Question 7 • 2001340-Environmental Science Sem 1 - Pearson
In the 1700s, Isaac Newton determined that the force of gravity between two objects depends on the mass of the objects and distance between them. He reasoned that things fall toward Earth because it has so much mass. Then in the 1900s, Albert Einstein worked with new discoveries, such as the fact that light always travels the same speed, and he determined a new explanation of how and why gravity works. Mass and distance still matter in Einstein’s explanation, but speed also matters. Newton’s explanation still works for objects close to Earth, but Einstein’s explanation works for all of the objects in the universe.
Answer
A
When new scientists have different beliefs than older scientists, they will search for new facts.
B
All scientists can observe the same facts and determine different explanations about them.
C
If scientists establish explanations based on data, then the explanations are true and do not need to be changed.
D
Scientists make improved explanations by building on old ideas and working with new data.
Explanation
Newton explained gravity using mass and distance, and his explanation still works for objects close to Earth. Einstein built on those ideas but incorporated new discoveries, including that light travels at the same speed, to create a broader explanation that works throughout the universe. This supports the idea that scientists improve explanations by building on earlier ideas and using new data.
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