I'm doing an assignment in science about theories that turned into facts as there was enough evidence to prove that it is true. You find a theory and research every aspect on it like; what was the theory, who was the person who theorized it, how was it proved etc. I'm looking for some really good theories that were proved, preferably a famous theory, so there would be more info on it, and it would be more easy to work with. Thanks in advance :D
2007-02-02 11:00:56 · 6 answers · asked by losteee 2 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Other - Science
Sorry, whoever assigned you that didn't understand science. You can tell them that an actual scientist told you that.
Theories do not become facts. Theories CONTAIN facts, and laws, and observations, and such. Think of theories like a folder you put laws and facts in. When you first think of an idea, it's not a theory. It's a hypothesis. You need to confirm it with math, with observations, with proof for it to become a theory. Think about it - we all know gravity is true - it's called gravitational theory. Atomic theory is a theory, but without it, we wouldn't have nuclear power or bombs. Relativity is a theory, but we wouldn't have GPS without it. Evolution is a theory, but we wouldn't have vaccines without it.
Theories don't become facts and nothing is 'just' a theory - calling something a theory is the greatest scientific honor you can give it.
2007-02-02 11:59:58 · answer #1 · answered by eri 7 · 3⤊ 0⤋
People often use "theory" nowadays to mean what they ought to call a "hypothesis".
The best modern example is Alfred Wegener's theory of continental drift, which was only a hypothesis when he put it forward in 1912. Scientists agreed that the African and South American coastlines matched extraordinarily well, and their fossils and rock types more than a certain age matched, while newer ones didn't, so it sure LOOKED as though they had moved apart, but... but... but... there was no FORCE that could possibly have moved such huge masses such a long way, therefore it was IMPOSSIBLE, and it must be just coincidence.
Then geophysicists started to understand the earth's core and its radioactivity better, and the over-production of heat which could only stabilise if the mantle softened and CONVECTED, so there was the force that nobody thought could exist, and it's moved continents and widened ocean floors all over the world, and there's huge amounts of data now to support it, so Wegener was right after all.
2007-02-03 09:08:36 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
A theory is a fact or collection of facts in science.
In the first part of your question you are using the term like it were a hypothesis. A testable hypothesis can become a fact or theory if it passes a series of tests and is accepted as a reasonable explanation of how things behave.
Pay attention to who is telling you that theories are just unproven ideas or not facts. This is a common ploy used by the fundamentalists to try to confuse people.
All theories are proven or verified, depending on whether they are mathematical or scientific. You prove mathematical theories. You verify scientific theories. The reason why you don't prove scientific theories is that you must observe and test. This is a process that is different from a proof in mathematics.
2007-02-02 12:09:19 · answer #3 · answered by Alan Turing 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Although I am not a scientist, I do believe that many theories in our world history have become what your teacher is calling "facts." I think that he or she probably means that most people now accept those theoretical assumptions as basic facts...that most educated people accept them as facts. I am a teacher, and that is what I would mean if I asked that question. Anyway, you really could look at almost any scientific theory and find that much of the theory has become known as "facts" in our modern society. Look at Newton's laws, Darwin's theory of evolution, light or sound theory, or even the theory of what atoms are made of. They all started out as theories, and much of that information has become what we would call "facts."
2007-02-03 18:21:55 · answer #4 · answered by Tonny D 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The very idea that there is anything taken as fact smacks of dogma, and is, largely, counter to the scientific process. Anything and everything is open to challenge. Those "laws" that we recognize are always open to challenge and while useful today, may well be shown to be in error tomorrow. Newton's 3 laws of motion might be good examples of what you're looking for.
2007-02-02 11:45:14 · answer #5 · answered by JOHN B 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
problematic factor. look on google. just that will help!
2014-12-10 20:04:55 · answer #6 · answered by lynda 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