Physical Theory

A Physical theory is a logical explanation of the observed physical phenomenon or processes. While physical laws provide the how of a process, the what or why of it is provided by a theory. This explanation is temporary in the sense that any other easier scientific explanation can replace it. This article tries to get further insight on this subject.

Physical Theory:

·        Every scientific theory is based upon certain postulates and premises.

·        A scientific theory is developed using inducto-deductive reasoning.

·        In inductive reasoning, large number of simple particular cases are taken and the common thread running across these cases are found out to arrive at a generalization.

·        In deductive reasoning, a general proposition is considered and we try to apply it to a large number of specific cases.

·        A scientific theory is expected not only to explain an observed process but also predict events in near future.

·        The power of a scientific theory lies in its predictive ability and in less number of postulates it is based on.

·        Every scientific theory follows Ocham’s razor which says that the simplest of the theories should be given importance when there are more than one explanation for an observed event.

·        The claims and predictions of the scientific theory rely completely upon  the results of scientific experiments.

·        A scientific theory exists and is accepted until it is not challenged by the outcome of even a single experiment.

·        Whenever a general theory is proposed, the existing theory is either replaced completely or modified as a sub-case of the new theory.