Question

A Scottish chemist Thomas Graham observed and experimented with gas particles in the 1800s.

He formulated a mathematical equation that describes the relationship between the mass of a gas molecule and its rate of effusion.
This relationship is a

law because it describes what happens without explaining why.
law because it is based on mathematics.
theory because it describes a relationship.
theory because it is a description without an explanation.

Answer 1

The answer is A.

This is because an equation does not explain why, which is a characteristic of a law. But, not all laws are based on mathematics. For example Newtons Laws of motion is simply statements.


Hope this helps :)

Answer 2

The correct answer is

law because it describes what happens without explaining why.

Law is something which does not give explanation why? It simply a law. It is not necessary that all laws are mathematical or should be expressed by equation.