Comparing Scientific Law And Scientific Theory

In order to describe a scientific theory, it may be best to first define a scientific law. A scientific law is a set of equations or statements that describe physical phenomena or address the existence of phenomena. For example, the scientific laws of gravity proposed by Newton are sets of kinematic equations and logical expressions that describe the fact that a falling object, affected by no other forces, is affected by the force of gravity, and that that force of gravity causes an object to fall at 9.8 meters per second per second. These laws describe that gravity acts on an object, but not why gravity exists or gives reasons for gravity’s properties. A scientific theory differs from a scientific law in that a scientific theory is based

On the contrary, scientific theories are first formed from a hypothesis that addresses a set of data or observations. If a hypothesis is demonstrated, by the data, to explain the observed phenomenon, the hypothesis may be accepted. Furthermore, if a hypothesis stands against testing across multiple experiments without failing, the hypothesis may then become theory if the body of evidence supporting the theory is well tested and broad in its support of the hypothesis. A scientific theory is far beyond a “shot in the dark” and is, instead, supported by tremendous levels of evidence and continually tested even after the theory’s

Facts are simply observations: this rock contains high levels of iron, that wolf pack just consumed a male elk, etc. Laws are derivatives of facts such that laws are irrefutable descriptions of observations, as in the above description of Newton’s laws of gravity. While laws are important foundations upon which we construct our knowledge of that which surrounds us, theories can arguably serve a more important function because theories provide a possible and probable answer to the question of why. If we can provide an answer as to why something happens, we fundamentally know much more about that phenomenon than if there was a simple law describing what is happening. Returning to the example of general relativity, it is because of Einstein’s originally theories and the many evolved iterations of it through contemporary science that scientists thought to construct LIGO, or Laser Interferometer Gravity-wave Observatory. This station measures the minute changes in distance between stations on an x and y axis. In Einstein’s theory, it was predicted that gravity had the ability to propagate through space in the form of a wave, and that if a collision of two large enough bodies were to occur, a wave would propagate through space. On September 14, 2015, gravity waves from the collision of black holes that took place almost