Science Chapter 1: A Way of Knowing

Chapter 1: Science: A Way of Knowing

• Key Terms:

  • Scientific Method: A step-by-step process involving observation, hypothesis, experimentation and conclusions.
  • Law of Nature: A broad statement describing how a natural phenomenon behaves in specific circumstances.
  • Basic Research: Investigation aimed at expanding knowledge, not directly for practical application.
  • Pseudoscience: Claims presented as scientific, lacking empirical evidence and/or the scientific method.
  • Hypothesis: A testable explanation for a phenomenon.
  • Theory: Well-supported explanation backed by evidence, describing some aspect of the natural world.
  • Applied Research: Focuses on solving practical problems.
  • Fact: An observation repeatedly confirmed and accepted as true.

• Core Concepts:

  • Scientific Method Components: Observations, questions, hypotheses, experiments, analyses, and conclusions.
  • Observation vs. Experiment: Passive observation notes phenomena, while experiments actively test hypotheses.
  • Fact vs. Hypothesis vs. Theory vs. Law: Facts=confirmed observations; hypotheses=testable explanations; theories=well-supported explanations; laws=describe regularities in nature.
  • Science vs. Pseudoscience: Science is evidence-based and reproducible; pseudoscience lacks empirical support and falsifiability.
  • Basic vs. Applied Research: Basic research expands knowledge, and applied research targets practical applications.
  • Scientific Principles: Mathematics, measurement, reproducibility, falsifiability, and peer review are crucial to science.

Chapter 8: The Atom

• Key Terms:

  • Element: Substance composed of one type of atom.
  • Molecule: Two or more atoms bonded to form a unit.
  • Photon: A particle of light.
  • Spectrum: Range of wavelengths emitted by an atom.
  • Atom: The smallest unit of an element.
  • Electron: Negatively charged particle.
  • Nucleus: Dense center containing protons and neutrons.
  • Spectroscopy: Study of how atoms absorb and emit light.
  • Bohr Atom: Model with quantized electron orbits.
  • Laser: Device emitting coherent light.
  • Periodic Table: Organization of elements by atomic number, grouped by properties.
  • Quantum Leap:Sudden transition of an electron between energy levels.

• Core Concepts:

  • Elementary Particles: Electrons, protons, and neutrons; electrons are lighter and orbit the nucleus; protons and neutrons are similar in mass and located in the nucleus.
  • Bohr vs. Rutherford Models: Bohr proposed quantized orbits; Rutherford described a central nucleus.
  • Photons and Quantum Leaps: Quantum leaps produce photons when electrons transition.
  • Atomic Spectrum: Electrons emit unique wavelengths during transitions, forming an atomic spectrum.
  • Laser Production: Excitation and stimulated emission of photons lead to laser production.
  • Periodic Table: Arrangement by atomic number, grouping by properties.

Chapter 10: Atoms in Combination: Chemical Reactions

• Key Terms:
  • Chemical Bond: Force holding atoms together in a molecule.

Chapter 12: The Nucleus of the Atom

• Key Terms:

  • Proton: Positively charged particle in the nucleus.
  • Mass Number: Total protons and neutrons in an atom.
  • Alpha Decay: Emission of an alpha particle.
  • Radiometric Dating: Using isotopes to date materials.
  • Neutron: Neutral particle in the nucleus.
  • Strong Force: Holds the nucleus together.
  • Beta Decay: Emission of a beta particle.
  • Fission: Splitting of a nucleus.
  • Atomic Number: Number of protons in the nucleus, identifying an element.
  • Isotope: Atoms of the same element with a different number of neutrons.
  • Gamma Radiation: High-energy electromagnetic waves.
  • Radioactivity: Spontaneous emission of particles/radiation.
  • Weak Force: Governs beta decay.
  • Nuclear Reactor: Device for controlled nuclear reactions.
  • Half-Life: Time for half of a radioactive substance to decay.
  • Fusion: Combining nuclei.

• Core Concepts:

  • Einstein's Equation: E=mc²
  • Atomic Number & Mass: Protons define element; neutrons alter mass.
  • Isotopes: Variants of an element with differing neutron counts.
  • Radioactive Decay: Explains the loss of particles (e.g., alpha, beta, gamma).
  • Half-Life: Used for dating materials.
  • Fusion vs. Fission: Fission splits nuclei, fusion combines them.