Hypothesis  Is an educated guess  A step in the scientific method  Easily supported or disproven through experimentation or further observations  Can never be proven

Theory The MisconceptionThe Scientific Truth  It’s a guess We say things like: ○ “That’s just your theory” ○ "It's a theory, not a fact,”  Well-supported, well- documented explanation  As close to fact as one can get in science  Explains how things work  Summarizes a group of hypotheses  Can be observed repeatedly with constant results  Used to predict what will happen in new situations

Theory The MisconceptionThe Scientific Truth  If tested over and over, it will become a law  A theory will never be a law  A law never was a theory  They are two different things

Theory The MisconceptionThe Scientific Truth  It will never change.  Theories can be disproven or changed when new discoveries are made.

Scientific Theory  An explanation for how things work  Well-supported, well-documented  Can be observed repeatedly with constant results  Used to predict what will happen in new situations  It will never become a law  May change with new discoveries

Law The MisconceptionThe Scientific Truth  It is fact.  Laws can be disproven or changed with new discoveries.  Many theories, however, are accepted as “true” or as close to being fact as one can get in science.

Law The MisconceptionThe Scientific Truth  It use to be a theory before it was tested some more.  A law may be based on some theory, but it never was one.  Laws and theories are different things.

Law The MisconceptionThe Scientific Truth  Laws are more important to scientist than theories.  Laws only describe “what” happens.  Theories are actually more specific as they explain the “why” things happen.  If all scientists ever did was make laws, the world would be well- described, but no one would ever understand how it all worked.

Scientific Law  Describes an observed how something in nature works  Does not tell “why”  Can changed or be disproven with new discoveries

Similarities between Theories and Laws  The two terms can be confusing because they do have many things in common. They both: Are based on tested hypotheses and observations Are supported by a large amount of data Are accepted by most (or all) scientists Can be disproven at some time if new data is discovered Can be described using Qualitative or Quantitative statements

Differences between Theories and Laws  Laws are descriptions  Laws tell “what” happens  Theories are explanations  Theories tell “why” or “how” it happens

Famous Scientific Laws and Theories  Big Bang Theory  Evolution Theory  Law of Conservation of Mass  Law of Conservation of Energy  Newton’s Laws of Motion  Universal Law of Gravitation

Qualitative vs. Quantitative QualitativeQuantitative  Qual = “Quality”  Describes with words  Examples: My dog has a short, brown tail. The area of a rectangle is related to its length and width.  Quant = “Quantity”  Describes with amount s, numbers, or equations  Examples: My dog’s brown tail is 6 cm in length. Area of a Rectangle: A = l x w

Qualitative Statements  1.  2.  3.

Quantitative Statements  1.  2.  3.

Determine if the following are qualitative or quantitative statements.  He is 6 feet tall.  Many dogs are barking outside.  The leaves of the plant feel waxy.  The white powder tasted sweet.  The fire extinguisher is located near the storage room door.  Every 60 seconds, the temperature of the water rose 1 degree.  The ball rolled 13 feet before stopping.  The object has a width of 4 cm.  I heard thunder 8 seconds after the lightning strike.  There are 11 starts hanging from the ceiling in Miss Amole’s class.  The bicycle has an orange, brown color on parts of the metal.  There is a musty smell coming from the refrigerator.

Websites Cited  /a/lawtheory.htm /a/lawtheory.htm  n/scientific-experiments/10-scientific-laws- theories.htm n/scientific-experiments/10-scientific-laws- theories.htm  0theory.html 0theory.html  ml ml 