What distinguishes a theory, model, and hypothesis?

In science, a theory, model, and hypothesis are terms used to describe different concepts that help scientists explain the natural world.

A hypothesis is an educated guess that explains an observation or phenomena. It is a tentative explanation that can be tested through experiments or observations. Once a hypothesis is tested and confirmed, it can become a theory.

A theory is a well-substantiated explanation of some aspect of the natural world that is based on empirical observations, experiments, and reasoning. Theories are generally accepted by the scientific community and are used to make predictions about future observations or experiments.

A model is a representation of a system, process, or phenomena. Models can be used to simplify complex systems and make predictions about how they will behave. They can be physical, mathematical, or conceptual and are often used in simulations to predict how a system will behave under different conditions.