theory v fact

[DoubleM]

They call it a hypothesis when they aren't sure. It's a theory or theorum (don't actually know the difference ) when they believe it to be correct.

Having said that, what are you actually asking?

A hypothesis is what you are testing. A theory is what can be brought out of a hypothesis or hypotheses. A law is something that can be applied to anything and has yet to be disproved because it's a law.

In school as of now and last year they told us a hypotesis is an educated guess.

[Skirata]

In school as of now and last year they told us a hypotesis is an educated guess.

How does a guess become educated?

[Alusair]

A hypothesis is an educated guess based on observation and often also from experimentation, but not yet proven.

A theory is a hypothesis that has been proven accurate thus far (given successful tests), but not yet accepted without reasonable doubt.

A fact is established when a theory is accepted as accurate without reasonable doubt.



Or at least, it's something along those lines.

[Rodri]

But Alusair, the sun does revolve around the earth, as does the rest of the universe. All you have to do is look at the sky and you can see the movement. The earth is flat, except for the bumpy bits because it looks flat, especially from a boat at sea. The climate is changing because we have had some hotter summers than normal and a drought in Australia for the last 10 years, so the climate has changed, it's obvious.
[Forget the floods and cooler weather this last summer, they are either a statistical anomaly or another symptom of the climate changing. [whichever rocks your boat]]

The Universe revolving around the Earth was backed by a number of scientists at the time of the debate and evidence and modelling was provided by them to prove their argument. The scientific method is limited by our ability to gather and interpret data. Our science is based upon the limitations of our information gathering tools. As we get better tools, we get better information and hopefully a better scientific understanding.
But then again, all scientists are human and as such, they all have the human weaknesses of preconcieved ideas and predjudices that we all have.

[Alusair]

The Universe revolving around the Earth was backed by a number of scientists at the time of the debate and evidence and modelling was provided by them to prove their argument.

My knowledge was incorrect then, after all. I added the "to my knowledge" part to my post in case I was wrong, which I suspected was entirely possible. In hindsight, it was probably silly to post at all. Oh well.

[DoubleM]

How does a guess become educated?

A hypothesis is an educated guess based on observation and often also from experimentation, but not yet proven.

A theory is a hypothesis that has been proven accurate thus far (given successful tests), but not yet accepted without reasonable doubt.

A fact is established when a theory is accepted as accurate without reasonable doubt.



Or at least, it's something along those lines.

Exactly what she said^

[Oss Spy]

Your definition of theory is incorrect.

Theory is scientist's way of explaining (with some degree of accuracy) a natural phenomena. The Theory of Evolution is accepted as scientific fact (among educated and self-respecting scientists anyway), because it has evidence to support it.

In response to your skepticism...well, do you have a medical degree? Physics? Technology? How can you challenge something if you don't have expertise and years of learning in that subject?

Just food for thought.

[Balaam]

but if your talking about things like what shape the earth is we know for fact its dimensions.... we know this by taking measurments so it becomes fact.

great point, what's especially unique about your example is when talking about the radius at the equator, the calculations from the 1700's are only a few hundred metres different from what we calculate now
as far as i know they are still calculations, today they have the ability to make more accurate measurements, but i don't think there is any way to actually measure the equator

if you know more about this i'd be keen to hear about it

The earth being flat, the sun revolving around the earth, and the earth being the center of the universe were accepted givens during certain parts of history, but to my knowledge, none were scientifically proven during those times.

my bad, i'll make sure i don't include any more throw away comments in this thread...sorry it's a hard habit to break

I added the "to my knowledge" part to my post in case I was wrong, which I suspected was entirely possible..

now that's good science!!!

Your definition of theory is incorrect.

is it ok if i blame dictionary.com?

In response to your skepticism...well, do you have a medical degree? Physics? Technology? How can you challenge something if you don't have expertise and years of learning in that subject?

my degree is in computer science but i have studied all the sciences
however, regardless of my level of edumacation, i reserve the right to doubt everything

a case in point, i doubt i will be able to rep Rodri again
EDIT i was right

[The Midnight Walker]

They call it a hypothesis when they aren't sure. It's a theory or theorum (don't actually know the difference ) when they believe it to be correct.

Having said that, what are you actually asking?

A hypothesis is what you are testing. A theory is what can be brought out of a hypothesis or hypotheses. A law is something that can be applied to anything and has yet to be disproved because it's a law.

A Hypothesis is a proposal or thought process derived from the initial observation, leading to the formulation of a theory.

A theory is an attempt at explaining a relationship or process that has been observed. It will remain a theory until proven correct by any and all available means. This means that most will remain theories forever as there is no way of guaranteeing a theory's validity without relying on another, equally uncertain, theory.

A theorem is a theory (or explanation of process) proven correct. Usually applied to mathematics.

[King XII]

theory is a proposed explanation
fact is a truth known by actual experience or observation