Difference Between Scientific Terms
Essay Preview: Difference Between Scientific Terms
Report this essay
Identify and discuss the differences between the terms theories, laws, and hypotheses. Describe controlled conditions.
Each of these are similar concepts but they definitely do vary. I will break them down step by step for you: In the case of a law, a law is a generalized statement set after a number of observations. A law has no explanations or exceptions when it is framed. It is an obvious fact recorded after observations. This is not to be confused with a theory. When talking about a theory, you have to remember that a theory is the explanation of the observational data set forward in the form of a law. In more simple words, a theory is the reasoning behind a law. It may also be put as an advanced or evolved hypothesis. What is a hypothesis you ask? Well a hypothesis is a probable reason behind any observation. A hypothesis has to undergo many various and stringent tests before a scientist can accurately describe the validity or the invalidity of the aforementioned hypothesis. If the hypothesis happens to hold well in all of the different conditions that it is put under test, it may be accepted as part of a theory. A theory is much more than just one hypothesis that happens to have been concluded valid – it is a result of numerous test being put under numerous criteria to explain somethings causality. In the scientific world – a theory is the strongest case for something to be viewed as “universally true” by the general populace.
Controlled conditions are the parameters that are set that allow a hypothesis to be tested/laws to be observed. “experimenting” with changing these controlled conditions is the basis for testing the validity of a hypothesis