Final answer:
Scientific statements are called laws when they describe broad, generalized patterns in nature supported by vast scientific evidence, are universally accepted, and can often be distilled into a concise mathematical equation, such as Newton's second law of motion expressed as F = ma.
Step-by-step explanation:
Some scientific statements are often called laws because they describe generalized patterns in nature that are supported by a substantial amount of scientific evidence and through repeated experiments. A scientific law typically uses concise language and can frequently be expressed as a single mathematical equation. These laws are considered the building blocks of the scientific method and are universally accepted as true under the conditions they describe.
As an example, Newton's second law of motion, which states that the force (F) applied to an object equals the mass (m) of the object multiplied by the acceleration (a) of the object, is succinctly expressed by the equation F = ma. This law, along with others like the law of conservation of energy, are applied universally and form the foundation upon which additional scientific understanding is built.
In contrast, a theory is a more complex explanation that describes a broader range of phenomena. Theories, although also supported by extensive evidence, are more dynamic in nature and explain the why behind the observations we make about the natural world. For example, the Theory of Evolution and the Theory of Relativity cannot be condensed into a law due to their complexity.