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Scientific theories are considered more than just ideas or guesses because they are rigorously tested through observation, experimentation, and peer review. They are supported by a large body of evidence and have successfully explained and predicted natural phenomena. The term "theory" in science signifies a well-substantiated explanation that can withstand scrutiny and has broad acceptance within the scientific community.
The "laws" are just rules of thumb for how thing act the way they do. All are approximations of the real world.
A theory is an attempt to explain why things work like they do.
Neither perfectly mimic the real world, but they're a lot closer than any other explanations currently available.
Scientific theories are tested. They are tested by studying and so it with dummies.
A scientific law is a statement that describes what scientists expect to happen every time under a particular set of conditions. Unlike a theory, a scientific law describes an observed pattern without attempting to explain it.
You should understand that in science, laws are just part of theories. We do not have a hierarchy by which a theory, if it is good enough, gets promoted to the status of a law. Scientists call something a law because it expresses some scientific principle in a particularly succinct manner, not because it is necessarily more reliable than other theories. For example, science used to have a law of conservation of mass. Then it turns out that mass and energy are mutually convertible into each other (as described by Einstein's famous equation, e = mc2). So it turns out that mass is not always conserved. Now we have a new law called the law of conservation of mass-energy. And there is no reason why this law could not also be revised in light of new observations or calculations, in the future. Laws, like theories, can be changed. In science, they are not written in stone.
Scientific theories are ideas about how the world works that are based on large amounts of accumulated data based on extensive observation and/or experiment. They attempt to explain the data by putting the particulars of observed phenomena into an intellectual framework. A scientific theory is a mental model of how the world works. Because scientific theories are based on myriad observed facts and they allow predictions about the universe to be made, (they can be tested), they are generally thought to represent human society's best underdstanding of the respective fields of study. In colloquial speech, 'theory' may mean little more than a guess, but in science, a theory is what is built after many hypotheses, (educated guesses), have been developed and tested.
Evolution is a theory, but theory in a scientific context. The theory of evolution is backed by mountain of facts, laws, and hypotheses from various disciplines of science. Other things that are theories include atomic theory and theory of relativity.
A scientific theory has a different definition from a "general" theory of everyday use.
"Regular" theory (according to dictionary.com):
contemplation or speculation.
guess or conjecture.
Scientific theory:
a coherent group of general propositions used as principles of explanation for a class of phenomena. Wile scientific laws describe general facts, a scientific theory describes why certain phenomena occur. For example, there is a law of gravity which states that gravity occurs, and there is also a theory of gravity which explains why it occurs (based on facts and evidence, of course)
Some people think that in science, you have a theory, and once it's proven, it becomes a law. That's not how it works. In science, we collect facts, or observations, we use laws to describe them, and a theory to explain them. You don't promote a theory to a law by proving it. A theory never becomes a law.
Scientific theories must always be supported with facts and empirical evidence.
In fact, theory is used in other ways to. It can also just mean a body of facts. Example: Music Theory, art theory, etc. No one can deny that music or art exist, but in that context a "theory" is something that is taught.
The definition of a Scientific Law is "a general statement that explains how the natural world behaves under certain conditions and not exceptions have been found." Maybe, in testing these ideas, the scientists have found an exception or two, but the idea is correct most of the time, not making it a law, but not proving it completely wrong.
Theories explain physical phenomena, and are subject to test. If there is no way to test an idea, it is not a theory. If it can be tested, and passes the test, it becomes a good theory.
By convention, theories that have been extensively tested eventually become known as law. In science, theory is everything. An observation without a theoretical explanation is just some random fact. It is theory that incorporates that fact into a predictive narrative. Theory, therefore, successfully predicts outcomes of experiments. Theories that cannot produce successful predictions in the light of experimental outcomes are quickly abandoned in favor of those that can.
Added:
Theories DO NOT become laws but include law. We have Newton's law of gravity explained by Einstein's theories in gravity.
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How can a scientific theory be proved true?
A scientific theory cannot be proven true, but it can be supported by evidence through repeated testing and observation. If a theory consistently predicts and explains phenomena accurately, it is considered reliable until new evidence suggests otherwise. Science is always open to revision based on new data.
What scientist said all matter is made of atoms?
The scientist who proposed that all matter is made of atoms was John Dalton in the early 19th century. His atomic theory revolutionized the field of chemistry and laid the foundation for modern atomic and molecular theory.
What scientist said all matter is made up of atoms?
The scientist who proposed that all matter is made up of atoms was John Dalton, known for his atomic theory in the early 19th century. Dalton's theory stated that all elements are made up of tiny indivisible particles called atoms.
What scientist said matter is made of atoms?
The scientist who first proposed that matter is made of atoms was John Dalton, in the early 19th century. Dalton developed atomic theory to explain chemical reactions and the behavior of gases.
