5. Theories

Theory vs. theory. Is a scientific theory different from the everyday use of the word theory?

A scientific theory is accepted as a scientific truth , supported by evidence collected by many scientists. 

Scientific Theories

With repeated testing, some hypotheses may eventually become scientific theories. Keep in mind, a hypothesis is a possible answer to a scientific question. A scientific theory is a broad explanation for events that is widely accepted as true. To become a theory, a hypothesis must be tested over and over again, and it must be supported by a great deal of evidence.

People commonly use the word theory to describe a guess about how or why something happens. For example, you might say, “I think a woodchuck dug this hole in the ground, but it’s just a theory.” Using the word theory in this way is different from the way it is used in science. A scientific theory is more like a fact than a guess because it is so well-supported. 

CK-12 Foundation, Biology. http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0/