What is a theory in scientific terms?

• A. Hypothesis
• B. Theory
• C. Law
• D. Principle

Answer: (B)

In science, a theory is a well-supported explanation for a broad set of phenomena that has been tested many times and backed by a large body of evidence. It explains how and why things happen, not just that they happen, and it can be used to make reliable predictions in new situations. A hypothesis, by contrast, is an educated guess that researchers test through experiments or observations. A law describes what happens under certain conditions, often with a mathematical relationship, but it doesn’t explain why it happens. A principle is a general idea or foundational rule used to build explanations, but it isn’t the same as a comprehensive theory. So the term that best fits “what is a theory in scientific terms” is the well-supported, explanatory framework that ties together evidence and makes testable predictions.