Which statement best describes the difference between a theory and a law?

1 point
Scientific theories explain WHY a phenomenon occurs, and a scientific law explains WHAT occurs.
Scientific theories explain WHAT occurs, and a scientific law explains WHY a phenomenon occurs.
They both explain why something happens
They both tell us what happens.

1 answer

The correct statement that best describes the difference between a theory and a law is:

Scientific theories explain WHY a phenomenon occurs, and a scientific law explains WHAT occurs.

This distinction highlights that theories provide an explanation for underlying mechanisms, while laws describe observable phenomena without explaining them.