a proposed explanation for something that can actually be tested
Comes from Latin word "scientia" meaning "knowledge"
The study of the nature and behavior of natural things and the knowledge that we obtain about them
Example: If UV light can damage the eyes, then maybe UV light is a cause of blindness.
An explanation of some aspect of the natural world that has been substantiated through repeated experiments or testing
A system of acquiring knowledge based on the scientific process
An "educated guess," based on prior knowledge and observation
Example: Dalton's Atomic Theory
Because it is so well supported, it has a very good chance of being a correct explanation for events in nature
