natural law
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natural law
A scientifically described, universally valid regularity in nature that always occurs under the same conditions. Examples include physical or chemical laws.
Die Schwerkraft ist ein fundamentales Naturgesetz, das für alle Objekte gilt.
Gravity is a fundamental natural law that applies to all objects.
law of nature
In a figurative sense, a rule or principle that is regarded as inevitable or self-evident, as if it were dictated by nature.
Es scheint ein Naturgesetz zu sein, dass man den Regenschirm immer dann vergisst, wenn es regnet.
It seems to be a law of nature that you always forget your umbrella exactly when it rains.
The word is composed of 'die Natur' (nature) and 'das Gesetz' (law). The 's' in between is a linking s, which connects the two words and makes pronunciation easier.
Die Thermodynamik beschreibt grundlegende Naturgesetze.
Thermodynamics describes fundamental natural laws.
In a scientific context, 'Naturgesetz' (natural law) is often used with verbs such as 'entdecken' (to discover), 'beschreiben' (to describe), 'formulieren' (to formulate), or 'gelten' (to apply/be valid). Common adjectives are 'physikalisch' (physical), 'biologisch' (biological), or 'fundamental' (fundamental).
Newton formulierte die fundamentalen Naturgesetze der Mechanik.
Newton formulated the fundamental natural laws of mechanics.
In the figurative meaning, the fixed expression 'Es ist ein (ungeschriebenes) Naturgesetz, dass ...' (It is an (unwritten) law of nature that ...) is often used. This describes an everyday rule as inevitable.
Es ist anscheinend ein Naturgesetz, dass die Kassenschlange, in der man steht, immer die langsamste ist.
It is apparently a law of nature that the checkout line you are standing in is always the slowest.
law
In the natural sciences, Gesetz and Naturgesetz can refer to the same universally valid regularity. Naturgesetz explicitly makes clear that the subject is a process in nature; Gesetz is broader and therefore often needs a more specific name or scientific context.
Im Physikunterricht erklärt die Lehrerin die Schwerkraft als ein Naturgesetz.
In physics class, the teacher explains gravity as a natural law.
Im Physikunterricht erklärt die Lehrerin das Gesetz der Schwerkraft.
In physics class, the teacher explains the law of gravity.
