Data are the pieces of information used to analyze something. But perhaps data can be used as simple as the storage of information in a compare. One thing is clear about data is that it is some form of information. It can be used in daily life to describe cell phone use in connecting to the internet, as well used scientifically in preparation for calculations. For example, if i’m downloading a new video game for my xbox and I want to know how long it will take until it becomes complete, I need to record all of the information provided. How many megabytes are being downloaded per second? How many total gigabytes until the download completes? What is the percentage change in the duration of one minute? All of these numerical answers to these questions would be examples of data. I can use these pieces of information to test a theory based on my calculations of these numbers. Or before I gather this data I could make a hypothesis based upon the last game I downloaded. Data is used in each of hypothesis, law, and theory.

A hypothesis is an attempted explanation made based upon the evidence provided. It is usually the starting point that leads to a theory. For example, if i want to cook spaghetti, I pour water into a pot and set it on top of a stove under heat. A question I may ask is, how long will it take for this pot to boil? I could guess that it will take 20 minutes because I cooked mac n’ cheese last night and that is how long it took. Since I just put the pot on the stove, I will not be able to answer this question. So I proceeded to guessed using prior experience, which means that I have made an informed guess. This is just one of many examples of making a hypothesis.


Generally speaking a theory is an idea that is meant to explain how something works, or the facts about such circumstances. Theories in the scientific community are confirmed by using many number of experiments and dissections. It is usually a long, drawn out, meticulous process that is meant to find the facts behind the mechanism. Theory and Hypothesis are very similar but different in a very significant way. Hypothesis is simply an educated guess, while a theory is a thoroughly tested explanation based upon evidence and substance.

Law in science refers to a summary of statements based upon observations in the universe. It contrasts from a theory because Law does not attempt to explain any phenomenon. It simply states what is. Perhaps one of the most famous observations was Newton’s law of gravity. He did not attempt to explain why gravity is the way it is, he just created a formula based upon many of his observations.