Law vs Theory

The law of universal gravitation states that both mass and distance of objects affect the gravitational force between them. Gravitational force increases as the mass of the objects increase. Gravitational force decreases as distance between the objects increases. Why are these statements considered scientific law, and not scientific theory?

• The statements tells what happens, and not why it happens.

• The statements involve mass and distance measurements.

• The statements explain the attractive force between two objects.

• The statements predict what will happen under certain conditions.

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Lilly was trying to explain to her friend the difference between a theory and a law in science. She used the theory of plate tectonics and the law of superposition as examples. Lilli explained the difference by using non-scientific language. Which statement could Lilly use to correctly describe the difference between a theory and a law in science?

• A theory describes a natural event, while a law explains it.

• A theory explains a natural event, while a law predicts it.

• A theory explains a natural event, while a law describes it.

• A theory predicts a natural event, while a law explains it.

Scientific theories are based on

• general assumptions of how systems work.
• mathematical principles that can be proven true.
• large amounts of data collected over time.
• observations from within only one scientific discipline.

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Scientific theories do not change once they have been written down.

• True
• False

Which of these can change when new evidence is presented?

• theory

• law

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Which of these explain how a natural phenomenon works or happens?

• theory

• law

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Which of these describes a natural phenomenon or relationship that always occurs under specific conditions

• theory

• law

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Which of these can be represented mathematically and provide no explanation why a phenomenon occurs?

• theory

• law

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Scientists create both scientific theories and scientific laws as they make observations and conduct experiments about the natural world. Which of the following statements most accurately compares the difference between scientific theories and scientific laws

• science laws are based on evidence while science theories are not

• science theories involve only biology, while laws involve all types of science

• science theories involve mathematical equations, while science laws are based on observations

• science theories are ideas that explain natural events, while science laws predict what will happen in a natural event.

Scientific theories can be tested.

• True
• False

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