Students should appreciate the scientific thought and effort of the individuals who contributed to these advances. Today, Hutton's uniformity of process principle is used to interpret the structure of landing sites on Mars. Theories just become stronger as more supporting evidence is gathered. They provide a context for further research and give us a basis for prediction. For example, the Theory of Plate Tectonics explains the movement of lithospheric plates.
Laws are fundamentally different from theories.
They are universal generalizations based on observations of the natural world, such as the nature of gravity, the relationship of forces and motion, and the nature of planetary movement. Scientists, in their quest for the best explanations of natural phenomena, employ rigorous methods. Scientific explanations must adhere to the rules of evidence, make predictions, be logical, and be consistent with observations and conclusions. Explanations of how the natural world changes based on myths, personal beliefs, religious values, mystical inspiration, superstition, or authority may be personally useful and socially relevant, but they are not scientific. It is an integral part of the learning experience and may be used in both traditional class problems and laboratory experiences.