What is a Hypothesis in Science?
What is a Hypothesis in Science?
In science, a hypothesis is a proposed explanation or educated guess about how something works or why something happens. It’s based on prior knowledge, observations, and logical reasoning. A hypothesis is formulated as a starting point for investigation and is designed to be tested through experiments or further observation. If the tests consistently support the hypothesis, it may lead to a theory, while repeated contradictions might prompt revision or rejection of the hypothesis.
Characteristics of a Good Scientific Hypothesis
- Testability: It must be possible to test the hypothesis through experiments or observations.
- Falsifiability: There must be a conceivable outcome that could prove the hypothesis wrong.
- Specificity: It should clearly define the conditions under which it is expected to hold true.
For example, if you hypothesize that "plants grow faster when exposed to natural sunlight than under artificial light," this hypothesis can be tested by comparing plant growth rates in both conditions.