Which statement correctly describes the relationship between scientific laws and theories?

• A. Scientific theories are never revised.
• B. Scientific laws are untestable.
• C. Scientific laws describe consistent relationships; theories explain phenomena and can be revised with new evidence.
• D. They are the same thing.

Answer: (C)

Scientific laws describe consistent relationships in nature that hold under specific conditions, often expressed as mathematical formulas, summarizing what happens. Theories, in contrast, are well-supported explanations of why and how those phenomena occur, integrating a broad range of observations and mechanisms, and they can be revised or refined as new evidence emerges. This distinction makes the statement that laws describe consistent relationships and theories explain phenomena while remaining open to revision the best description. The idea that theories are never revised is incorrect, and the claim that laws are untestable is false because laws are derived from and validated by repeated observations and experiments. They are not the same thing.