Question

How do we check predictions? Varsha told her friend Meghna, "It will rain this afternoon because the clouds look dark". Think of some questions Meghna could ask Varsha to make this prediction scientifically testable.

Estimate how many litres of air you breathe in one day. Start by estimating how many breaths you take per minute, and the volume of one breath. Your aim is not to find an exact answer, but a reasonable estimate.

Think of a prediction you or your family made recently (for example, the outcome of a cricket match). Was it based on evidence and reasoning, or mainly on guesswork? How can scientific thinking improve such predictions?

Describe one situation where an approximate answer is good enough, and one where you would need a very exact value.