A hypothesis is a proposed explanation for a phenomenon. It is a testable prediction of what the scientist expects to happen in their experimental study. To be considered testable, a hypothesis must be specific, meaning it should clearly define the variables being studied, the expected outcome, and the conditions under which the experiment will be performed. Additionally, the hypothesis should be falsifiable, meaning that there is a method available to collect data that could potentially disprove the hypothesis if the results do not align with the predictions.
The example provided, "if we serve coffee in Styrofoam cups and in ceramic mugs, the temperature of the coffee in Styrofoam cups will decrease at a slower rate compared to the coffee in ceramic mugs over a 60-minute period," is a testable hypothesis because it meets the criteria of being specific, falsifiable, and definitely testable. The hypothesis can be tested by measuring the temperature of the coffee in both containers at established intervals and comparing the rate of temperature decrease. If the hypothesis is supported by the data, it will suggest that the type of mug (styrofoam vs. ceramic) affects the rate at which heat dissipates from the coffee, thereby validating the experimental conditions and the hypothesis itself.
On the other hand, if the data does not support the hypothesis, then it can be concluded that serving coffee in a Styrofoam cup does indeed affect the rate of heat loss, indicating that the hypothesis was not falsified. Thiswould, in turn, disprove the original hypothesis and either require further refinement or rejection.