The Scientific Revolution: observing, testing and new tools

Grade 7 Social Studies Worksheet - Challenge Me

Circle the best answer.

1. Read this first

   Testing ideas

   With cards in time order: [1] the 1600s: scientists come to rely on regular observation, with the eye and with instruments, and on experiments; [2] the 1670s: Antonie van Leeuwenhoek explores tiny living things with his microscope; the Royal Society publishes his letters; [3] 1687: Newton's Principia states his laws of motion. Excerpt (Newton, Principia (1687), Law I; English translation by Andrew Motte (revised by N. W. Chittenden), 1846, p. 83): "Every body perseveres in its state of rest, or of uniform motion in a right [straight] line, unless it is compelled to change that state by forces impressed thereon."; [4] today: the scientific method (summary in our words): observe, ask a question, make a hypothesis, predict, test by experiment, then keep, change or drop the hypothesis. Arrows (this made the next one possible): 1 → 2, 1 → 3, 2 → 4, 3 → 4. Below the strip: Newton wrote the Principia in Latin. The excerpt is from Motte's English translation, as revised in 1846.

2. 1.

   What did Leeuwenhoek explore with his microscope, Zee asks?

   • The Moon's mountains
   • The orbits of planets
   • Jupiter's moons
   • Tiny living things
3. 2.

   How did Leeuwenhoek share his discoveries, Ari asks?

   • In a painting
   • In letters the Royal Society published
   • In a book written by Newton called the Principia
   • He kept them secret
4. 3.

   What does the first card say scientists came to rely on, Bo asks?

   • Observation and experiments
   • Old books, with no testing
   • Guessing
   • Telescopes, and nothing else
5. 4.

   In Law I, what can change a body's state, Jun asks?

   • Its color
   • Nothing can change it
   • Time passing
   • Forces acting on it
6. 5.

   The Law I excerpt is from an 1846 printing. When did Newton first publish it, Kira asks?

   • 1543
   • 1610
   • 1687
   • 1846
7. 6.

   In the scientific method, what is a hypothesis, Luz asks?

   • The last step
   • A testable idea that might explain something
   • A tool for seeing far
   • A proven fact
8. 7.

   An experiment does not match the prediction. What should a scientist do next, Milo asks?

   • Keep the hypothesis unchanged
   • Change or drop the hypothesis
   • Hide the result
   • Stop observing
9. 8.

   Why do two arrows lead to the scientific method card, Noah asks?

   • One card made it alone
   • The method came first
   • The arrows show dates
   • Both tools and tested laws fed the method
10. 9.

    Pia's note says, "A hypothesis is a fact that has been proven." Which fix is right?

    • Leave it: hypotheses are facts that are proven
    • Change "hypothesis" to "orbit"
    • Change "fact" to "telescope"
    • Change it: it is an idea to be tested
11. 10.

    Ren's note says, "Newton's Law I says moving things always stop by themselves." Which fix is right?

    • Change "moving" to "glowing"
    • Change "Newton" to "Galileo"
    • Leave it: things stop by themselves
    • Change it: they keep moving unless a force acts