Final answer:
In the context of the scientific method, a hypothesis is a tentative, testable explanation, while a scientific theory is an extensively tested and supported explanation. Therefore, the most appropriate correct option is B.
Step-by-step explanation:
In the scientific method or process, an explanation about natural phenomena with little or no experimental fact is called a hypothesis. A hypothesis is a tentative explanation for scientific observations that puts the system being studied into a form that can be tested. It is essentially an educated guess based on observation and prior knowledge, but it has not yet been thoroughly tested or supported by evidence. Contrastingly, a scientific theory is a well-substantiated explanation of an aspect of the natural world that has been repeatedly tested and confirmed through observation and experimentation. Scientific theories are the foundation of scientific knowledge. Though often misunderstood as mere speculation, theories in science are robust and reliable explanations supported by a significant body of evidence.