As we will see over and over, there are many words that mean one thing in everyday language, and something very different in the language of science. Words such as mineral, rock, force, or radiation have very specific meanings for scientists, usually quite different from the definitions used in daily life. The words "hypothesis", "law", and "theory" may well be the three most misunderstood words in science, so lets take a look at them, to see what they really mean.

• What is a Hypothesis?
• Is Gravity a Law or a Theory?
• When Does a Theory Become a Law?