Final answer:
A scientific theory is a well-tested model of some aspect of nature that provides a comprehensive explanation and prediction of natural phenomena, distinguished from a hypothesis, which is an initial testable explanation, and a scientific law, which is a summary of observed behavior.
Step-by-step explanation:
A model of some aspect of nature that has been rigorously tested and has passed all tests to date is known as a scientific theory. The process of developing such a theory begins with making observations and then formulating a hypothesis. This hypothesis is subsequently subjected to rigorous testing through carefully designed experiments. If the hypothesis consistently explains the observational data, it can be developed into a scientific theory which is a well-supported and comprehensive explanation of aspects of the natural world. Scientific theories are powerful because they not only explain known facts but also predict new discoveries. In contrast, a scientific law is a concise description of a behavior of nature, generally without explaining why it occurs.
The scientific method is an organized path that leads from observation and question to law or theory, involving experimental verification of hypotheses and any necessary modifications of the theory. To summarize, a scientific theory is the outcome of this entire process and represents the pinnacle of understanding within this method. On the other hand, a hypothesis is a testable explanation for observations at the beginning of this process, and a law is a statement summarizing the relationship between variables after much empirical confirmation.