What is the definition of the positive attitude of a scientist towards failure?
A positive attitude of a scientist towards failure involves seeing it as a learning opportunity, a chance to refine hypotheses or experimental methods, and a step towards progress. Embracing failure can lead to insights and breakthroughs in scientific research.
Why are scientific theories said to be just a theory?
People tend to say that scientific theories are "just" a theory because of a confusion between the common usage of "theory" and the scientific definition. (In everyday speech people often use the word "theory" in the sense of a "hunch" or "vague idea". This is not what the word means in a scientific context). A scientific theory is deduced from observations and is the simplest way of describing natural phenomena. It is testable, observable, predictable, and falsifiable. Scientific theories are not the same thing as hypotheses, which are explanations that haven't been demonstrated or verified. A scientific theory has evidence to back it up. The common usage of 'theory' suggests an explanation that someone hasn't proven, or isn't able to prove. It doesn't imply evidence that has been tested; it doesn't imply predictability. When someone hears, for example, "Big Bang theory" or "the theory of evolution", they may hear the word 'theory' and associate those scientific theories with someone's opinion or suggestion. In reality, these theories are the best scientific explanations for a myriad of phenomena across multiple scientific definitions. In science, "just a theory" is a very good place to be.
Are scientific theories based on scientific evidence?
By not being so much based on fact as explaining said facts. That is what scientific theories do, explain the facts and laws contained within them as far as possible. For example; evolution, the change in allele frequency over time in a population of organisms, is fact. The theory of evolution by natural selection explains much, not everything, about the fact of evolution.
In science what distinguishes a hypothesis from a theory?
A Hypothesis is a statement or objective one has set out to test or query. eg An unsupported object will fall when dropped. This can be proved or disproved through experimentation. After testing the above hypothesis multiple times (with a scientific method) one can deduce the statement that all unsupported objects fall when dropped. Through more study one can form a scientific theory to explain the happenings in the experimentation. Using the about example the theory of Gravity and its effect on objects can be formed. A scientific theory can be disproven after formation. TLDR: first comes unproven hypothesis, then after experimentation a scientific theory is formed.
Is evolutions falsificationable?
Falsifiable. Yes. As a famous population biologist once said, " show me fossil bunnies in the Pre-Cambrian and you will have falsified evolution. " All scientific facts are falsifiable as well as all scientific theories. It once was a " fact " that the world was flat and it once was a theory that the universe was in steady state. Both falsified. Of course, no one has falsified evolution the fact, or the theory of evolution by natural selection.
What is the scientific name of clostridium botulinum?
You just said it.
Why is heliocentric theory important?
It was the first theory that said that the universe does not revolve around the Earth; instead we revolve around the sun. It discredited many people's theories and modern belief at the time. It is also the proven theory that we believe in today.
What is the meaning of scientific failure?
When an experiment contradicts the outcome predicted by a theory, the theory is said to be a failure. The experiment itself, if poorly designed or conducted, may not achieve a result to distinguish between expected outcomes, in which case the experiment would be a failure. Even negative results in science have meaning. Failure generally leads to greater insight than does success, as flaws is theory reveal the need for improved theories.
What does the word theory?
If you look in a dictionary you will see a lot of big words and concepts when you look up the word theory. In lay terms a theory is an "educated guess" about a idea or issue or science concept. Example: The Darwin Theory. He "guessed" that we "evolved" from the amoeba all the way up to the humanity we have now. He said it was only a theory and it was an unproven one despite the people who came to believe it was a fact. Theories are ideas that have to be disproven or proven using scientific methods or educated methods.
What does the word theory mean?
If you look in a dictionary you will see a lot of big words and concepts when you look up the word theory. In lay terms a theory is an "educated guess" about a idea or issue or science concept. Example: The Darwin Theory. He "guessed" that we "evolved" from the amoeba all the way up to the humanity we have now. He said it was only a theory and it was an unproven one despite the people who came to believe it was a fact. Theories are ideas that have to be disproven or proven using scientific methods or educated methods.
Is the evolutionary theory bankrupt?
Absolutely not. The Theory of Evolution is the accepted scientific theory of how living things evolved on this planet. If you're looking for a "bankrupt" theory a serious contender would be the unscientific theory of Creationism. It has absolutely no scientific currency to support it. However, as Ayn Rand said so eloquently: Those who deny reason cannot be conquered by it.
How does mill defend his theory when charged that hedonism is a theory for swine?
He said it is not me and my theories, it is you and yours. You who accuse my theories for swine, represent the human nature in a degrading light. Since the accusation supposes human beings to be capable of no pleasures execpt those of which swine are capable. -We laiter came to find this supposition to be fale.
What is scientific definition of triple beam balance?
What you just said,duh
