2006-09-22 08:27:22 · 7 answers · asked by alan z 2 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Chemistry
A hypothesis is simply an idea to be tested. A theory is constructed after observing the results of that testing. In other words, a theory is based on experimental evidence. A hypothesis could be nothing more than "I wonder if ...".
2006-09-22 08:32:11 · answer #1 · answered by PaulCyp 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Hi,
A hypothesis is an instant thought. Something that you just think of right on the spot. It's just a guess. You just guess about something. You can guess about something even if you're not totally familiar with it. A theory is a well constructed thought that takes a long time to end with. With a theory you give an explanation about something which has potential to be true only you can't prove it. Once you prove it, it becomes a law. And that's the difference between a theory and a law. A hypothesis since it's a guess it doesn't even have the potential to be true because it's just a guess. However you can come up with a theory starting with a hypothesis and then develop it into a theory.
2006-09-22 08:45:17 · answer #2 · answered by Max Camer 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
A hypothesis is an educated guess, based on observation. Usually, a hypothesis can be supported or refuted through experimentation or more observation. A hypothesis can be disproven, but not proven to be true.
Example: If you see no difference in the cleaning ability of various laundry detergents, you might hypothesize that cleaning effectiveness is not affected by which detergent you use. You can see this hypothesis can be disproven if a stain is removed by one detergent and not another. On the other hand, you cannot prove the hypothesis. Even if you never see a difference in the cleanliness of your clothes after trying a thousand detergents, there might be one you haven't tried that could be different.
A scientific theory summarizes a hypothesis or group of hypotheses that have been supported with repeated testing. A theory is valid as long as there is no evidence to dispute it. Therefore, theories can be disproven. Basically, if evidence accumulates to support a hypothesis, then the hypothesis can become accepted as a good explanation of a phenomenon. One definition of a theory is to say it's an accepted hypothesis.
Example: It is known that on June 30, 1908 in Tunguska, Siberia, there was an explosion equivalent to the detonation of about 15 million tons of TNT. Many hypotheses have been proposed for what caused the explosion. It is theorized that the explosion was caused by a natural extraterrestrial phenomenon, and was not caused by man. Is this theory a fact? No. The event is a recorded fact. Is this this theory generally accepted to be true, based on evidence to-date? Yes. Can this theory be shown to be false and be discarded? Yes.
2006-09-22 08:35:59 · answer #3 · answered by rltouhe 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
A theory is an idea that answers the questions Why? and How?. A hypothesis is a guess (educated) of the answer to the question What?. A theory isn't created until a hypothesis is tested.
Good luck!
2006-09-22 09:07:18 · answer #4 · answered by c90 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
A hypothesis is a good explanation of a some fact, but makes no predictions or testable assertions.
A theory is an explanation that also provides the means for testing whether the theory is correct.
2006-09-23 11:41:26 · answer #5 · answered by nhh220551 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
A hypothesis becomes a theory when there are enough studies to give it validity. Remember, scientific theories can never be proven and a theory is only accepted when it can not be disproven.
2006-09-22 09:29:49 · answer #6 · answered by mrmao123 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Theory is a fact behind a statement. With a hypothesis you have a statement, however you need to do research and collect some evidence to back it up or in the end your results might disprove your statement.
2006-09-22 08:31:44 · answer #7 · answered by Natasha B 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