Biology

The correct distinction between a scientific theory and a scientific law is:

A scientific theory explains why something happens, while a scientific law describes what happens.

Here's a more detailed explanation of each option:

A."A scientific theory is based on evidence, while a scientific law is based on opinion."

This is incorrect. Both scientific theories and scientific laws are based on empirical evidence, not on opinion. They are both developed and validated through experimentation, observation, and rigorous testing.

B."A scientific theory explains why something happens, while a scientific law describes what happens."

This is correct. A theory provides an explanation for the underlying causes of a phenomenon (e.g., the theory of evolution explains how species change over time). A law is a statement or description of a consistent relationship observed in nature (e.g., Newton's law of motion describes how objects move under certain conditions, but it doesn't explain why they move t...