Physics Chapter: Mass vs. Weight

Mass is the amount of matter in an object, a fundamental property independent of location.

Weight is the force of gravity on an object, dependent on location.

Mass is a fundamental property; weight is a force.

Mass stays the same anywhere, but weight changes with gravity.

Mass is measured in kilograms (kg).

Weight is measured in Newtons (N).

Mass is usually measured using a balance.

Weight is typically measured using a spring scale.

Mass is the amount of matter in an object. It's a fundamental property that doesn't change regardless of location or surrounding objects.

Mass is measured in kilograms (kg) in the SI system.

Weight is the force exerted on an object due to gravity. It's a measure of how strongly gravity pulls on an object.

Weight is measured in Newtons (N) in the SI system.

Weight changes based on the strength of gravity. It will be different on the Moon or another planet, as the gravitational force there is different.

No, they are different. Mass is the amount of matter, and weight is the force of gravity acting on it.

Inertia is the resistance an object has to change its state of motion. An object at rest stays at rest, and an object in motion stays in motion unless acted upon by a force.

The more mass an object has, the greater its inertia. This means it's harder to start or stop moving, or to change its direction.

The amount of space a three-dimensional object or substance occupies. It's a measure of capacity and can be in units like cubic meters (m³), liters (L), or gallons (gal).

The concentration of mass in a given volume. It's calculated by dividing mass by volume (Density = Mass / Volume) and expressed in units like kg/m³, g/cm³, or lb/ft³.

Volume is the amount of space something takes up, while density describes how much mass is packed into that space. Volume is an extensive property - it changes with the size of the object. Density is an intensive property - it's a characteristic of the material itself.

For objects with the same volume, the one with more mass has greater density. For objects with the same mass, the one with smaller volume has greater density.

Temperature, pressure, phase changes (solid, liquid, gas), and the composition of the substance all influence its density. Generally, increasing temperature decreases density and increasing pressure increases density.

These concepts are crucial in many applications. For instance: determining the amount of material needed for a project, identifying unknown substances based on their density, designing objects to float or sink, and optimising material usage.

Density is an intensive property because it's independent of the amount of substance. It only depends on the composition of the material. For example, a spoonful of water has the same density as a swimming pool full of water.

Each material has a unique density. By measuring the density of an unknown substance, we can compare it to known densities and potentially identify it.

Characteristics of a substance that can be observed or measured without changing its chemical composition. Examples include color, odor, and melting point.

Describe how a substance reacts with other substances to form new substances. These reactions alter the chemical composition. Examples include flammability and reactivity with acids.

Has a definite shape and volume. Particles are tightly packed and vibrate in fixed positions. Solids do not flow easily.

Has a definite volume but takes the shape of its container. Particles are close together but can move past each other. Liquids flow.

Has neither a definite shape nor a definite volume. Particles are widely spaced and move randomly at high speeds. Gases expand to fill their containers.

Alters a substance's physical properties, such as its shape, size, or state, without changing its chemical composition. Examples include melting ice and dissolving sugar in water.

Involves a rearrangement of atoms to form new substances with different properties than the original substances. Examples include combustion (burning) and cooking an egg.

The key difference between physical and chemical changes lies in whether the chemical composition of the substance is altered. Physical changes do not involve the formation of new substances; chemical changes do.

A combination of two or more pure substances that are not chemically bonded. Mixtures retain the individual properties of the substances they contain and can be separated using physical methods.

They have a uniform composition throughout, meaning the components are evenly distributed at the molecular level. Examples include saltwater and air.

Heterogeneous mixtures have a non-uniform composition, meaning the components are not evenly distributed. Different components are visible as distinct phases or regions, like sand and water.

A substance with a fixed chemical composition and distinct properties. Pure substances cannot be separated into simpler substances using physical methods.

Elements are made up of only one type of atom, while compounds are made up of two or more different types of atoms chemically bonded together.

Roots absorb water and nutrients from the soil, anchor the plant, and sometimes store food.

Stems support the plant body, transport water and nutrients, and sometimes store food.

Leaves are the primary photosynthetic organs of most plants, capturing light energy and converting it into chemical energy.

Photosynthesis uses carbon dioxide, water, and light energy as inputs.

Photosynthesis produces glucose (sugar) for energy and growth, and releases oxygen as a byproduct.

Plant cells have a nucleus, cell wall, chloroplasts, and a large central vacuole, vital for structure and function.

