Final answer:
A system in physics is a group of related objects that interact to form a complex whole, and the correct answer is b) System. In contrast, a hypothesis is a testable explanatory proposition based on scientific knowledge.
Step-by-step explanation:
In physics, a system is a group of related objects that interact with each other and form a complex whole. The correct answer to the student's question is b) System. Unlike a hypothesis, which is a tentative explanation for scientific observations, a system itself is the actual grouping of interacting components. An example of a system could be the solar system, an ecosystem, or any set of interconnected parts that work together to form a functioning whole.
Hypothesis Formation
A hypothesis is a possible answer to a scientific question that must be based on scientific knowledge, logical, testable, and falsifiable. A hypothesis helps put the scientist's understanding of the system being studied into a form that can be tested, such as predicting the outcome of an experiment if the hypothesis is true. While formulating a hypothesis, scientists are guided by previous observations and attempt to develop a tentative assumption that can be empirically verified.