Ace the Ontario Grade 9 Science Exam 2025 – Get Ready to Rock Your Science Socks Off!

A hypothesis is distinguished from a theory by being a tentative explanation that is formulated based on observations and prior knowledge, while a theory is a well-substantiated, comprehensive explanation of some aspect of the natural world that has been tested and validated through a significant body of evidence. Hypotheses are often specific predictions that can be tested through experimentation and observation, leading to a conclusion that may support or refute the hypothesis. On the other hand, theories emerge after many hypotheses have been tested and supported by evidence, ultimately leading to an established framework for understanding related phenomena. The development of a theory involves extensive validation and is accepted by the scientific community due to its robustness and consistency with empirical data.