Question

Which of the following statements distinguishes between scientific hypotheses and scientific theories?

A hypothesis is an explanation for an observation that has been tested. A theory is an explanation for an observation that has not been tested.

B A hypothesis describes an observation that has been repeatedly observed by many scientists. A theory is an explanation for an observation that has not been tested.

C A hypothesis is an explanation for an observation that has not been tested. A theory is an idea that has been repeatedly tested through scientific experimentation.

D A hypothesis describes an observation that has been repeatedly observed by many scientists. A theory is an idea that has been repeatedly tested through scientific experimentation.

Answer 1

Answer C. Wikipedia describes the stages of the Scientific Method as Characterization, Hypotheses, Predictions, and finally Experiments.

Hypotheses occur before actual testing, and occur right after observations, in an effort to explain observations/characterizations of natural phenomena. Thus, hypotheses are explanations for observation before experimentation.

Theories are all based upon experimentation. Only after the scientific method completes, experiments are finished, and conclusions drawn, are theories developed. Gravity and evolution are common examples of scientific theories that are developed after repeated testing and experimentation.

Answer 2

the difference between a hypothesis and a theory is that the former is a tentative explanation that still needs to be tested, while the latter is a tested or confirmed.

Answer 3

I would start from that knowledge, but there are more to know between the two.