Introduction to Physical Geology Practice Exam

A hypothesis is a testable explanation or interpretation that can be verified or falsified by observation or experiment. It starts from what you’ve observed or from prior knowledge and makes a specific prediction that could be shown false under certain evidence. Thisability to be tested is what separates a hypothesis from a mere guess or from a conclusion drawn after looking at data. It’s not a proven fact; rather, it’s a provisional statement that you set out to evaluate through experiments or further observations. In practice, you state a hypothesis, plan tests or measurements to challenge it, and then determine whether the results support or refute it.