Science: Scientific Method

• Science encompasses a systematic and organized body of knowledge about the natural world and the processes used to acquire that knowledge.
• It involves observation, experimentation, and theoretical explanation to understand the universe and its phenomena.

Science Week 1: Scientific Method

• The scientific method comprises a systematic approach to conducting research.
• Key steps include:
  • Observation: Identifying a problem or question through careful observation.
  • Hypothesis: Developing a testable explanation or prediction based on observations.
  • Experimentation: Designing and conducting experiments to test the hypothesis.
  • Data Analysis: Analyzing the data collected during experiments.
  • Conclusion: Interpreting the experimental results and drawing conclusions about the hypothesis.
• Variables in an experiment include:
  • Independent variable: The factor that is manipulated or changed by the researcher.
  • Dependent variable: The factor that is measured or observed in response to changes in the independent variable.
  • Controlled variables: Factors that are kept constant during the experiment to ensure that only the independent variable affects the dependent variable.
• Control group: This group in an experiment does not receive the treatment, serving as a comparison baseline.
• Experimental group: The group in an experiment that undergoes the treatment being tested.
• Replication in experiments is vital, repeating the experiment multiple times ensures the reliability and validity of the results.

Science Week 2: Measurement and Units

• Measurement involves assigning numerical values to physical quantities.
• SI units (International System of Units) include:
  • Length: meter (m)
  • Mass: kilogram (kg)
  • Time: second (s)
  • Temperature: Kelvin (K)
  • Amount of substance: mole (mol)
• Metric prefixes include:
  • Kilo (k): 10^3
  • Centi (c): 10^-2
  • Milli (m): 10^-3
  • Micro (µ): 10^-6
  • Nano (n): 10^-9
• Volume measurement:
  • Graduated cylinders, beakers, and pipettes are used to measure liquid volume.
  • Volume can also be calculated for regular solids using mathematical formulas.
• Mass vs. weight:
  • Mass is a measure of the amount of matter in an object.
  • Weight is the force exerted on an object due to gravity.
• Density:
  • Density is defined as mass per unit volume (ρ = m/V).

Science Week 3: Basic Chemistry

• Matter is anything that has mass and occupies space.
• States of matter:
  • Solid: Has a definite shape and volume.
  • Liquid: Has a definite volume but adapts to the shape of its container.
  • Gas: Lacks a definite shape or volume.
  • Plasma: An ionized gas with high temperature.
• Elements, compounds, and mixtures:
  • Element: A pure substance consisting of only one type of atom.
  • Compound: A substance formed by the chemical combination of two or more elements in a fixed ratio.
  • Mixture: A combination of two or more substances that are physically combined.
• Atoms:
  • The basic unit of matter, consisting of protons, neutrons, and electrons.
  • Protons: Positively charged particles located in the nucleus.
  • Neutrons: Neutral particles located in the nucleus.
  • Electrons: Negatively charged particles orbiting the nucleus.
• Molecules:
  • Formed when chemical bonds hold two or more atoms together.
• Chemical reactions:
  • Processes that involve the rearrangement of atoms and molecules to form new substances.
• Acids, bases, and pH:
  • Acids: Substances that donate protons (H+) or accept electrons, pH < 7.
  • Bases: Substances that accept protons (H+) or donate electrons, pH > 7.
  • pH: A measure of the acidity or alkalinity of a solution.
  • Neutral pH: pH = 7.

Science Week 4: Basic Physics

• Motion:
  • Displacement: Change in position.
  • Velocity: Rate of change of displacement.
  • Acceleration: Rate of change of velocity.
• Forces:
  • A push or pull that alters an object's motion.
  • Newton's laws of motion:
    • 1st law (Inertia): An object at rest stays at rest, and an object in motion stays in motion with the same speed and direction unless acted upon by a force.
    • 2nd law: Force equals mass times acceleration (F = ma).
    • 3rd law: For every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction.
• Energy:
  • The capacity to do work.
  • Forms of energy: Kinetic, potential, thermal, electrical, chemical, nuclear.
• Work:
  • Work occurs when a force causes displacement (W = Fd).
• Simple machines:
  • Devices simplifying work by modifying the force's magnitude or direction.
  • Examples: Lever, pulley, inclined plane, wheel and axle, wedge, screw.
• Heat and temperature:
  • Heat: Transfer of thermal energy.
  • Temperature: Measures the average kinetic energy of particles in a substance.
• Electricity and magnetism:
  • Electric charge: Is a fundamental property of matter causing it to experience a force in an electromagnetic field.
  • Electric current: Flow of electric charge.
  • Magnetism: Force exerted by magnets.
• Waves
  • A disturbance that transfers energy through matter or space.
  • Types:
    • Mechanical Waves: requires a medium
    • Electromagnetic Waves: does not require a medium
• Sound
  • Sound wave: a compression wave
  • Speed of sound: depends on the medium

Quarter 1

• Scientific Method
• Measurement
• Matter
• Forces and Motion

Quarter 2

• Energy
• Waves
• Sound
• Light

Quarter 3

• Life Science
• Plant Reproduction
• Animal Reproduction
• Heredity

Quarter 4

• Earth Science
• Rocks and Minerals
• Plate Tectonics
• Earth's Atmosphere

Science explores the natural world through observation and experimentation. The scientific method provides a structured approach to research, from forming a hypothesis to analyzing data and drawing conclusions. Understand the roles of independent and dependent variables in designing experiments.