Many of them belittle evolution because “it is just a theory.” Gravity, on the other hand, must be real because it is a law. The words “theory,” “facts,” “laws” and “hypothesis” have a very specific meaning in the scientific world that doesn’t quite match the ones we use in everyday language. A hypothesis is a tentative explanation of an observation that can be tested. It acts as a starting point for further explanation. Theory, on the other hand, is an explanation of some aspect of the natural world that’s well-justified by facts, tested hypotheses, and laws. Let us look at more differences between hypothesis and theory given in a tabular column below.
Theory vs Hypothesis
| Theory | Hypothesis |
| A theory explains a natural phenomenon that is validated through observation and experimentation. | A hypothesis is an educated guess based on certain data that acts as a foundation for further investigation. |
| It is based on extensive data | It is based on limited data |
| A theory is proven and tested scientifically | A hypothesis is not proven scientifically |
| The results are certain | The results are uncertain |
| It relies on evidence and verification | It relies on the possibility |
From the above differences, we can infer that a hypothesis might change significantly as the testing occurs. A hypothesis can either be right or wrong. When a hypothesis is tested and proved true, it becomes a theory. At BYJU’S, learn more differences like the difference between asteroid and comet.
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