A proposed explanation for a phenomenon, made as a starting point for further investigation.A hypothesis is a proposed explanation for a phenomenon, formulated as a testable statement. It is the starting point of the scientific method, where an idea is put forward based on limited evidence, and then experiments or observations are designed to confirm or refute it. A good hypothesis is specific, falsifiable, and leads to predictions that can be checked. In physics, hypotheses range from the mundane (e.g., 'this material will conduct electricity at low temperatures') to the profound (e.g., 'the universe is expanding').
The formal concept of the hypothesis as a cornerstone of scientific inquiry was articulated by Francis Bacon in the 17th century, and later refined by philosophers like Karl Popper, who emphasized falsifiability as the key criterion.
A hypothesis is not a guess but a reasoned proposal grounded in existing knowledge. It is often expressed as an 'if-then' statement: if the hypothesis is true, then a specific outcome should be observed. Scientists then design an experiment to test that outcome. If the result matches the prediction, the hypothesis gains support; if not, it is revised or discarded. The process is iterative, with each test refining the hypothesis into a more robust theory.
Hypotheses drive all experimental physics, from testing new materials for batteries to probing the nature of dark matter.
The word 'hypothesis' comes from Greek, meaning 'under' (hypo) + 'placing' (thesis), literally 'a placing under', as in a foundation for an argument.
| B | variable | Bayes factor — bayes factor |
| D_k | variable | k-th data point — data |
| H_1 | variable | alternative hypothesis — hypothesis |
| H_0 | variable | null hypothesis — hypothesis |
| N | variable | number of data points — sample size |
| ∏ | operator | multiplication of terms for k=1 to N — product operator |
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