Fact vs. Theory vs. Hypothesis vs. Law… EXPLAINED!

Think you know the difference?
↓ More info and sources below ↓

Some people try to attack things like evolution by natural selection and man-made climate change by saying “Oh, that’s just a THEORY!”

Yes, they are both theories. Stop saying it like it’s a bad thing! It’s time we learn the difference between a fact, a theory, a hypothesis, and a scientific law.

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It’s Okay To Be Smart is written and hosted by Joe Hanson, Ph.D.
Follow me on Twitter: @jtotheizzoe
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[jamesmaxwell]

This video should be required watching at all public high schools.

[ChrisBryer]

Well, science is a lot like evolution by natural selection. It's survival of the fittest hypothesis.

[Daysed.and.Konfuzed]

My theory is that I've been misusing this word my whole life.
No ... Wait ... That's a fact.

[mrcet]

Really excellent video! Thanks.

59-year-old Electrical Engineer here. Even with my reasonably substantial scientific and technological education, I have to confess that these terms have been a little muddled in my mind!

To clarify, though...

The emphasis of this video is that a Scientist’s definition of a “Theory” is very different from a police detective’s definition! That’s a really excellent distinction, but I in particular *did* know and already understood a Scientific Theory very well. I have largely equated “Theory” with “Model” — the explanation.

What this video clarified for me was the terms “fact” and “Law, ” and how they relate to the Theory. I hadn’t heard those terms particularly clearly defined before!

Newtonian gravity is definitely an excellent example:

A scientific *fact* is just a distinct piece of wisdom that we all accept as true, like that objects near the surface of the Earth fall accelerating at a rate of ~9.8 m/s/s. This fact, in itself, does not involve explanation — it’s not about “how” or “why, ” but just “what, ” is true.

The *Law* of Newtonian Gravity is F=Gm1m2/r^2. That is not an individual fact like 9.8m/s/s, nor is it the actual Theory — the explanation — itself, but it’s a reliable formula based upon the Theory.

The *Theory* of Newtonian Gravity — which by the way, is clearly known to be flat-out wrong, but is an extremely good approximation — is Gravitational Fields. That is not a distinct fact nor a formula; it is the *model* — the underlying logic.

[NerdSyncProductions]

But hey, that's just a theory... A SCIENCE THEORY! Thanks for watching!

[Shangori]

finally someone made this video. Been asking around if one of the bigger science channels could address these terms.

And I must say: brilliantly done. Not that my sign of approval means much, but still wanted to say that I truly appreciate it

[Winnerslay]

The problem is that many people aren't intellectually honest enough to accept certain facts, and dismiss them as opinions :'(

[Samzz]

I like this video because it shines a light on the philosophy from which Science stems. You cannot derive absolute truth from Science however it is the best tool we currently have to make a best attempt at trying to make sense of the physical world around us.

[mageover]

You don't confirm Hypothesis you fail to reject them.

[Atypical-Abbie]

Can we have "WE DID A SCIENCE!" as a T-shirt please?

[MystikIees]

This was exactly what I was looking for. You're never too old to learn.

[bobg]

They should show this in schools everywhere.

[markog]

Don't you mean "I LIKE THAT HYPOTHESIS"

[thingonometry-]

But hey! Thats just a hypothesis... a game hypothesis!

[stumpystumps]

me when i make carbon dioxide from tree air "WE DID A SCIENCE"

[-r-]

Theories back then: EVOLUTION BY NATURAL SELECTION!


Theories now: JaR jAr BiNkS iS a SiTh LoRd

[thegoombrat]

Well I'm guessing "game hypothesis" just didn't sound as good.

[kingcrowbro]

1:25 Out...side....what's that? What is this mythical land of sunlight and gumdrops you speak of?

[micah]

Go read Karl Popper: You don't confirm a hypothesis. You fail to reject a hypothesis. Although it may seem like semantics. It is an important distinction.

[NerdSyncProductions]

5:55 Now we're starting to get into philosophy. If you replace all the parts of your car slowly over the course of a few years, is it still the same car?