Mike is in a hardware store. he hears a large crash and turns toward the noise. he sees a toddler walking by an overturned cart. mike states that "the toddler knocked over the cart.” his statement is a: an inference because he did not observe the cause of the crash. b: an inference because he blamed it on someone else. c: an observation because he saw the cause of the crash. d: an observation because he heard the cart turn over.

The correct answer is A. An inference because he did not observe the cause of the crash.

Explanation:

In science, an observation refers to data or information that has been perceived through one of the senses or measured with precise instruments. This is the opposite of inference as in this, the individual does not directly perceive or measure the event but uses information from it to guess how it occurred. This means, in the case of Mike his statement "the toddler knocked over the cart" is an inference and not an observation because he did not directly observe the event or phenomenon (crash) but instead is using the information he got to try to get to a conclusion or explanation of the crash.

c. heat could easily travel through the molecules in the air and escape/enter the flask. removing the air slows down the heat transfer.  

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