Casual and Scientific Use of "Theory" and "Law"

In science, what is a hypothesis?

• A proven fact that cannot be changed.

• A guess that is impossible to test.

• A suggested explanation that can be tested.

• A scientific law that has been accepted by everyone.

How does the scientific use of the word "theory" differ from its casual, everyday use?

• In science, a theory is just a guess, while casually it's a proven fact.

• In science, a theory is an explanation supported by scientific evidence, while casually it can be an opinion or guess.

• There is no difference; the word "theory" means the same thing in both contexts.

• Scientific theories are always wrong, but casual theories are often right.

What is the main difference between a scientific theory and a scientific law?

• A scientific theory is a proven law, while a scientific law is an unproven theory.

• A scientific theory explains *why* a phenomenon occurs, while a scientific law describes *what* happens.

• Scientific laws are less important than scientific theories.

• Scientific theories can be disproven, but scientific laws cannot.

Which of the following is an example of a scientific law in biology?

• Cell Theory

• Atomic Theory

• Mendel's Laws

• Big Bang Theory