how do you distinguish between an observation, hypothesis, and a prediction?

Kaylee, I recommend you look up all three words in a dictionary. http://www.onelook.com/

If you still are having difficulty, post your thoughts.

My hypothesis is that you will observe the solution to your question,and I predict next time on science vocabulary words, you will look them up and save some time.

An observation is something you observe (see) or measure. A hypothesis is a suggested theory. A prediction is the outcome expected based on past observations or theories.

To distinguish between an observation, hypothesis, and a prediction, let's first understand what they each mean:

1. Observation: An observation is the act of gathering information or data using our senses or scientific tools. It involves witnessing or noting something objectively without making any assumptions or explanations. For example, observing that it is raining outside or noticing that a plant is wilting.

2. Hypothesis: A hypothesis is a tentative explanation or an educated guess that attempts to explain a specific observation or phenomenon. It is based on prior knowledge, observations, and reasoning. A hypothesis is generally formulated as an if-then statement, predicting how one variable might affect another. For example, if I increase the amount of water a plant receives, then it will grow taller.

3. Prediction: A prediction is a statement or claim about what is expected to happen in the future, based on observations, patterns, or a hypothesis. It is an attempt to forecast an outcome or result. Predictions can be made before or after formulating a hypothesis. For example, based on the hypothesis mentioned earlier, a prediction could be: If I increase the water supply to the plant, then it will grow 3 inches taller within a week.

To distinguish between these three concepts, here are some key points:

- Observation is the act of gathering objective data while avoiding any explanations or assumptions.
- Hypothesis is an explanation or educated guess attempting to explain an observation or phenomenon.
- Prediction is a statement about an expected outcome or result based on observations, patterns, or a hypothesis.

In summary, observations provide the data, hypotheses provide tentative explanations, and predictions make claims about future outcomes based on observations and hypotheses.