At what point is a theory no longer just a theory?

Question

I mean, electricity is still a theory yet when I plug in my toaster it works. Gravity is still a theory yet we do not float off into space. Magnetism is still a theory yet we use it every day

So many VERY GOOD answers. WOW!
I may have to leave this to a vote.

Answer 1

Scientists never say "it's just a theory." In science, you first form a hypothesis--an initial attempt at explaining one or more observations. A good hypothesis fits the existing data and predicts the outcome of as-yet unperformed related experiments. Further testing may require that the hypothesis be modified or completely abandoned.

Once a hypothesis (perhaps in modified form) has held up to repeated testing, scientists will begin to refer to it as a theory. In science, a THEORY is a well-tested explanation for one or more related phenomena. Theories are never proven--just one experiment can prove it wrong--but the longer they hold up to new experiments and testing, the more scientists will depend on the explanations and predictions of that theory.

Some theories which have been around for a very long time and are no longer (seriously) questioned may be referred to as "laws," but this is just a reference to an extremely solid theory. Example: The "Law" of Gravity.

Answer 2

In mathematics, theorems can be proven from axioms and from other theorems which have already been proven. In physics, a theory of electricity might try to explain what it is and how it behaves. We learned rather early that electricity is the flow of unbound electrons in a material. As we studied it more, we discovered that you can't have a meaningful theory of electricity without also considering magnetism. As we learned more, we needed relativity to explain part of it, and quantum mechanics to explain part of it.

How do you know when you are done? When have you completely explained the behavior of electricity? You get a clue when your theory explains everything you observe about it and is a reliable predictor. But then new technology lets you make better measurements. If they don't match your theory, you again have work to do.

Answer 3

Theory is no longer a theory when it has been proved to be a fact. Electricity, Gravity, and Magnetism are still theories because we have proved only one thing if not any, is the ability to use these things to make our lives easier. Scientists still are still working on these things because believe it or not there is still much work to be done towards them.

Answer 4

A theory stops being a theory when it becomes a fact..electricity is a theory but the fact is your toaster works...These are working theories some theories cannot produce facts..It is a know theory that the pyramids were built by a race called Egyptians but there is no fact or solution on how there were built...Open for debate on this one

Answer 5

when it becomes religion, i.e. when people blindly believe in it and refuse to consider the evidence against it.

In science, the ultimate triumph is when your theory has so much evidence for it that it is generally accepted as the right one.

But even then, somebody might come up with evidence that your theory cannot explain, and put forward a different theory that shows where you were wrong. It would take obviously a lot of high-quality evidence to do that. And even then new theory usually just adds detail to new one.

A good example is Newton Mechanics - it was long accepted way to describe motion of objects. Then Einshtein showed that it does not work for things moving at near-light speed, and came up with his own theory. But it all reduces to Newton when speed is much smaller than speed of light.

The theory of evolution sure has unresolved issues in it. But as the term "missing link" suggests, the rest of the chain is there. And we keep adding pieces to it.

Answer 6

Wow. ok, you're making some interesting factors...however the main nicely-known project is that there has been no 'transformation', a minimum of in my case. i ought to evolve & strengthen, yet deep down, i've got continually enormously lots been this form, I basically get a sprint older. And via this form, i do no longer surprisingly mean atheist, I mean the full equipment. particular, i understand greater stuff than I did whilst i replaced right into a baby, yet my ideals have not extremely replaced. i won't be able to say huge bang or evolution are very own truths to any extent further than the different documentary subject rely is. As a rely of a actuality, my eyes commonly glaze over whilst the extremely technical human beings on right here get all, nicely, technical approximately it with words i could no longer even wish to pronounce, much less use amazing. the reality of the project is in my very own humble way i've got discovered that each and each faith i've got tried on would not greater wholesome me. i do no longer think a god exists, i do no longer even completely understand the scientific theories with reference to the beginning place of the universe - yet that's no longer proper to me. i actually do no longer could desire to appreciate the way it began or how its all gonna end, I basically could desire to appreciate how i'm gonna positioned milk interior the refrigerator & a roof over my young toddlers head.

Answer 7

None of the three you mentioned are theories. For example it is the Law of Gravity. Which answers your question: When something can be observed and proven, it is a law. When you make a good hypothesis that fits all of the known data, it is a theory..

Answer 8

To become scientific fact, a theory has to be proven beyond a shadow of a doubt. Similar to a jury trial... to be found guilty it must be proven with evidence beyond a reasonable doubt. To become fact, a theory must prove the exclusion of all else through experimentation and calculation.

Answer 9

I would say after lotsssssss of research is done then the it's no longer a theory it becomes a fact and the public is told about it. !

Answer 10

When it is proved to be true. It is a true theory. A theory is a statement of what is believed to be true. A proved theory is just that.