Facts are constructed and are not objective. There is no proper test for what is a fact. In science, the fact is an observation that has been confirmed so many times. Hence, scientists for all intents and purposes accept a fact to be true.
But everything in science comes with a certain level of uncertainty. So nothing is ever scientifically true beyond a shade of doubt. It is a fact that every time you drop a pencil, it will fall onto the floor. But science leaves room for a small chance that it might not fall also. Facts in science are not simply handed over to us by the scientific world. They are also not arbitrary conventions or constructions made by in the world of science. They are a result of our interactions with the world and the attempt by scientists.
The scientists apply rigorous standards and ensure that the facts are reliable. Controversial facts, such as claims on global warming, undergo a lot of critique from many different angles. One particular field, wherein both terms are commonly used is in Science. In the scientific world, facts or scientific facts are what one can readily observe.
It can pertain to any objective and real phenomenon may it be the falling of the ball after being thrown upwards or other simple observable occurrences. In this regard, the fact is that the ball will fall.
More so, if this test is being done repeatedly under a controlled environment that cancels all unnecessary variables the phenomenon would have become a very obvious and undeniable fact. It is considered a fact because it will remain as true even after several centuries unless there is a more rigid and precise way of measuring a certain phenomenon.
On the contrary, theories in science are likened to the explanations to what has been observed. It is relatively greater in weight to what a hypothesis is. If a hypothesis an intelligent guess is the first base of formulating a scientific law then t heories are placed at the second base. These are the statements that are assumed to be true because they seem so even if there are no hundred percent concrete evidences.
Nevertheless, theories are always presented to be true even if the claims in the said theories are mere speculations or a general agreement between a significant numbers of experts.
Moreover, theories are the statements that often undergo a series of tests to nullify the claims maid by those who propose them. To display the difference between fact and theory , a good example is when a report will state that a certain hurricane killed thousands in a particular state in America yesterday because of the reckless mass evacuation spearheaded by the local officials. In this aspect, the fact is that many were killed by the hurricane while the theory is the reason behind the death of these people.
Was it only because of the haphazard evacuation plan or was it also because of the intensity of the hurricane among many other reasons?
Hence, facts are really the real deal while theories are still unclear although presumed to be true. Facts are observations whereas theories are the explanations to those observations.
Theories are vague truths or unclear facts whereas facts are really facts. Cite APA 7 ,. Difference between Fact and Theory. Difference Between Similar Terms and Objects. MLA 8 ,. I would like to point out that your baseball analogy falls short in explaining just how important theories are to science.
If the deductions are incorrect, the original hypothesis is proved false and must be abandoned or modified. Hypotheses can be used to build more complex inferences and explanations. Law: A descriptive generalization about how some aspect of the natural world behaves under stated circumstances. Theory: In science, a well-substantiated explanation of some aspect of the natural world that can incorporate facts, laws, inferences, and tested hypotheses.
Make a Donation Today. Give a Gift Membership. More Ways to Give. Member Services FAQs. Legacy Society. Science Champions Society. Give a Gift of Stock. Donor-Advised Funds. Employer Matching Gifts. Facebook Fundraisers. Free Memberships for Graduate Students. Why does the moon revolve around the Earth? The theory of gravity explains all these different events. However, houses built on bad foundations often need to be taken down and rebuilt. Scientific theories also sometimes need to be updated or changed.
Our current theory, called the theory of natural selection, now can explain SO many facts: everything from how bacteria become immune to antibiotics and why some animals are so beautifully colorful to why bat wings resemble human arms and chickens look like tiny velociraptors. Theories like gravity and natural selection have been rebuilt several times since they were first created.
They are based on a ton of data and observation. If you uncover new facts or devise a theory that explains more facts than the old one, share it! Have a different answer or more to add to this one? Send it to us. When Does a Theory Become a Fact?. By volunteering, or simply sending us feedback on the site.
Scientists, teachers, writers, illustrators, and translators are all important to the program.
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