Which statement is a scientific theory?
Answers
Explanation:
oth scientific laws and scientific theories are produced from the scientific method through the formation and testing of hypotheses, and can predict the behavior of the natural world. Both are typically well-supported by observations and/or experimental evidence.[29] However, scientific laws are descriptive accounts of how nature will behave under certain conditions.[30] Scientific theories are broader in scope, and give overarching explanations of how nature works and why it exhibits certain characteristics. Theories are supported by evidence from many different sources, and may contain one or several laws.[31]
A common misconception is that scientific theories are rudimentary ideas that will eventually graduate into scientific laws when enough data and evidence have been accumulated. A theory does not change into a scientific law with the accumulation of new or better evidence. A theory will always remain a theory; a law will always remain a law.[29][32][33] Both theories and laws could potentially be falsified by countervailing evidence.[34]
Theories and laws are also distinct from hypotheses. Unlike hypotheses, theories and laws may be simply referred to as scientific fact.[35][36] However, in science, theories are different from facts even when they are well supported.[37] For example, evolution is both a theory and a fact.[4]