Chapter 1.1, Problem 2R

To determine

To explain: The reason theory cannot become a law.

Explanation of Solution

Introduction:

It is often misinterpreted by people that if scientists find evidence that supports a theory and if the theory is found to be correct then it is upgraded to a law. However, this is not true. In fact, theories and laws are separate part of a scientific method which may evolve but not upgraded to something else.

Normally a theory means an idea or a conjecture of things. However, in science, the word theory refers to an explanation of an observed phenomenon supported by facts and proved using scientific methods. Scientific theories are testable and measurable.

Scientific law on the other hand refers to the rules pertaining to the behavior of nature and is more often written in the form of an equation. Both laws and theories are supported by observation; however, a theory does not change into a law by collection of more data and evidences. Thus, comparatively it can be stated that, theories explain the reason behind observations and laws describe what happens but do not describe why it happens.

Conclusion:

Hence, a theory cannot become a law astheories are explanation of observationsand laws describe what happens.