57. Numerous experiments have confirmed that if the distance between a light source and an observer is doubled, the intensity of the light as viewed by the observer decreases by a factor of four. Which type of scientific statement is this?
Answer: C
This statement is a Law.
The statement describes a consistent and observable phenomenon regarding light intensity, which qualifies it as a scientific law. It establishes a clear relationship that has been confirmed through numerous experiments.
A) Inference
An inference is a conclusion drawn from evidence or reasoning rather than from explicit statements. While the statement does describe a phenomenon, it does so in a definitive manner that does not merely suggest a conclusion but rather articulates a fundamental principle, making this option incorrect.
B) Hypothesis
A hypothesis is a proposed explanation for a phenomenon that can be tested through experimentation. The statement given, however, is not a tentative explanation but rather a verified relationship established by repeated experimentation, thus disqualifying this option.
C) Law
This option is correct as the statement accurately describes a scientific law. Scientific laws are statements that describe consistent phenomena observed in nature, and in this case, the relationship between distance and light intensity has been repeatedly validated, confirming its status as a law.
D) Theory
A theory is a well-substantiated explanation of an aspect of the natural world that is based on a body of evidence. The statement does not offer an explanatory framework but rather presents a straightforward relationship, which makes this option incorrect.
Conclusion
The statement is definitively categorized as a law because it describes a consistent, observable relationship that has been validated through experimentation. All other options—inference, hypothesis, and theory—fail to capture the definitive and established nature of the relationship presented in the statement.