Final answer:
An observation is a factual statement about something that can be seen or experienced, while a hypothesis is an educated guess that explains or predicts the observation and can be tested for validity.
Step-by-step explanation:
An observation is a measurement or description of something that can be seen, heard, tasted, smelled, or felt. It is a factual statement about what is happening or what has happened. On the other hand, a hypothesis is a tentative explanation for an observation. It is an educated guess that is based on prior knowledge and can be tested to determine its validity. Unlike an observation, a hypothesis is not a direct measurement, but rather a logical inference.