Newton’s law of universal gravitation, $F = G m_1 m_2 / r^2$
Terms
| Term | This example | Why |
|---|---|---|
| law (in science) | ✓ | |
| theory (in science) | ✗ | |
| hypothesis (in science) | ✗ |
Distinctions using this example
- Conjecture vs. hypothesis vs. law vs. theory: Newton’s law of gravitation is a law because it is an equation that describes how strongly masses attract. It is not a theory, because it does not explain why masses attract; general relativity, a theory, does.