What is the main purpose of a scientific experiment?

The main purpose of a scientific experiment is to test a hypothesis and analyze results. This involves creating a structured and controlled procedure to investigate a specific question or prediction. By formulating a hypothesis, scientists can propose explanations that can be tested through experimentation. The analysis of the results provides valuable insights into whether the hypothesis is supported or refuted, leading to new understandings or further inquiries in the scientific process.

This method is fundamental in achieving reliable and repeatable results that contribute to the advancement of scientific knowledge. Other choices focus on aspects of the scientific process, such as exploration or observation, but they do not encompass the systematic nature of hypothesis testing that is central to experimental science.