Theoretical physics attempts to understand the world by making a model of reality, used for rationalizing, explaining, predicting physical phenomena through a "physical theory". There are three types of theories in physics; mainstream theories, proposed theories and fringe theories.
Some physical theories are backed by observation, whereas others are not. A physical theory is a model of physical events and cannot be proved from basic axioms. A physical theory is different from a mathemeatical theorem. Physical theories model reality and are a statement of what has been observed, and provide predictions of new observations.
Physical theories can become accepted if they are able to make correct predictions and avoid incorrect ones. Physical theories which are simpler tend to be accepted over theories which are complex. Physical theories are more likely to be accepted if they connect a wide range of phenonomena. The process of testing a physical theory is part of the scientific method.
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Mainstream theories (sometimes referred to as central theories) are the body of knowledge of both factual and scientific views and possess a usual scientific quality of the tests of repeatability, consistency with existing well-established science and experimentation.
Examples of mainstream physical theories:
The proposed theories of physics are relatively new theories which deal with the study of physics which include scientific approaches, means for determining the validity of models and new types of reasoning used to arrive at the theory. Proposed theories can include fringe theories in the process of becoming established (and, sometimes, gaining wider acceptance). Proposed theories usually have not been tested.
Examples of proposed physical theories:
Fringe theories include any new area of scientific endeavor in the process of becoming established and some proposed theories. It can include speculative sciences. This includes physics fields and physical theories presented in accordance with known evidence, and a body of associated predictions have been made according to that theory.
Some fringe theories go on to become an widely accepted part of physics. Other fringe theories end up being disproven. Some fringe theories are a form of protoscience and others are a form of pseudoscience. The falsification of the original theory sometimes leads to reformulation of the theory.
Examples of fringe physical theories:
Mainstream theories
Proposed theories
Fringe theories