scientific theory

1. A theory that explains scientific observations (synset 106002729)
   "scientific theories must be falsifiable"
   is a type of: theory - a well-substantiated explanation of some aspect of the natural world; an organized system of accepted knowledge that applies in a variety of circumstances to explain a specific set of phenomena
   subtypes:

   • big bang theory, big-bang theory - (cosmology) the theory that the universe originated sometime between 10 billion and 20 billion years ago from the cataclysmic explosion of a small volume of matter at extremely high density and temperature
   • nebular hypothesis - (cosmology) the theory that the solar system evolved from a hot gaseous nebula
   • planetesimal hypothesis - (cosmology) the theory that the solar system was formed by the gravitational accumulation of planetesimals
   • continuous creation theory, steady state theory - (cosmology) the theory that the universe maintains a constant average density with matter created to fill the void left by galaxies that are receding from each other
   • gravitational theory, newton's theory of gravitation, theory of gravitation, theory of gravity - (physics) the theory that any two particles of matter attract one another with a force directly proportional to the product of their masses and inversely proportional to the square of the distance between them
   • organicism - theory that the total organization of an organism rather than the functioning of individual organs is the determinant of life processes
   • atomic theory - a theory of the structure of the atom
   • cell doctrine, cell theory - (biology) the theory that cells form the fundamental structural and functional units of all living organisms; proposed in 1838 by Matthias Schleiden and by Theodor Schwann
   • undulatory theory, wave theory, wave theory of light - (physics) the theory that light is transmitted as waves
   • corpuscular theory, corpuscular theory of light - (physics) the theory that light is transmitted as a stream of particles
   • kinetic theory, kinetic theory of gases - (physics) a theory that gases consist of small particles in random motion
   • einstein's theory of relativity, relativity, relativity theory, theory of relativity - (physics) the theory that space and time are relative concepts rather than absolute concepts
   • supersymmetry - (physics) a theory that tries to link the four fundamental forces
   • quantum theory - (physics) a physical theory that certain properties occur only in discrete amounts (quanta)
   • indeterminacy principle, uncertainty principle - (quantum theory) the theory that it is impossible to measure both energy and time (or position and momentum) completely accurately at the same time
   • germ theory - (medicine) the theory that all contagious diseases are caused by microorganisms
   • information theory - (computer science) a statistical theory dealing with the limits and efficiency of information processing
   • arrhenius theory of dissociation, theory of dissociation, theory of electrolytic dissociation - (chemistry) theory that describes aqueous solutions in terms of acids (which dissociate to give hydrogen ions) and bases (which dissociate to give hydroxyl ions); the product of an acid and a base is a salt and water
   • evolutionism, theory of evolution, theory of organic evolution - (biology) a scientific theory of the origin of species of plants and animals
   • ostwald's theory of indicators, theory of indicators - (chemistry) the theory that all indicators are either weak acids or weak bases in which the color of the ionized form is different from the color before dissociation
   • theory of inheritance - (biology) a theory of how characteristics of one generation are derived from earlier generations
   • association theory, associationism - (psychology) a theory that association is the basic principle of mental activity
   • atomism - (psychology) a theory that reduces all mental phenomena to simple elements (sensations and feelings) that form complex ideas by association
   • functionalism - a psychology based on the assumption that all mental process are useful to an organism in adapting to the environment
   • configurationism, gestalt psychology - (psychology) a theory of psychology that emphasizes the importance of configurational properties
   • game theory, theory of games - (economics) a theory of competition stated in terms of gains and losses among opposing players
   is a part of: science, scientific discipline - a particular branch of scientific knowledge

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