What’s the difference between a scientific law and theory? - Matt Anticole
1,811,162 Views
54,773 Questions Answered
TEDEd Animation
Let’s Begin…
Chat with a friend about an established scientific theory, and she might reply, “Well, that’s just a theory.” But a conversation about an established scientific law rarely ends with “Well, that’s just a law.” Why is that? What is the difference between a theory and a law... and is one “better”? Matt Anticole shows why science needs both laws and theories to understand the whole picture.
The following were once accepted theories but scientists eventually replaced them with better theories. Learn a bit more about one of them and find out why they didn’t make the cut! Write a five sentence paragraph about the one you chose. a. Alchemy b. The heliocentric model c. Spontaneous generation d. The interstellar aether
Sign in to answer questionAbout TED-Ed Animations
TED-Ed Animations feature the words and ideas of educators brought to life by professional animators. Are you an educator or animator interested in creating a TED-Ed Animation? Nominate yourself here »
Meet The Creators
- Educator Matt Anticole
- Producer Zedem Media
- Director Michael Kalopaidis
- Artist Jeanne Bornet
- Animator Andria Pourouti
- Sound Designer Andreas Trachonitis
- Script Editor Eleanor Nelsen
- Narrator Addison Anderson
