Final answer:
A hypothesis is a testable statement that scientists use to make predictions and conduct experiments. It must be capable of being proven wrong and is often expressed as an if-then statement. Continual testing is essential to reinforcing or challenging a hypothesis, leading to scientific progress.
Step-by-step explanation:
A testable statement used for making predictions and carrying out further experiments is called a hypothesis. It is a proposed explanation based on prior knowledge and is essential for the scientific method. A hypothesis must be testable and falsifiable to be considered scientific. This means it must be capable of being supported or refuted through experimentation or observation.
To test a hypothesis, one must make a prediction that is essentially an if-then statement, such as "If I study all night, then I will get a passing grade on the test." The ability to test hypotheses through experiments is what helps scientists shift from speculative ideas to validated explanations of natural phenomena.
Furthermore, the repetition of experiments that support a hypothesis can lead to the hypothesis becoming a theory, which is a widely accepted explanation of a scientific concept.
However, even when results agree with the hypothesis, it does not mean the idea is proven; it simply garners more support. Science continually refines theories based on new evidence. The process of formulating and testing hypotheses is a cycle that leads to a better understanding of the world around us.