in fairness to Ror, the words theory and hypothesis have several definitions outside the context of the scientific method.
but a quick refresh of what is considered elementary physical science -
Quote:
I. The scientific method has four steps
1. Observation and description of a phenomenon or group of phenomena.
2. Formulation of an hypothesis to explain the phenomena. In physics, the hypothesis often takes the form of a causal mechanism or a mathematical relation.
3. Use of the hypothesis to predict the existence of other phenomena, or to predict quantitatively the results of new observations.
4. Performance of experimental tests of the predictions by several independent experimenters and properly performed experiments.
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It is only after step four has been repeated, recursing back through the method as new observations are made, and often tested by unaffiliated researchers that the scientific community forms a theorem.
Fuck, now I'm gonna have thermodynamics on the brain for on hour... better go browse loveline. :P