📘 Chapter 9: Nature of Science – Constructed Response Questions
Prepared by Muhammad Tayyab, Subject Specialist Physics, Govt Christian High School Daska. Based on PECTAA 2026 syllabus (National Curriculum 2023).
📖 What's Inside: This section covers constructed response questions from Chapter 9 Nature of Science including Scientific theories as ultimate truth, Changing laws of nature, Jobs using scientific knowledge, Rejection of theories, Falsifiability, Reactions to new ideas, Testability of hypotheses, Data sufficiency, Relationship between experiment and hypothesis, and Interdisciplinary research. Each question is presented with a detailed answer as per the official PECTAA 2026 Physics curriculum.
📚 Related Resources – Chapter 9: Nature of Science
📖 Constructed Response Questions & Answers (PECTAA 2026)
9.1 Is the theory of science an ultimate truth? Describe briefly.
Answer:
No. The theories or laws of Physics are man-made ideas about the way things work. They are liable to be disproved or modified with future advances in science, which bring fresh facts and new insights about the natural and physical world.
✅ No — scientific theories are man-made and can be modified or disproved
9.2 Do you think that the existing laws of nature may need a change in future? Describe briefly.
Answer:
Yes. The theories or laws of Physics are liable to be disproved or modified with future advances in science. Future advances may bring fresh facts and new insights about the natural and physical world.
✅ Yes — future advances may bring fresh facts and modify existing laws
9.3 Describe three jobs that need the use of scientific knowledge.
Answer:
Three jobs that need the use of scientific knowledge are:
- Civil Engineer: Civil engineer designs a bridge that can withstand strong winds, earthquakes, intense weather conditions and heavy traffic.
- Software Engineer: Software engineer designs a user friendly application of a smartphone.
- Aviation Engineer: Aviation engineer looks for lighter material which can withstand sudden and severe disturbances and extreme weather conditions during the flight of an aeroplane.
✅ Civil Engineer, Software Engineer, Aviation Engineer
9.4 Describe when a theory is rejected or needs its modification.
Answer:
After careful analysis of a theory, predictions are made and experiments are designed to test the theory over and over again. If test results do not agree, hypothesis is changed or rejected.
✅ Theory rejected when test results repeatedly do not agree
9.5 Comment on the statement: "A theory capable of being proved right but not being proved wrong is not a scientific theory".
Answer:
The statement is correct. A theory is considered scientific if it makes predictions that can be tested and potentially proven false. Falsifiability distinguishes scientific theories from false or pretended beliefs that cannot be experimentally tested.
✅ Correct — falsifiability is essential for a scientific theory
9.6 What has been the general reaction to new ideas about established truths?
Answer:
The theories or laws of Physics are man-made ideas and are liable to be disproved or modified with future advances in science. Future advances bring fresh facts and new insights about the natural and physical world.
✅ New ideas can modify or disprove established truths through fresh facts
9.7 If a hypothesis is not testable, is the hypothesis wrong? Explain.
Answer:
Not necessarily wrong, but it is unscientific. A hypothesis must be testable through experiment or observation to be part of the scientific method. If a hypothesis cannot be tested or verified by evidence, it cannot be proven right or wrong scientifically, and therefore lies outside the realm of science.
✅ Not wrong, but unscientific — untestable hypotheses lie outside science
9.8 Explain how a small amount of data cannot prove that a prediction is always correct but can prove it is not always correct.
Answer:
Predictions are tested by designing experiments and testing the theory over and over again. If a test result does not agree with the prediction, the hypothesis is changed or rejected. Thus, repeated testing is required to verify predictions.
✅ Small data can disprove (one counter-example) but repeated testing is needed to verify
9.9 What is the relationship between an experiment and a hypothesis?
Answer:
An experiment is an organized repeatable process which is used to test the truth of a hypothesis. Thus, experiments are performed to test whether the proposed hypothesis is supported by the observations and evidence.
✅ Experiment = organized repeatable process to test the truth of a hypothesis
9.10 Describe why the solution of complex problems need interdisciplinary research and collaboration.
Answer:
Many challenging issues such as climate change, disease prevention and treatment, and sustainable energy solutions are diverse in nature. It is difficult for one discipline to address them adequately. Therefore, interdisciplinary research and collaboration bring together different expertise, perspectives and methodologies to solve complex issues.
✅ Complex problems need multiple expertises, perspectives & methodologies
📐 Key Concepts – Nature of Science (Constructed Response)
Scientific Theories: Man-made ideas — liable to be disproved or modified
Falsifiability: Scientific theory must be testable & possibly wrong
Hypothesis vs Experiment: Experiments test the truth of hypotheses
Interdisciplinary Research: Multiple expertises needed for complex problems
Jobs Using Science: Civil Engineer, Software Engineer, Aviation Engineer
💡 Exam Tip:
For constructed response questions, write detailed answers with clear reasoning and examples. Focus on key terms like falsifiability, testability, and interdisciplinary research. These questions test your analytical and critical thinking skills. These questions follow the PECTAA 2026 pattern and are prepared by Subject Specialist Muhammad Tayyab.
Chapter 1Physical Quantities and Measurements
Chapter 2Kinematics
Chapter 3Dynamics
Chapter 4Turning Effect of Forces
Chapter 5Work and Energy
Chapter 6Mechanical Properties of Matter
Chapter 7Thermal Properties of Matter
Chapter 8Magnetism
Chapter 9✨ Nature of Science
📖 Complete syllabus coverage for Class 9 Physics (PECTAA 2026) – Chapters 1 to 9
Created by Hira Science Academy | Aligned with PECTAA 2026 Syllabus