physical theory

Physical theory

A physical theory usually involves the attempt to explain a certain class of physical phenomena by deducing them as necessary consequences of other phenomena regarded as more primitive and less in need of explanation. The value of a theory depends on both the success with which it coordinates a wide range of presently known facts and its fertility in suggesting places to look for presently unknown phenomena.

physical theory

[′fiz·ə·kəl ′thē·ə·rē] (physics) An attempt to explain a certain class of physical phenomena by deducing them as necessary consequences of some primitive assumptions.