When does a claim or idea become a theory?

Question

after a lot of empirical evidence supporting the idea has been found
after an observation is made from an experimental set-up
after one possible explanation for the phenomenon is offered
after few predictions are recorded based on observations

Answer 1

A claim or idea typically becomes a theory after a lot of empirical evidence supporting the idea has been found.

In scientific terms, a theory is a well-substantiated explanation of some aspect of the natural world that is based on a body of evidence and can make predictions about future observations. The process often involves multiple observations, experiments, and peer review, allowing it to be critically evaluated and validated over time.