Which option correctly defines an observation?

• A. A statement that can be physically recorded
• B. A guess about the cause
• C. A conclusion drawn from data
• D. A theory about a natural law

Answer: (A)

Observation means noticing and describing something in the natural world in a way that can be recorded. It involves what you directly perceive through your senses or with tools, and it’s something you can write down, measure, or photograph so others can understand exactly what was observed. For example, noting that a leaf is green and about 5 cm long is an observation. It does not explain why the leaf is green or what caused its growth—that would be an inference or hypothesis. The other options describe reasoning about causes (hypotheses), drawing conclusions from data, or proposing a broader explanation (a theory), rather than a direct record of what was observed.