Question

question 7 of 10
which statement best describes the progress of science?
a. once a scientist has an idea, it can never be changed.
b. people rarely think old scientific ideas are correct.
c. scientific ideas are changed when better ones are found.
d. scientific ideas are hardly ever replaced with new ones.

Explanation:

Science is a dynamic field. Scientific ideas are not static. When new evidence or better - formulated ideas (which are supported by more data and better reasoning) come along, the existing scientific ideas can be modified or replaced.

• Option A is incorrect because scientific ideas are not set in stone. For example, the geocentric model (Earth - centered universe) was replaced by the heliocentric model (Sun - centered universe) as more evidence was gathered.
• Option B is wrong. Many old scientific ideas are still considered correct. For instance, Newton's laws of motion are still widely used in many engineering and physics applications.
• Option D is false. Scientific progress is marked by the replacement of less accurate or less comprehensive ideas with new ones. The development of quantum mechanics replaced some of the classical physics explanations in the realm of very small particles.
• Option C is correct. Science progresses as we find better ways to explain natural phenomena. When a new, more accurate, or more comprehensive scientific idea (supported by evidence) is discovered, it can change the existing scientific understanding.

Answer:

C. Scientific ideas are changed when better ones are found.