Plant tissues include meristematic for growth, ground for bulk, and vascular (xylem and phloem) for transport.

Flowers are specialized structures for sexual reproduction in flowering plants, attracting pollinators and facilitating fertilization.

Plants form the base of most food webs. They provide energy to herbivores and ultimately support consumers at all trophic levels.

Plants produce oxygen through photosynthesis, which is essential for most forms of life on Earth.

Plant roots help prevent soil erosion and maintain soil fertility, anchoring plants and absorbing water and nutrients.

A standardized system of terms used to precisely describe the location and structure of body parts.

Words like "anterior" (front) and "posterior" (back) used to describe the relative position of body parts.

Imaginary slices through the body (sagittal, coronal, transverse) used to visualize internal structures.

How different organs work together to perform a complex function, like the urinary system filtering waste and the reproductive system making offspring.

Changes in an animal's body structure that help it survive in its environment, like a bird's wings for flight or a camel's hump for water storage.

The study of the structure of animals, exploring the physical form, arrangement, and relationships of different parts of an organism.

Distinct areas of the body, like the head, thorax, abdomen, and limbs, found in many animals.

Internal spaces containing vital organs, providing protection and allowing organ movement.

Tissue covering surfaces, lining cavities, and forming glands. It helps with protection, secretion, absorption, and excretion.

Tissue that supports and connects different body parts, including bone, cartilage, blood, and fat.

Tissue enabling movement, with three types: skeletal (voluntary), smooth (involuntary), and cardiac (heart muscle).

Tissue forming the nervous system, responsible for communication and control through electrical signals.

Groups of organs working together to perform a specific function, like the digestive system or the circulatory system.

The haploid stage in a plant's life cycle, producing gametes (sex cells).

The diploid stage in a plant's life cycle, producing spores (asexual cells).

The life cycle of flowering plants, characterized by a dominant sporophyte stage and the production of flowers for reproduction.

The transfer of pollen from the anther of a flower to the stigma, enabling fertilization.

Reproduction involving a single parent, producing offspring genetically identical to the parent.

Reproduction involving two parents, producing offspring with genetic variation.

Fertilization that occurs inside the female's body.

A complex biological process involving the interaction of male and female reproductive systems to produce offspring.

The union of a sperm and egg cell, typically occurring in the fallopian tube, resulting in a zygote.

The attachment of a zygote to the uterine wall, initiating embryonic development.

Hormonal fluctuations that regulate ovulation, menstruation, and overall reproductive processes in females.

The increase in the number of individuals within a population, often influenced by reproductive rates.

The effects of population dynamics and reproductive strategies on the environment, including resource availability, predator-prey interactions, and species diversity.

The passing of traits from parents to offspring through genetic material.

The process of transferring genetic information from one generation to the next.

Differences in traits among individuals within a population. This is essential for evolution.

Each individual has two alleles for a trait, and these alleles separate during the formation of sex cells (gametes).

The alleles of different traits are inherited independently of one another.

Some alleles (dominant) mask the expression of others (recessive) in individuals with one copy of each.

The differences in DNA sequences among individuals in a population, driving evolution.

Genes are located on chromosomes, which segregate and assort independently during meiosis, explaining Mendel's laws.

The changes in species composition and ecosystem structure over time, influenced by disturbances like natural disasters, human activities, and climate change.

The ability of an ecosystem to recover from disturbances and maintain its overall function.

The gradual process of change in species composition over time following a disturbance.

The study of evolutionary relationships among organisms, reconstructing evolutionary trees based on shared characteristics.

A diagram that shows the evolutionary relationships among species or other groups, revealing common ancestry and divergent lineages.

The gradual change in the characteristics of a species over generations, driven by processes like natural selection, genetic drift, gene flow, and mutations.

The variety of life on Earth, including the diversity of species, their genes, and the ecosystems they inhabit.

The process where organisms with traits that help them survive and reproduce in their environment are more likely to pass those traits to their offspring.

The process by which new species arise from existing ones, often through isolation and the development of distinct gene pools.

The study and practice of protecting and preserving Earth's biodiversity, addressing threats to species and ecosystems.

Genes carry the heritable information that influences traits. Changes in these genes (mutations) are the raw material for evolution, as they can lead to variations that natural selection acts upon.

Biodiversity provides valuable services like food, medicine, clean air and water, and helps maintain the stability and resilience of ecosystems. Loss of biodiversity threatens these services and our planet's well-being.

