How would you describe a hypothesis versus a scientific theory?

How would you describe a hypothesis versus a scientific theory?

• A. A hypothesis is an educated guess that does not require testing.
• B. A theory is a simple guess about how something works.
• C. A hypothesis is a testable prediction, while a theory is a well-supported explanation based on many observations and experiments.
• D. A hypothesis and a theory are the same thing.

Answer: (C)

In science, a hypothesis is a testable prediction you can investigate with experiments or observations. It starts from what you’ve noticed and suggests what you expect to happen under certain conditions, and you gather data to see if it holds up. A theory, by contrast, is a well-supported explanation that brings together many observations and experiments. It’s broad, repeatedly tested, and used to explain how and why things happen, often generating new predictions to test. That’s why the best answer says a hypothesis is a testable prediction, while a theory is a well-supported explanation based on many observations and experiments. The idea that a hypothesis doesn’t require testing, that a theory is just a simple guess, or that they’re the same thing, doesn’t fit how science builds knowledge.

In science, a hypothesis is a testable prediction you can investigate with experiments or observations. It starts from what you’ve noticed and suggests what you expect to happen under certain conditions, and you gather data to see if it holds up. A theory, by contrast, is a well-supported explanation that brings together many observations and experiments. It’s broad, repeatedly tested, and used to explain how and why things happen, often generating new predictions to test.

That’s why the best answer says a hypothesis is a testable prediction, while a theory is a well-supported explanation based on many observations and experiments. The idea that a hypothesis doesn’t require testing, that a theory is just a simple guess, or that they’re the same thing, doesn’t fit how science builds knowledge.