what is hypothesis?

Question

physics

Answer 1

NEWSFLASH!!!
In Science...

AN HYPOTHESIS NOT A THEORY!!!!

A theory is a fairly settled body of experimentally supported scientific explanation, tested by the confirmation of hypotheses.

An hypothesis is a testable if...then statement, like "If you don't understand what a hypothesis is, and a theory is not, then the barbarians win."

Get this one right or the barbarians win!
(Apologies to any barbarians out there.)

Answer 2

I agree with the previous poster.
I look at it this way, in the context of the scientific method.
In the scientific method we gather a lot of data -often as a side effect of some other experiment we may be conducting.

As an example consider the care and maintenance of a fresh water aquarium. You are told to keep it clean, filtered, in the shade, cool etc. etc. etc. Eventually despite your best efforts it turns green with algae. You wrack you brain to try to consider where you went wrong.

Could it be I overfed the fish?

Was it too sunny.

etc.

Your data so far consists of all the routine maintenance you have done on the tank and some notice of the temperature and lighting and so on.

So you devise an experiment to test the hypothesis that it must ahve been one of these factors: frequency of water change, average temperature, number of fish; amount of feeding; amount of light....

This is a a hypothesis that these are the factors affecting my aquarium's health. hypo meaning less than or "under" and thesis meaning "idea" or theory. So this is "less than an idea". But, like a theory, it is testable, and one can rule out or rule in favor of the various factors that affect my aquarium and build up a more complete "theory of aquarium maintenance".

Now here is the cool thing about the scientific method. while exploring the affect these factors have on my aquarium I will likely pick up on other factors not in my experiment. These lead to data which cause me to form more hypotheses about aquarium maintenance that in turn can be tested, accepted, rejected in order to fill out my theory of everything (for aquariums).

You see, this is actually backwards to the way it is often taught in school. The canonical teaching is that the hypothesis comes first then the data come second then the hypothesis is rejected or not. Reality is that we often collect data, see patterns, then formulate hypotheses which are then tested by collecting more controlled data ( and in collecting these data we in turn may generate some more hypotheses).

It is pretty cool I think.

Answer 3

A hypothesis is a suggested explanation of a phenomenon or reasoned proposal suggesting a possible correlation between multiple phenomena. The term derives from the ancient Greek, hypotithenai meaning "to put under" or "to suppose". The scientific method requires that one can test a scientific hypothesis. Scientists generally base such hypotheses on previous observations or on extensions of scientific theories.

Answer 4

Hypothesis is an educated guess (you guess the answer of the question).

You should research first so as to have a knowledge of what the answer is most likely to be.

Answer 5

This applies to all science not just physics...

A hypothesis is a guess, or an initial answer to a problem you haven't researched yet.

It is the first step in the scientific method and is in any dictionary you can get your hands on.

Answer 6

Hypothesis is an educated guess!

Answer 7

a theory.

1. A tentative explanation for an observation, phenomenon, or scientific problem that can be tested by further investigation.
2. Something taken to be true for the purpose of argument or investigation; an assumption.
3. The antecedent of a conditional statement.

Answer 8

A suggested explanation of a phenomenon

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hypothesis

Answer 9

To put it simply, a hypothesis is a theory you are attempting to prove.

Answer 10

a hypothesis is an educated guess.