Final answer:
A hypothesis is a tentative explanation or prediction that can be tested and is not a definite conclusion. It serves as the starting point for scientific investigation.
Step-by-step explanation:
A hypothesis is not a definite conclusion but rather a tentative explanation or an educated guess based on observations and existing knowledge. It proposes a possible outcome or explanation that can be tested through scientific methods. For instance, someone might hypothesize that a plant will grow faster if it is given fertilizer. This hypothesis can then be tested by conducting experiments where some plants are given fertilizer and others are not, and observing the growth results.
While a hypothesis attempts to predict what will happen in a test, it does not become a final conclusion until it has been extensively tested and supported by evidence, potentially evolving into a scientific theory or law if consistently validated.