Question

A theory is a scientific explanation that helps us understand natural phenomena. A theory is widely accepted and the result of extensive testing. While a hypothesis can be easily changed, a theory stands the test of time. Theories can be used to explain and predict. For example, if a physician notices a bacterial infection in a patient, they know that it had to come from somewhere; it did not spontaneously arise because bacteria are cells and cells can only come from other cells.

One common misconception is that hypotheses become theories and theories become laws over time; however, this is not true. While a hypothesis that is tested and proven leads to greater scientific knowledge, laws, and theories are different expressions of scientific knowledge. Theories are used to explain the why and how of phenomena, while laws are used to predict what will happen and typically are expressed in mathematical relationships. Some scientific laws you may encounter in anatomy and physiology are the laws of thermodynamics and the law of conservation of matter. Your body follows these laws when it performs metabolic functions, which we’ll get into in the digestive system unit.

In everyday use, the word “theory” often means a guess made without supporting evidence. For example, in a crime show, the detective may have a theory of who committed a robbery but needs to investigate to find more evidence to support their hunch. How does this kind of theory differ from a scientific theory? How can scientific theories be distinguished from laws and hypotheses? What are the differences between them?

Write 4 sentences in your own words.

I am looking for a reflection, in your own words, of what you remember from the readings in this unit. More like a journal entry than a scientific dissertation. And always, in your own words. Write in simple sentences including you

Answer 1

In this unit, I learned that scientific theories are well-tested explanations that help us understand how the world works. Unlike everyday theories, which can be just guesses or hunches, scientific theories are based on solid evidence and can be tested repeatedly. I also discovered that theories and laws are not the same; while theories explain why things happen, laws describe what happens, often using math. It was interesting to see how these concepts apply to our bodies and how we understand things like metabolism.