Has it not been that long since my last post. Be that as it may, a topic for debate arose in a class I am taking now. In fact, more than a topic, it was the definition a four words: "Hypothesis", "Theory", "Law" and "Theorem". Before, I proceed with my explanations nonetheless, will I say that this is not the first time I talk about science. Irrespective of my limited knowledge of the aforesaid area, do I try to keep myself well-informed and unprejudiced when it comes to relevant issues such as the one I will touch on tonight.

As I have previously mentioned on my post regarding evolution, the vast majority of people world-

wide still mistake the term "theory" for "hypothesis". You see, a hypothesis is "a". For instance, you could say something such as: "All brands of light-bulb last equally long". Notwithstanding, once you test out the different brands, you find that brand "X LED light-bulb" offers the best quality, performance, and durability. You could thus say that the aforesaid hypothesis has been disproved. It would be worth noting that before we develop a hypothesis, we have to make an observation about something. Conversely, a theory is " a well-substantiated explanation acquired through the scientific method. Repeatedly tested and confirmed through observation and experimentation". Case in point,  the big bang theory, which suggest that the universe began about 14 billion years ago with a colossal expansion event. Even though it cannot be directly observed, most of the evidence found thus far indicates it indeed took place. Not to mention inductive reasoning, and the tests done to the aforementioned theory as well.

Moreover, a law is "a statement based on repeated experimental observations that describe some phenomenon of nature". An example would be Kepler's laws of planetary motion. Which can be proven through mathematical equations. A theorem on the other hand, is "a statement that can be shown to be true by accepted mathematical operations and arguments. For example, the Pythagorean theorem, which states that "In a right-angled triangle, the square of the hypotenuse is equal to the sum of the square of the other two sides".  Generally however, a theorem is the embodiment of some general rule that makes it part of a larger theory". What is more, outside of mathematics, a theorem would be one of the tests that are done to a theory so as to validate it. Not to mention that according to Richard Feynman (Novel Prize-winning physicist, 1985), any theorem can be viewed as inconsequential by mathematicians once it has been proven (Regardless of how challenging it must have been to solve).

 

In review, I would say that it is imperative not to confuse one scientific term with another. From what I have been able to glean, I have found reasonable descriptions of what I have explained today. Albeit, there is an almost limitless amount of information out there. Needless to say a large number of people to talk to. Hence, the need to have an inquisitive mind and always do research. The more knowledge you gain, the more you will be able to understand the world around you. Stay humble and question almost everything you hear as long as you can prove it wrong.

PS. I neglected to mention that a group of hypotheses can become a theory. It is better explained in the video I will share.
 

Sources:

- http://science.howstuffworks.com/innovation/scientific-experiments/10-scientific-laws-  theories1.htm
- https://sciencenotes.org/hypothesis-examples/
- http://amazingbeautifulworld.com/amazing-facts/10-scientific-laws-and-theories-you-really-should-know/3/
- http://mathworld.wolfram.com/Theorem.html
- http://mathworld.wolfram.com/Theorem.html
- http://www.itsokaytobesmart.com/archive