Final answer:
A scientific law is a concise and universal description of a pattern in nature, often expressed mathematically, while a scientific theory is a broader and more complex explanation for why natural phenomena occur. They do not evolve into one another but are both supported by substantial evidence and play different roles in understanding the natural world.
Step-by-step explanation:
The main difference between a scientific theory and a scientific law is that a law describes what happens in nature, whereas a theory explains why it happens. Scientific laws are concise statements that can often be represented by equations, such as Newton's second law of motion (F = ma). They describe a pattern in nature that is universally true based on current evidence and repeated experiments. In contrast, a scientific theory is a more complex and dynamic explanation of natural phenomena, such as the Theory of Evolution or the Theory of Relativity, which cannot be summarized by a single mathematical equation.
Scientific theories and laws are both supported by a substantial amount of scientific evidence, but they serve different roles. A scientific law is a well-supported description of an aspect of the natural world, typically expressed concisely and with mathematical precision, while a scientific theory is a well-supported explanation of aspects of the natural world that encompasses a wider range of phenomena. It is a common misconception that a theory evolves into a law with more evidence; this is not the case, as they are distinct types of scientific knowledge.