Final answer:
A hypothesis is the scientific term for a testable model designed to explain phenomena. It is foundational to scientific investigation, which relies on evidence, logic, and experimentation to understand natural laws and lead to scientific theories or laws.
Step-by-step explanation:
The scientific term used to describe a testable model that seeks to explain natural phenomena is a hypothesis. A hypothesis is a tentative explanation for scientific observations, and it is formed to put the system being studied into a framework that can be tested. Scientific investigation involves a plan for asking questions and testing possible answers to them using evidence and logic. This process is distinctive in science because it aims to answer questions with evidence and logic, often through the creation of models, theories, and laws.
The role of experimentation is critical, as it directly relates to the discovery of natural laws, which are concise descriptions of the universe that outline how all natural processes follow certain rules. These discoveries are made by observing the natural world and devising experiments to test hypotheses, which can lead to a deeper understanding of the phenomena and potentially result in scientific theories or laws if widely accepted and backed by substantial evidence.