Science Unit 1: Matter and Energy

Unit 1: Matter and Energy

• Identifying Variables: Distinguish between dependent, independent, and control variables. Qualitative and quantitative observations are important for scientific analysis.

• Physical and Chemical Properties: Substances are described by their physical and chemical properties.

  • Physical Properties: Include lustre, malleability, solubility, and others.
  • Chemical Properties: Include reactivity, combustibility, and flammability.

• Classifying Matter: Matter can be categorized as pure substances (elements and compounds) or mixtures (homogeneous or heterogeneous).

  • Pure substances: Elements and compounds.
  • Mixture: Homogeneous (solutions) or heterogeneous (mechanical mixtures).

• States of Matter: Matter exists in solid, liquid, and gaseous states. Understand the particle arrangements and movements in each state.

• Atomic Theory: Atomic structure and famous experiments leading to our current understanding.

  • Atomic structure: Protons (positive), electrons (negative), and neutrons (neutral) with their charges and masses.
  • Standard Atomic Notation: Representing the atomic makeup of elements in a standardized way.
  • Bohr-Rutherford diagrams: Depict electron arrangements around the nucleus. (Electrons fill shells in order 2, 8, 8, 18).
  • Valence electrons: Electrons in the outermost shell, important for chemical bonding.

• Periodic Table: Organization of elements based on atomic structure and properties.

  • Groups and periods: Elements are arranged in rows (periods) and columns (groups) based on their properties.
  • Metals, nonmetals, and metalloids: Locations on the periodic table.
  • Trends: Predictable changes in properties as you go down a group or across a period.
  • Valence electrons: Number of valence electrons match group number.

• Chemical vs. Physical Changes: Understand the differences and identify signs of each.

  • Chemical changes: 5 signs (e.g., color change, gas production, formation of precipitate).
  • Physical Changes: Change in size, shape, state.

• Chemical Bonding: How elements combine to form compounds.

  • Reactivity: Some groups are more reactive than others.
  • Ions: Charged atoms (cations + and anions -).

Unit 2: Ecology

• Trophic Levels: Energy flow in ecosystems through different feeding levels.

  • Producers (autotrophs)
  • Primary consumers
  • Secondary consumers
  • Tertiary consumers (top predators)
  • Decomposers (break down dead matter).

• Heterotrophs vs. Autotrophs: Heterotrophs consume other organisms; autotrophs produce their own food.

  • Autotrophs are producers, Heterotrophs are consumers..

• Biotic and Abiotic Factors: Components of an ecosystem. Biotic factors are living (organisms), abiotic factors are non-living (water, temperature, sunlight).

• Spheres of the Earth: Lithosphere (land), hydrosphere (water), atmosphere (air), and biosphere (living things).

• Food Webs: Understanding how organisms interact within an ecosystem. Analyze how changes in one organism affect the rest of the food web.

• Energy Flow: Energy in a food chain. 10% of energy is passed up level, 90% transferred as heat.

• Terrestrial vs. Aquatic Ecosystems: Differences in their characteristics and dynamics.

• Climate Change and Indigenous Issues: The effects of climate change and indigenous perspectives.

• The Carbon Cycle: Movement of carbon in the Earth's systems.

  • Photosynthesis: CO2 + H2O → C6H12O6 + O2
  • Cellular respiration: C6H12O6 + O2 → CO2 + H2O

• The Nitrogen Cycle: Nitrogen fixation (atmospheric, biological, industrial), nitrification, and denitrification.

• The Water Cycle: Evaporation, transpiration, and other water cycle processes.

• Population Dynamics: Populations, limiting factors, and carrying capacity.

• Symbiotic Relationships: Types of ecological relationships.

Unit 3: Electricity

• Static vs. Current Electricity: Distinctions between static (stationary charges) and current (moving charges).

• Static Electricity Generation: Methods of generating static charges (e.g., friction).

• Electric Charges: Law of electric charges (like charges repel, opposite charges attract).

• Conductors vs. Insulators: Describing materials based on their ability to conduct electricity.

• Series and Parallel Circuits: Circuit diagrams and calculations.

  • Electron flow.
  • Calculating current (I), voltage (V), and resistance (R) in series and parallel circuits.
    • Series: Total Current = Individual Current
    • Parallel: Total Current = Sum of currents
    • Series: Total Voltage = Sum of voltages
    • Parallel: Total Voltage = Individual Voltage.

• Circuit Components: Examples of circuit components like batteries, light bulbs, switches, ammeters, voltmeters, resistors. Diagramming the connections.

• Power: Calculating and understanding relationships among power (P), voltage (V), and current (I): P = V × I

• Ohm's Law: Relating voltage, current, and resistance through the formula V = I × R

• Types of Power Generation: Different ways electricity is produced and their associated advantages and disadvantages.

Unit 4: Space

• Solar System: Order of planets and distances (AU, light years). Converting to scientific notation.

• Stars: Composition of stars (spectral lines), structure of the Sun (core, radiative zone, convective zone, photosphere, chromosphere, corona).

• Sun's Energy: Process of nuclear fusion.

• Sun Features: Sunspots, solar flares, solar prominences, solar wind.

• Earth and Moon: Movement, phases, seasons, and eclipses.

• Solar System Formation: Understanding of solar system formation.

• Space Technology: Overview of space technology.

• Big Bang Theory: Key aspects of the theory of the big bang.

• Expanding Universe: Concepts of an expanding universe.

• Red and Blue Shift: Importance of redshift and blueshift to the study of light and distance in space. This relates to expanding or collapsing space.

• Evidence for Big Bang: Brief overview of supporting evidence for the big bang theory.