What is an established principle believed to be universally true in science?

A law in science is an established principle that describes a fundamental relationship observed in nature, consistently confirmed through repeated experiments and observations. It is often expressed mathematically and holds true across various conditions. For example, Newton's Law of Universal Gravitation describes how masses attract each other with a specific force that can be calculated. Laws are considered universally applicable, whereas theories provide explanations for phenomena and can change as new evidence emerges. A hypothesis is a preliminary guess that may lead to further investigation but has not yet been thoroughly tested. A fact denotes an observation that is accepted as true, but it does not encompass the broader applications and requirements that define a scientific law. Therefore, a scientific law is seen as a robust framework that describes consistent natural behaviors, making it the correct choice.