Difference between revisions of "Evidence"
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===Meaning=== | ===Meaning=== | ||
[[Evidence]] is the [[observation]]s, [[Reading|readings]] or [[Measure|measurements]] that a [[scientist]] will use to test whether a [[hypothesis]] is correct. | [[Evidence]] is the [[observation]]s, [[Reading|readings]] or [[Measure|measurements]] that a [[scientist]] will use to test whether a [[hypothesis]] is correct. | ||
| + | |||
| + | ===About Evidence=== | ||
| + | : There are different kinds of [[evidence]] but scientists don't trust all of them. | ||
| + | : In science [[evidence]] must be [[repeatable]]. If you make an [[observation]] or [[measure]]ment once, you should be able to do it again and again and the [[results]] shouldn't change. | ||
| + | : In science [[evidence]] must be [[reproducible]]. So if one person makes an [[Observe|observation]] or [[Measure|measurement]], every other scientist in the world should be able to make the same [[Observe|observation]]. If they cannot; then scientists don't accept it as good [[evidence]]. | ||
| + | : Stories, or [[observe|observations]] made by non-scientists, that cannot be [[repeatable|repeated]] are called [[Anecdotal Evidence|anecdotal evidence]] which is not accepted by scientists because people could have made a mistake or be lying. | ||
===Examples=== | ===Examples=== | ||
Revision as of 21:34, 29 November 2018
Contents
Key Stage 2
Meaning
Evidence is the observations and measurements a scientist gets from an investigation.
About Evidence
- There are different kinds of evidence but scientists don't trust all of them.
- In science evidence must be repeatable. If you make an observation or measurement once, you should be able to do it again and again and the results shouldn't change.
- In science evidence must be reproducible. So if one person makes an observation or measurement, every other scientist in the world should be able to make the same observation. If they cannot; then scientists don't accept it as good evidence.
Examples
| Claim | Evidence |
| Plants need water to live. | Plants in dry soil wilt and then die. |
| Paper is flammable. | When you place a flame under paper the paper catches fire. |
| Cats are mammals. | They have fur, they give birth to live babies, they feed their babies with milk. |
Key Stage 3
Meaning
Evidence is the observations, readings or measurements that a scientist will use to test whether a hypothesis is correct.
About Evidence
- There are different kinds of evidence but scientists don't trust all of them.
- In science evidence must be repeatable. If you make an observation or measurement once, you should be able to do it again and again and the results shouldn't change.
- In science evidence must be reproducible. So if one person makes an observation or measurement, every other scientist in the world should be able to make the same observation. If they cannot; then scientists don't accept it as good evidence.
- Stories, or observations made by non-scientists, that cannot be repeated are called anecdotal evidence which is not accepted by scientists because people could have made a mistake or be lying.
Examples
The Earth is Round: Observation - The tip of a mast always appears before the rest of the ship on an ocean. Measurements - On the 23rd of June a stick at the equator has no shadow. In Alexandria the shadow is 3cm long, in Paris it is 5cm long and in London the shadow is 8cm long.