1 | Page
Michigan State University
CEM 141 Cem 141 Exam 1 Questions and
Answers 2026 Latest Update
What do scientists do? Ans: 1. ask questions
2. design experiments
3. gather and analyze data and evidence (record their results and think
about them)
4.make claims based on data and evidence that answer the question
5. develop models, explanations, and theories about how and why the
universe behaves as it does
scientific questions Ans: questions that can be answered by doing
experiments, making observations, taking measurements. Experiments must
be replicable.
what do you need if you're going to make a claim? Ans: evidence
a scientific model Ans: can be a drawing or a graph or a diagram or an
equation. We use models to help us make sense by predicting what will
happen and explaining how something happens.
constructing a scientific explanation Ans: -Claim
-Evidence
-Reasoning
claim Ans: the target of your explanation
evidence Ans: the data or scientific principle you are using to support your
claim
reasoning Ans: the connection between your claim and evidence
© 2026 All rights reserved
, 2 | Page
scientific theory has to be... Ans: based on evidence
a scientific theory Ans: the best available explanation of the
evidence/data/observations
a scientific theory must be Ans: testable and falsifiable
What's the difference between a law and a theory Ans: a law describes the
phenomenon by telling you what
a theory explains the phenomenon by telling you why
A law Ans: tells you what
A theory Ans: tells you why
Quote about atoms Ans: "all things are made of atoms—little particles that
move around in perpetual motion, attracting each other when they are a
little distance apart, but repelling on being squeezed into one another" -
Richard Feynman
Which has atoms in it?
A. heat
B. cells
C. air
D. gold Ans: Cells, Air, and Gold
Which is biggest?
-an atom
-a molecule
-a cell
-it depends Ans: it depends because the question is vague... some molecules
are smaller than atoms etc
How big do you thing an atom of H is?
- 0.1cm (0.1x10^-2m)
© 2026 All rights reserved
Michigan State University
CEM 141 Cem 141 Exam 1 Questions and
Answers 2026 Latest Update
What do scientists do? Ans: 1. ask questions
2. design experiments
3. gather and analyze data and evidence (record their results and think
about them)
4.make claims based on data and evidence that answer the question
5. develop models, explanations, and theories about how and why the
universe behaves as it does
scientific questions Ans: questions that can be answered by doing
experiments, making observations, taking measurements. Experiments must
be replicable.
what do you need if you're going to make a claim? Ans: evidence
a scientific model Ans: can be a drawing or a graph or a diagram or an
equation. We use models to help us make sense by predicting what will
happen and explaining how something happens.
constructing a scientific explanation Ans: -Claim
-Evidence
-Reasoning
claim Ans: the target of your explanation
evidence Ans: the data or scientific principle you are using to support your
claim
reasoning Ans: the connection between your claim and evidence
© 2026 All rights reserved
, 2 | Page
scientific theory has to be... Ans: based on evidence
a scientific theory Ans: the best available explanation of the
evidence/data/observations
a scientific theory must be Ans: testable and falsifiable
What's the difference between a law and a theory Ans: a law describes the
phenomenon by telling you what
a theory explains the phenomenon by telling you why
A law Ans: tells you what
A theory Ans: tells you why
Quote about atoms Ans: "all things are made of atoms—little particles that
move around in perpetual motion, attracting each other when they are a
little distance apart, but repelling on being squeezed into one another" -
Richard Feynman
Which has atoms in it?
A. heat
B. cells
C. air
D. gold Ans: Cells, Air, and Gold
Which is biggest?
-an atom
-a molecule
-a cell
-it depends Ans: it depends because the question is vague... some molecules
are smaller than atoms etc
How big do you thing an atom of H is?
- 0.1cm (0.1x10^-2m)
© 2026 All rights reserved
