Final answer:
A scientific hypothesis must be potentially testable and falsifiable through empirical data gained from experimentation or observation. It allows for predictions that can be objectively deemed true or false, thus contributing to scientific knowledge. Option 1 is correct..
Step-by-step explanation:
A scientific hypothesis must be potentially testable. It must make predictions that can be clearly determined to be correct or incorrect. Being testable means that the hypothesis must be able to be supported or refuted through scientific experimentation or observation. This concept is a cornerstone of the scientific method; a hypothesis is considered a tentative explanation for an observation or a scientific problem that can undergo falsification through experimentation.
The essence of a testable hypothesis lies in the ability to perform experiments that yield empirical data. These data then either corroborate or contradict the predictions made by the hypothesis. If the results continuously support the hypothesis, it gains credibility. However, being falsifiable is just as important, meaning it can be proven wrong by evidence. Therefore, a hypothesis that's not testable or falsifiable is not scientific.For instance, claiming 'Botticelli's Birth of Venus is beautiful' is unfalsifiable because personal perception of beauty cannot be empirically tested. On the other hand, hypothesizing that 'If the enzymes are denatured, the rate of the reaction will decrease' can be put to the test through experimentation. The ability to test hypotheses and potentially falsify them through data collection is what advances scientific knowledge.