Which type of scientific reasoning is being described in the situation?

Question

Consider the situation.

Scientists discovered a sedimentary layer of earth with high amounts of the element iridium. This layer was laid down about the time at which the dinosaurs went extinct. Iridium is rare in Earth’s rocks, but it is commonly found in meteorites. Scientists suggested that a large meteor impact caused a layer of dust to envelope Earth, which may have resulted in the extinction of the dinosaurs.

Which type of scientific reasoning is being described in the situation?

A) deductive reasoning

B) inductive reasoning

 C)scientific empiricism

D) scientific rationalism

Answer 1

Deductive

They are deducing that since iridium is on earth, and in asteroids, that an asteroid must have collided with earth and distributed that material on the earth.