What defines a theory in scientific terms?

In scientific terms, a theory is defined as a well-substantiated explanation of some aspect of the natural world that is based on a body of evidence. The correct answer highlights that a theory arises from a hypothesis that has been rigorously tested through experimentation and observation, yielding significant data that supports it.

This process usually involves multiple rounds of testing and refinement, where evidence is gathered from various methodologies and different contexts. Theories integrate and generalize a wide range of observations and are capable of making predictions about future events. They are also subject to modification or rejection if new evidence emerges that contradicts them.

In contrast, other options are narrower in scope. A law describes specific relationships under certain conditions and does not explain why those relationships exist, whereas a theory provides a framework for understanding those relationships. Descriptive statements or equations may convey observations but lack the comprehensive explanatory power that a theory possesses. A testable prediction, though a vital aspect of the scientific method, is more closely related to forming a hypothesis than encapsulating what a theory represents. Hence, the comprehensive nature of a theory—formed from significant and repeatable testing of hypotheses—is what defines it scientifically.