Among the different types of scientific knowledge _ are likely to be modified or discarded most frequently. Long ago, in the 1600s, scientists discarded the phlogiston theory because _______.
line 1. Hypotheses, laws, theories
line 2. Scientists wanted to explain things differently, new evidence didn’t support it, it was too old and needed to be replaced
The Correct Answer and Explanation is:
The correct answer is:
Line 1: Hypotheses
Line 2: new evidence didn’t support it
Explanation:
In the realm of scientific knowledge, hypotheses are most likely to be modified or discarded compared to laws and theories. Hypotheses are testable predictions or assumptions about how something works or what might happen in a specific experiment or observation. These are usually formulated at the beginning of scientific investigations and serve as a basis for further experimentation. However, since hypotheses are often based on limited observations or preliminary data, they may not always hold up when subjected to rigorous testing and empirical evidence. If new evidence contradicts a hypothesis or fails to support it, it is likely to be discarded, refined, or replaced. This process is central to the scientific method, which emphasizes ongoing testing and revision of ideas.
Laws are generalizations based on repeated empirical observations, often describing natural phenomena that consistently occur under specific conditions. For example, Newton’s Law of Gravity describes how masses attract one another, and such laws are not easily discarded. They tend to be very well-supported by evidence and are less prone to modification, although they may eventually be integrated into broader theories as more data becomes available.
Theories, on the other hand, are comprehensive explanations that bring together multiple hypotheses, observations, and laws. While theories can also evolve over time (e.g., the theory of evolution, or the theory of relativity), they generally represent a more stable and well-supported understanding of natural phenomena. These are subject to change but are unlikely to be discarded completely unless overwhelming evidence arises that contradicts them completely, leading to a paradigm shift.
In the 1600s, scientists discarded the phlogiston theory of combustion because new evidence didn’t support it. The phlogiston theory posited that a substance called “phlogiston” was released during combustion. However, with the discovery of oxygen and the development of the theory of combustion by Antoine Lavoisier, it was shown that oxygen, not phlogiston, played a crucial role in the process of burning. This new evidence rendered the phlogiston theory obsolete, demonstrating how scientific knowledge is continually refined as new data challenges existing ideas.