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According to the scientific method, what is a law?

(a) A short statement that summarizes a large number of observations.
(b) A fact that can never be refuted.
(c) A model that gives insight into how nature is.
(d) An initial guess with explanatory power.

1 Answer

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Final answer:

A scientific law is a concise statement that describes a generalized pattern in nature and is usually expressed as a mathematical equation, supported by evidence from repeated experiments and observations.

Step-by-step explanation:

According to the scientific method, a scientific law is a statement that describes a generalized pattern in nature and is supported by extensive scientific evidence and repeated experiments. A scientific law is often concise and may be articulated through a single mathematical equation. Scientific laws and theories both stem from tested hypotheses; however, where a law uses concise language to describe what happens in nature typically as a single action or relationship, a theory provides a detailed explanation of an entire group of related phenomena. For example, Newton's second law of motion, which can be summarized by the equation F = ma where F is force, m is mass, and a is acceleration, is considered a law because it consistently describes the relationship between these quantities in a simple and universally applicable manner.

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