Final answer:
A scientific law describes observed patterns in nature without explaining why they occur, such as Newton's second law of motion, and differs from a hypothesis, which is a tentative explanation, and a theory, which is a well-tested and confirmed explanation within the scientific method.
Step-by-step explanation:
The scientific term that describes what happens in the world but does not explain why something happens is known as a scientific law. Scientific laws are statements often described by mathematical formulas that summarize the behavior of aspects of nature. For instance, Newton's second law of motion states the relationship between force, mass, and acceleration without explaining the underlying causes of this relationship. In contrast, a hypothesis is a tentative explanation that is subject to testing and refinement, and a theory is a well-substantiated, comprehensive explanation of an aspect of the natural world that has been repeatedly tested and confirmed. While laws describe relationships, theories provide the explanatory context within the scientific method.