Question

Identify each of the following as being most like an observation, a law, or a theory. (a) All coastal areas experience two high tides and two low tides each day. (b) The tides in Earth's oceans are caused mainly by the gravitational attraction of the moon. (c) Yesterday, high tide in San Francisco Bay occurred at 2:43 a.m. and 3:07 p.m. (d) Tides are higher at the full moon and new moon than at other times of the month.

Answer 1

The four statements provided are categorized as a law, theory, observation, and both a law and an observation based on their descriptions of natural patterns, explanations of phenomena, and specific data points.

Step-by-step explanation:

The statements given by the student each exemplify different elements of scientific understanding: observations, laws, and theories. Let's identify each one accordingly:

• (a) All coastal areas experience two high tides and two low tides each day. - This statement is most like a law. It describes a consistent pattern in nature that is observed to occur everywhere on Earth's coasts.
• (b) The tides in Earth's oceans are caused mainly by the gravitational attraction of the moon. - This statement is most like a theory. It provides an explanation for the observed pattern of tides based on the gravitational influence of the Moon.
• (c) Yesterday, high tide in San Francisco Bay occurred at 2:43 a.m. and 3:07 p.m. - This statement is most like an observation. It's a specific measurement or data point that was taken at a particular place and time.
• (d) Tides are higher at the full moon and new moon than at other times of the month. - This statement can be considered both a law and an observation. It is a law because it describes the regular occurrence of spring tides during full or new moons, and it is based on repeated observations that confirm this pattern.

Answer 2

Answer: a) Observation b) theory c) observation d) law

Step-by-step explanation:

As we know that

Observation is the process of monitoring a particular thing very closely.

Law is the way to explain the body of observation with a help of mathematically statement or verbally. It represents the cause and effect between the elements which is generally observed.

Theory is the explanation that is tested repeatedly and verified with some method.

(a) All coastal areas experience two high tides and two low tides each day. - observation

(b) The tides in Earth's oceans are caused mainly by the gravitational attraction of the moon. - theory

(c) Yesterday, high tide in San Francisco Bay occurred at 2:43 a.m. and 3:07 p.m. - observation

(d) Tides are higher at the full moon and new moon than at other times of the month. - law