Final answer:
The geocentric theory, which proposed that Earth was the center of the universe, was accepted centuries ago but has since been disproved. The heliocentric theory, with the Sun at the center, replaced the geocentric theory based on improved observations and evidence.
Step-by-step explanation:
The scientific theory that was accepted centuries ago but has since been disproved is the geocentric theory. This theory proposed that Earth was the center of the universe and that everything revolved around it in circular orbits. However, as further observations and improved instruments were developed, it became clear that the geocentric model could not explain all the observed facts. The heliocentric theory, which states that the Sun is the center of the solar system, fit the experimental evidence better and eventually became the accepted view of the universe.
This example supports the use of the term 'scientific theory' instead of 'scientific law' because the geocentric theory was based on observations and philosophical beliefs, but it was later revised and replaced by the heliocentric theory. Scientific theories are explanations of evidence that are supported by experiments and observations, but they can be changed or disproved by new discoveries. In contrast, scientific laws are concise statements that describe a fundamental relationship in nature and are considered to be universally true.