Question

question 25 of 25
how are scientific laws different from scientific theories?

a. scientific theories are reviewed by other scientists,
while scientific laws are not.

b. scientific theories are based on mathematical
equations, while scientific laws are based on
observations.

c. scientific theories are used to guide investigations,
while scientific laws govern the procedures used by
scientists.

d. scientific theories are used to explain phenomena,
while scientific laws describe the natural world.

Explanation:

To determine the correct answer, we analyze each option:

• Option A: Both scientific theories and laws undergo peer review, so this is incorrect.
• Option B: Scientific laws can be based on mathematical equations (e.g., Newton's laws have mathematical formulations), and theories also incorporate observations. This is a wrong distinction.
• Option C: Both theories and laws can guide investigations, and laws don't govern procedures; this is incorrect.
• Option D: Scientific theories explain why phenomena occur (e.g., the theory of evolution explains biodiversity), while scientific laws describe what happens in nature (e.g., the law of gravity describes how objects attract). This matches the correct distinction.

Answer:

D. Scientific theories are used to explain phenomena, while scientific laws describe the natural world.