ACT® · Science: Evaluating Scientific Arguments and Models with Evidence (8-13 items)
New Information That Supports or Weakens a Model (EMI 504 and 602)
Watch it explained
- How it worksHow do you decide which of two competing models a brand new finding helps and which it hurts?
- Worked exampleFind which model a fossil dated to 66 million years ago backs when one predicts 70 and the other 65.
- Common mistakeWhy isn't new evidence that fits a model the same as new evidence that proves it?
- Going furtherWhat changes when a new finding weakens both of the competing models at the same time?
Check yourself
Your turneasy1 of 3
Scientist 1's model predicts the lineage vanished about 73 million years ago; Scientist 2's predicts about 65 million years ago. A newly dated fossil of that lineage is placed at 66 million years ago. Which model does the fossil back?End of topic.