A community of living organisms (biotic factors) interacting with their physical environment (abiotic factors) in a specific area.

A linear sequence showing how energy flows from producers (plants) to consumers (animals) in an ecosystem.

Benefits that humans receive from healthy ecosystems.

Ecosystem services that directly provide us with resources, like food, water, timber, and medicines.

Ecosystem services that regulate environmental processes, like climate control, pollution filtering, and disease prevention.

Ecosystem services that underpin the function of other services, such as nutrient cycling, soil formation, and primary production.

Ecosystem services that provide non-material benefits, such as recreation, inspiration, and aesthetic appreciation.

Biodiversity provides valuable services like food, medicine, clean air and water, and helps maintain the stability and resilience of ecosystems. Loss of biodiversity threatens these services and our planet's well-being.

A property of a substance that doesn't depend on the amount of the substance present. Its value stays constant regardless of sample size.

A property that depends on the amount of substance present. Its value changes with the amount of the substance.

The temperature at which a solid substance changes into a liquid.

The temperature at which a liquid substance changes into a gas.

The total area of the outer surface of an object.

A substance formed by combining two or more components that are not chemically bonded. Each component retains its individual properties within the mixture.

A mixture that has a uniform composition throughout, meaning the components are evenly distributed. It appears as one phase, with no visible boundaries between components.

A mixture that has a non-uniform composition, meaning the components are not evenly distributed. It appears as multiple phases, with visible boundaries between components.

A homogeneous mixture has a uniform composition and appears as one phase, while a heterogeneous mixture has varying composition and appears as multiple phases.

Examples of homogeneous mixtures include saltwater, air, and most alloys.

Examples of heterogeneous mixtures include sand and water, oil and water, and granite.

Components in a mixture can often be separated using physical methods like decantation, filtration, or evaporation, because the components are not chemically bonded.

A mixture is a physical combination of substances, while a compound is a chemical combination of elements in a fixed ratio. Mixtures can be separated by physical means, while compounds require chemical reactions.

An assessment given before instruction to identify a student's prior knowledge and skills, helping tailor instruction.

An assessment done during instruction to monitor learning progress and guide instruction.

An assessment done at the end of a unit or course to evaluate overall learning and mastery of knowledge and skills.

Assessments help identify learning gaps, monitor progress, measure achievement, evaluate instruction, and provide feedback.

Structured assessments like tests, quizzes, projects, and exams.

Unstructured assessments like observations, discussions, and student work samples.

Assessments focused on measuring specific skills, often with a clear right or wrong answer.

Assessments evaluating more complex and subjective understanding like creativity or critical thinking.

Assessments should use a mix of activities (writing, projects, presentations) to test different skills and knowledge.

Feedback should be clear and helpful, focusing on what the student did well and suggesting specific ways to improve.

An assessment is 'valid' when it actually measures what it claims to measure.

A reliable assessment gives consistent results when used repeatedly.

Educational goals focus on different aspects of learning, like knowledge, skills, critical thinking, problem-solving, creativity, and collaboration.

Observing student learning through evidence like written work, drawings, or lab reports, offering insights into their thinking processes during activities.

Considering the classroom environment and the specific learning activities when observing, ensuring observations are relevant to the current topic.

Including students' verbal explanations of their reasoning and strategies during observations to understand their thought processes more fully.

Documenting any materials students use during activities (lab manuals, instructions, etc.) for a complete understanding of the learning process.

Recognizing that students at different ages will have different levels of inquiry skills, adjusting observations accordingly.

Conducting multiple observations over time to get a better picture of individual student growth and performance, rather than relying on a single snapshot.

Keeping observation specific and focused on the particular inquiry skills being assessed, avoiding subjective interpretation or evaluation.

Using observation data to identify both strengths and areas for improvement in individual students, supporting their learning journey.

Watching and documenting students' actions during science activities to understand their developing inquiry skills.

Detailed descriptions of specific student behaviors and actions during science activities, providing evidence of their inquiry process.

A tool to track specific skills students use, like asking questions, making predictions, or designing experiments.

Precise methods, like rubrics or guides, used to assess student inquiry skills in a systematic way.

Using video to capture student interactions during science activities for later analysis and a deeper understanding.

Understanding the WHY behind students' actions, their explanations, and predictions, showing their thinking and understanding of science.

A scoring tool for observing specific science inquiry skills, with levels of performance based on observable behaviors.