What is a theory?
Before we go further, let’s understand an important word:
Theory
A theory is an idea that tries to explain how something works.
It is based on:
- observations
- measurements
- and reasoning
But here’s the key:
A theory is not the same as something we can see happening directly.
It’s an explanation—not always the final answer.
Think of it like this:
You see a photo of a grassy yard, and it is wet.
"Wet Grass" is what is seen.
One person might say "It must have rained"
Another might say "The sprinklers must have come on"
These are 2 theories about what was seen. The wet grass is what was seen.