unless he passes the point on the track where he is on the opposite side of the track to runner A.
- CRunner B’s prediction is correct.