Combined Science: Key Biology Topics

• Biology, chemistry, and physics are integrated within the combined science course.
• The course provides a broad understanding of scientific concepts and principles.
• The course aims to develop students' scientific skills, including observation, analysis, and evaluation.

Key Biology Topics

• Cell biology covers cell structures, functions, and processes like cell division.
• Cell structure includes the nucleus, cytoplasm, cell membrane, cell wall (in plant cells), chloroplasts, and vacuoles.
• Cell functions involve processes like respiration, photosynthesis, protein synthesis, and transport of substances.
• Cell division includes mitosis (for growth and repair) and meiosis (for sexual reproduction).
• Organisation involves the structure and function of tissues, organs, and organ systems.
• The digestive system, respiratory system, and circulatory system are key examples.
• Enzymes catalyze biological reactions, are proteins, and have specific active sites.
• Enzyme activity is affected by temperature and pH.
• Blood is composed of red blood cells, white blood cells, platelets, and plasma.
• Blood transports oxygen, carbon dioxide, nutrients, hormones, and waste products.
• The heart pumps blood around the body in a double circulatory system.
• Health, disease and the development of medicines investigates communicable and non-communicable diseases.
• Bacteria, viruses, fungi, and protists can cause communicable diseases.
• Cancer and heart disease are examples of non-communicable diseases.
• The development of medicines involves stages like drug discovery, preclinical testing, and clinical trials.
• Plant structures and their functions are essential for plant survival.
• Photosynthesis is the process by which plants convert light energy into chemical energy.
• Adaptations of plants involve features that enable them to survive in specific environments.
• Ecological relationships involve interactions between organisms and their environment
• Food chains, food webs, and nutrient cycles are essential components of ecosystems.
• Biodiversity is the variety of life in a particular habitat or ecosystem.
• Evolution, inheritance and variation explains the processes by which living things change over time.
• Natural selection is the process by which organisms with advantageous traits are more likely to survive and reproduce.
• Genetic inheritance involves the transmission of traits from parents to offspring via genes and chromosomes.
• Variation results from genetic and environmental factors.

Key Chemistry Topics

• Atomic structure and the periodic table focuses on the structure of atoms, the arrangement of elements in the periodic table.
• Atoms are composed of protons, neutrons, and electrons.
• The periodic table arranges elements in order of increasing atomic number.
• Elements in the same group have similar chemical properties.
• Bonding, structure, and the properties of matter covers the types of chemical bonds (ionic, covalent, metallic).
• Ionic bonds form between ions of opposite charge.
• Covalent bonds form when atoms share electrons.
• Metallic bonds form between metal atoms.
• Chemical changes studies chemical reactions, acids, and bases.
• Chemical reactions involve the rearrangement of atoms and the formation of new substances.
• Acids are substances that produce hydrogen ions (H+) in water, while bases are substances that accept hydrogen ions.
• Conservation of energy and the importance of controlling the rate of reaction
• Energy is conserved in chemical reactions; the amount of energy released or absorbed can be measured.
• Reaction rates can be affected by factors such as temperature, concentration, and catalysts.
• Organic chemistry explores the properties and reactions of carbon compounds.
• Crude oil is a mixture of hydrocarbons that can be separated by fractional distillation.
• Polymers are large molecules made up of repeating units called monomers.
• Chemical analysis uses a variety of techniques to identify and quantify substances.
• Chromatography is a technique used to separate mixtures.
• Titration is a technique used to determine the concentration of a solution.
• Chemistry of the atmosphere focuses on the composition and properties of the Earth's atmosphere.
• Greenhouse gases trap heat and contribute to global warming.
• Air pollution is caused by the release of harmful substances into the atmosphere.
• Using resources includes the sustainable use of natural resources and the reduction of waste.
• Recycling and reusing materials can help conserve resources.
• Chemical processes can be designed to reduce waste and minimize environmental impact.

Key Physics Topics

• Energy examines different forms of energy and how they are transferred and conserved.
• Kinetic energy, potential energy, thermal energy, and electrical energy are examples of different forms of energy.
• Energy can be transferred by heating, work, electrical currents, and radiation.
• Energy is conserved in closed systems.
• Electricity covers electric circuits, current, voltage, and resistance.
• Electric current is the flow of electric charge.
• Voltage is the potential difference between two points in a circuit.
• Resistance is the opposition to the flow of electric current.
• Particle model of matter looks at the properties of solids, liquids, and gases in terms of the arrangement and motion of particles.
• Solids have a fixed shape and volume, liquids have a fixed volume but can change shape, and gases can expand to fill any space.
• Changes of state involve the breaking or forming of intermolecular bonds.
• Atomic structure focuses on the structure of the atom and the properties of radioactive materials.
• Atoms are composed of protons, neutrons, and electrons.
• Radioactive decay is the process by which unstable atomic nuclei release energy and particles.
• Forces studies the effects of forces on motion and the properties of different types of forces.
• Newton's laws of motion describe the relationship between force, mass, and acceleration.
• Gravity, friction, and tension are examples of different types of forces.
• Waves examines the properties of waves and how they are used to transmit information and energy.
• Transverse waves and longitudinal waves are two types of waves.
• Waves can be reflected, refracted, and diffracted.
• Electromagnetism covers the relationship between electricity and magnetism.
• Electric currents produce magnetic fields.
• Changing magnetic fields can induce electric currents.
• Space physics explores the structure and evolution of the universe.
• The solar system consists of the Sun and the planets that orbit it.
• The universe is vast and contains billions of galaxies.