MSU Cem 141 Exam 1 Updated Actual Questions and Correct
Answers (2026-2027)
Question 1.
What do scientists do?
Correct Answer: 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
Question 2.
scientific questions
Correct Answer: questions that can be answered by doing experiments, making
observations, taking measurements. Experiments must be replicable.
Question 3.
what do you need if you're going to make a claim?
Correct Answer: evidence
Question 4.
a scientific model
Correct Answer: 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.
Question 5.
constructing a scientific explanation
Correct Answer: -Claim -Evidence -Reasoning
Question 6.
claim
Correct Answer: the target of your explanation
,Question 7.
evidence
Correct Answer: the data or scientific principle you are using to support your
claim
Question 8.
reasoning
Correct Answer: the connection between your claim and evidence
Question 9.
scientific theory has to be...
Correct Answer: based on evidence
Question 10.
a scientific theory
Correct Answer: the best available explanation of the
evidence/data/observations
Question 11.
a scientific theory must be
Correct Answer: testable and falsifiable
Question 12.
What's the difference between a law and a theory
Correct Answer: a law describes the phenomenon by telling you what a theory
explains the phenomenon by telling you why
Question 13.
A law
Correct Answer: tells you what
Question 14.
A theory
Correct Answer: tells you why
, Question 15.
Quote about atoms
Correct Answer: "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
Question 16.
Which has atoms in it?
A. heat
B. cells
C. air
D. gold
Correct Answer: Cells, Air, and Gold
Question 17.
Which is biggest? -an atom -a molecule -a cell -it depends
Correct Answer: it depends because the question is vague... some molecules are
smaller than atoms etc
Question 18.
How big do you thing an atom of H is?
- 0.1cm (0.1x10^-2m) -0.1mm (0.1x10^-3m) -0.1micrometer (0.1x10^-6m)
-0.1nanometer (0.1x10^-9m) -0.1 picometer (0.1x10^-12m)
Correct Answer: 0.1 nm
Question 19.
What is the evidence that atoms exist?
Correct Answer: we can now see and manipulate atoms
Question 20.
The original idea of atoms comes from
Correct Answer: The Greeks
Question 21.
Was the Greeks idea of atoms a scientific theory?
Correct Answer: no because there was no evidence. it was based on philosophy.
Answers (2026-2027)
Question 1.
What do scientists do?
Correct Answer: 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
Question 2.
scientific questions
Correct Answer: questions that can be answered by doing experiments, making
observations, taking measurements. Experiments must be replicable.
Question 3.
what do you need if you're going to make a claim?
Correct Answer: evidence
Question 4.
a scientific model
Correct Answer: 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.
Question 5.
constructing a scientific explanation
Correct Answer: -Claim -Evidence -Reasoning
Question 6.
claim
Correct Answer: the target of your explanation
,Question 7.
evidence
Correct Answer: the data or scientific principle you are using to support your
claim
Question 8.
reasoning
Correct Answer: the connection between your claim and evidence
Question 9.
scientific theory has to be...
Correct Answer: based on evidence
Question 10.
a scientific theory
Correct Answer: the best available explanation of the
evidence/data/observations
Question 11.
a scientific theory must be
Correct Answer: testable and falsifiable
Question 12.
What's the difference between a law and a theory
Correct Answer: a law describes the phenomenon by telling you what a theory
explains the phenomenon by telling you why
Question 13.
A law
Correct Answer: tells you what
Question 14.
A theory
Correct Answer: tells you why
, Question 15.
Quote about atoms
Correct Answer: "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
Question 16.
Which has atoms in it?
A. heat
B. cells
C. air
D. gold
Correct Answer: Cells, Air, and Gold
Question 17.
Which is biggest? -an atom -a molecule -a cell -it depends
Correct Answer: it depends because the question is vague... some molecules are
smaller than atoms etc
Question 18.
How big do you thing an atom of H is?
- 0.1cm (0.1x10^-2m) -0.1mm (0.1x10^-3m) -0.1micrometer (0.1x10^-6m)
-0.1nanometer (0.1x10^-9m) -0.1 picometer (0.1x10^-12m)
Correct Answer: 0.1 nm
Question 19.
What is the evidence that atoms exist?
Correct Answer: we can now see and manipulate atoms
Question 20.
The original idea of atoms comes from
Correct Answer: The Greeks
Question 21.
Was the Greeks idea of atoms a scientific theory?
Correct Answer: no because there was no evidence. it was based on philosophy.
