Final answer:
The statement 'a helium-filled balloon floats' is an observation. It is not a prediction, law, or theory. Observation refers to noticing or perceiving something and recording it as factual information.
Step-by-step explanation:
The statement 'a helium-filled balloon floats' is an observation. An observation refers to the act of noticing or perceiving something and recording it as a piece of factual information. In this context, if you have a balloon filled with helium gas, you will observe that it floats in the air. This statement is not a prediction, law, or theory. A prediction might be something like 'if we fill the balloon with helium, it should float.' A law is a well-established principle derived from many scientific observations and experiments over time, such as 'Newton's laws of motion'. A theory is a well-substantiated explanation of some aspect of the natural world, like 'the theory of relativity' presented by Albert Einstein.
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