A hypothesis is an “educated guess” about the outcome of an event. It should draw on prior knowledge and provide an explanation for the proposed result. A scientific hypothesis should be testable and falsifiable.
A hypothesis is commonly written in the form of an if/then statement, with explanation
If/then examples:
- If the water faucet is opened, then the amount of water flowing will increase.
- If fenders are placed on a bicycle, then the user will stay dry when going through puddles.
- If a prisoner learns a work skill while in jail, then he is less likely to commit a crime when he is released.
- If I raise the temperature of a cup of water, then the amount of sugar that can be dissolved in it will be increased.
- If the size of the molecules is related to the rate of diffusion as they pass through a membrane, then smaller molecules will flow through at a higher rate.
- If there is a relation between the wave length of light and the photosynthesis rate, then light of different colors will cause the plant to make different amounts of oxygen.
- If temperature is related to the rate of metabolism in animals, then raising the ambient temperature will cause an increase in animal metabolism.
