Final answer:
Scientific theories and laws serve different purposes in science and do not evolve from one into the other. Laws describe what happens in nature, often mathematically. Theories explain why and how natural phenomena occur and are supported by extensive evidence.
Step-by-step explanation:
No, theories and laws are entirely different concepts in science, and a scientific theory does not become law over time, even with additional evidence. While both theories and laws are supported by a substantial body of evidence and are fundamental components of scientific understanding, their roles are distinct. Scientific laws describe patterns observed in nature and can often be stated with a mathematical equation. Scientific theories, on the other hand, are broader explanations of natural phenomena that are supported by extensive evidence and may encompass one or more laws but never transform into them.
For example, Newton's second law of motion, which is represented by the equation F = ma, is a law because it describes a consistent pattern: the relationship between force, mass, and acceleration. Conversely, The Theory of Evolution explains a wide range of biological observations and intricacies but is too complex to be distilled into a single mathematical expression, and thus remains a theory. The theory can predict and explain an enormous variety of natural events, and it is dynamic and adaptable to discoveries. Therefore, scientific advancement may refine or expand upon a theory, or even replace it with a more comprehensive one, but it does not graduate a theory to a law.