Final answer:
A hypothesis is a proposed explanation that can be tested. It contributes to theories that attempt to explain observed phenomena. The answers scientists find are always tentative and supported, rather than true or false.
Step-by-step explanation:
A hypothesis is a proposed explanation that can be tested through experimentation, calculation, or comparison with other experiments. It acts as a guide for gathering and checking information, and is refined as needed. Hypotheses can contribute to theories that attempt to explain observed phenomena, and if a hypothesis is capable of explaining a large body of experimental data, it can become a theory.
For example, in astronomy, there are still controversial hypotheses being discussed, such as the impact of rocks and ice on Earth and the nature of dark energy in the universe. These hypotheses require further testing before they can be fully incorporated into standard models.
The answers scientists find are always tentative, and a hypothesis is supported rather than true or unsupported rather than false. Additional research and improved methods or data can lead to different answers, and political behavior itself can also change in response to what people learn about it.
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