Final answer:
A hypothesis is a tentative explanation that begins with little evidence and requires testing. A theory is a comprehensive explanation that is strongly supported by a significant body of evidence and has survived rigorous testing and confirmation over time. The correct answer to how strongly each is supported by evidence is that a theory is always more strongly supported.
Step-by-step explanation:
Understanding Hypotheses and Theories
In the scientific community, the terms hypothesis and theory have specific meanings. A hypothesis is an educated guess that is formed based on observations and that can be tested through experiments. Often a hypothesis is supported by little evidence initially, and it requires experimental validation. In contrast, a scientific theory refers to a well-substantiated explanation of some aspect of the natural world that is supported by a large body of evidence. This includes many consistent observations and experiments that corroborate the theory.
Evaluating Scientific Explanations
When comparing hypotheses and theories, it is important to understand that a theory is always more strongly supported by evidence. This is simply due to the fact that a theory has survived extensive testing and has been refined over time to explain a range of phenomena. Whereas a hypothesis begins its journey with little evidence and becomes a theory only after repeated validation and acceptance within the scientific community. So, to the question of how strongly each is supported by evidence, the correct answer is b) A theory is always more strongly supported by evidence.
Furthermore, it is crucial to note that a hypothesis cannot be proven conclusively to be true, but it can be supported or refuted based on whether the actual observations match the expected ones. If a hypothesis continues to be supported, it becomes stronger and may contribute to the formation of a theory.