General Science Misconceptions

Posted by David Wetzel

Science Misconceptions

Students are full of misconceptions about science. They learn these misconceptions from many sources, which include movies, television, siblings, parents, other family members, and school.

These misconceptions about science typically become evident when students are required to explain science in their own words and not recite memorized information. This is why it is important for students to write in science and describe their scientific observations using their own words, especially when working in groups.

Student Science Misconceptions

Here are actual answers students have given to explain scientific events and facts:

When you breath, you inspire. When you do not breath, you expire.

H2O is hot water, and CO2 is cold water

When you smell an odorless gas, it is probably carbon monoxide

Nitrogen is not found in Ireland because it is not found in a free state

Water is composed of two gins, Oxygin and Hydrogin. Oxygin is pure gin. Hydrogin is gin and water.

Three kinds of blood vessels are arteries, vanes and caterpillars.

Blood flows down one leg and up the other.

Respiration is composed of two acts, first inspiration, and then expectoration.

The moon is a planet just like the earth, only it is even deader.

Dew is formed on leaves when the sun shines down on them and makes them perspire.

A super-saturated solution is one that holds more than it can hold.

Mushrooms always grow in damp places and so they look like umbrellas.

The body consists of three parts- the brainium, the borax and the abominable cavity. The brainium contains the brain, the borax contains the heart and lungs, and the abominable cavity contains the bowls, of which there are five - a, e, i, o, and u.

The pistol of a flower is its only protections against insects.

The alimentary canal is located in the northern part of Indiana.

The skeleton is what is left after the insides have been taken out and the outsides have been taken off. The purpose of the skeleton is something to hitch meat to.

A permanent set of teeth consists of eight canines, eight cuspids, two molars, and eight cuspidors.

The tides are a fight between the Earth and moon. All water tends towards the moon, because there is no water in the moon, and nature abhors a vacuum. I forget where the sun joins in this fight.