Hypothesis, Theory, and Law

What is something observed in nature over and over.

A scientific law

Law

A scientific law describes the relationship between two or more things we can observe in nature under certain conditions.

Theory

A scientific theory is an explanation for why things work or how things happen. Scientists develop theories based on their observations of the world around them. Theories are based on ideas that can be tested. Theories are not speculative, or based on a guess.

Never!!!!

A theory can never become a law

Is a scientific law is something observed in nature over and over again under certain conditions.

Yes

Should a hypothesis be stated in an If and Then statement

Yes

Hypothesis

A hypothesis isn't an educated guess. It is a tentative explanation for an observation, phenomenon, or scientific problem that can be tested by further investigation.

Theory Examples

Cell theory: that living things are not made of cells Heliocentric theory: no new evidence will demonstrate that the Earth does not orbit around the sun In 1905, Albert Einstein published the theory of special relativity, which explains how to interpret motion between different inertial frames of reference — that is, places that are moving at constant speeds relative to each other.

Hypothesis Examples

If a plant is given an unlimited amount of sunlight then the plant will grow an average of two inches every week.

hypothesis

Includes the independent and dependant variables.

Law Example

Newton's Law of Gravity Mendel's Law of Independent Assortment

Can a theory can become a law.

No

Becoming a Theory

Over time, if the original hypothesis is overwhelmingly supported by the greater scientific community, and if no experiments have proven it wrong, it becomes a theory. It's important to keep in mind that a theory is the best explanation of a phenomenon using the data that is currently available.

theory

why or how things happen.

A hypothesis

can include experimentation

law

can usually be described using mathematics.

A theory

is made up of many supporting hypothesis

law

no experiments no hypothesis