Questions: Classify each description as a hypothesis, theory, or law. Hypothesis Theory Scientists, after many experiments, explain how the temperature of a gas depends on the energy of its molecules. Law Answer Bank A description that predicts what happens, but does not explain how. An explanation that has been tested and verified.

Solution Steps

A hypothesis is an untested explanation. A theory is an explanation that has been tested and verified. A law is a description that predicts what happens but does not explain how.

• "A doctor surmises, but has not verified, why a patient has stomach pain." This is a hypothesis because it's an untested explanation.

• "Scientists, after many experiments, explain how the temperature of a gas depends on the energy of its molecules." This is a theory because it explains a phenomenon and has been tested through experiments.

• "A description that predicts what happens, but does not explain how." This describes a law.

• "An explanation that has been tested and verified." This describes a theory.

Final Answer