How does scientific theory differ from a guess or opinion?

Answer 1

A hypothesis is an eduacted guess, and a guess has no previous knowledge about it.

A hypothesis is usually part of a scientific experiment which involves a method for testing the hypothesis, and either supporting it, or supporting the opposite, the null hypothesis.

Answer 2

A scientific theory has been tested by some experiment or other form of observation, to see if it holds up. A guess or opinion has not necessarily been subjected to any such test. Anyone can make a guess or have an opinion about anything, for whatever reason they like, but it is not a scientifically valid guess or opinion unless it has been scientifically tested.
A scientific theory is based on some knowledge and understanding. a guess/opinion doesn't have to be based on truth.

Answer 3

A "guess", in science, is a hypothesis. A hypothesis has not been tested to see if it holds water so to speak. A theory has been tested and shown that might or could possibly "hold water". A scientific law has been tested and proven to be able to hold water and as such, can be demonstrated to be "true".

Answer 4

a guess is someone saying something that they think might be true but a scientific theory is a person saying something that is partialy true but may not be fully true. ---- A theory is based on a guess, it has experimental support, provides a quantitative result for measurement, and more certainty than a simple guess.

Answer 5

a scientific theory is something that explains something, and has been tested, but not proven, a guess is something that has not been tested.

Answer 6

A theory is developed from many observations, and importantly, it can be tested for truth or accuracy.

Answer 7

A scientific theory as arrived at through an analysis of known facts and is developed so that it makes testable predictions.