[curiosity]

So it goes from hypothesis to theory. But a law can stand on its own? I thought a theory when is tested and retested over and over again and is proven correct, it then becomes a law.

Nope. Laws are just mathematical descriptions of empirical regularities. For example physical objects attract each other with a force that is proportional to the product of their masses and the inverse square of the distance between them. That's the law of gravity.

Theories attempt to explain the mechanisms behind laws. The theory of gravity seeks to find precisely what causes masses to attract each other, i.e. curves in the fabric of spacetime, microscopic particles called gravitons, etc.

[jennyp]

Nope. Laws are just mathematical descriptions of empirical regularities. For example physical objects attract each other with a force that is proportional to the product of their masses and the inverse square of the distance between them. That's the law of gravity.

I think we should start calling it "the regularity of gravity". Either that or start agitating for the gov't to really get serious about enforcing the law of gravity. We should send the space police out to bring the Pluto probe back to justice! (Or... bring justice to the Pluto probe. >:-)