Question

I observe that squirrels that live in the southeastern United States are much thinner than squirrels that live in the northeastern part of the country. I theorize that this is because the squirrels that live in the northeast have greater fat reserves for the winter months when food is scarce. Is this a scientific theory?

Answer 1

No, it is not a scientific theory.

Step-by-step explanation:

• A scientific theory is a proposition that is made to explain the various phenomena that are occurring in nature and it is supported by experiments that have repeatability and well-analyzed results.

• Scientific theories are usually tested in experiments under controlled conditions and verified as well.

• In the given situation, the theory made by the observer is not being tested through any experimentation or quantification and therefore, it is just a hypothesis and not a scientific theory.