Scientific Method: Experimentation Basics

• Scientific Method: A systematic approach to understanding the natural world.
• Observation: Gathering information through the senses.
• Hypothesis: A testable explanation for an observation.
• Experiment: A controlled test of a hypothesis.
• Data: Information collected during an experiment.
• Conclusion: A judgment based on the data obtained from an experiment.
• Independent variable: The factor that is manipulated or changed in an experiment.
• Dependent variable: The factor that is measured in an experiment.
• Control group: A group in an experiment that does not receive the treatment.
• Experimental group: A group in an experiment that receives the treatment.

Matter and Its Properties

• Matter: Anything that has mass and takes up space.
• Mass: A measure of the amount of matter in an object.
• Volume: A measure of the amount of space an object occupies.
• Density: The mass per unit volume of a substance.
• States of matter: Solid, liquid, gas, and plasma.
• Solid: A state of matter with a fixed shape and volume.
• Liquid: A state of matter with a fixed volume but not a fixed shape.
• Gas: A state of matter with no fixed shape or volume.
• Plasma: An ionized gas with extremely high temperature.
• Physical properties: Characteristics that can be observed or measured without changing the substance's composition.
• Chemical properties: Characteristics that describe how a substance reacts with other substances.
• Elements: Pure substances that cannot be broken down into simpler substances by chemical means.
• Compounds: Substances composed of two or more elements chemically combined.
• Mixtures: Combinations of two or more substances that are physically combined.
• Homogeneous mixtures: Mixtures that have uniform composition throughout.
• Heterogeneous mixtures: Mixtures that do not have uniform composition throughout.

Atoms and Molecules

• Atom: The smallest unit of an element that retains the chemical properties of that element.
• Nucleus: The central core of an atom, containing protons and neutrons.
• Proton: A positively charged particle in the nucleus of an atom.
• Neutron: A neutrally charged particle in the nucleus of an atom.
• Electron: A negatively charged particle that orbits the nucleus of an atom.
• Atomic number: The number of protons in the nucleus of an atom.
• Atomic mass: The average mass of an atom of an element.
• Isotopes: Atoms of the same element that have different numbers of neutrons.
• Ion: An atom or molecule that has gained or lost electrons, giving it an electrical charge.
• Molecule: Two or more atoms held together by chemical bonds.
• Chemical bond: The force that holds atoms together in a molecule.
• Ionic bond: A chemical bond formed through the transfer of electrons between atoms.
• Covalent bond: A chemical bond formed through the sharing of electrons between atoms.

Chemical Reactions

• Chemical reaction: A process that involves the rearrangement of atoms and molecules to form new substances.
• Reactants: The substances that are present at the beginning of a chemical reaction.
• Products: The substances that are formed as a result of a chemical reaction.
• Chemical equation: A symbolic representation of a chemical reaction.
• Balancing chemical equations: Ensuring that the number of atoms of each element is the same on both sides of the equation.
• Law of Conservation of Mass: Matter cannot be created or destroyed in a chemical reaction.
• Exothermic reaction: A chemical reaction that releases heat.
• Endothermic reaction: A chemical reaction that absorbs heat.
• Catalyst: A substance that speeds up a chemical reaction without being consumed in the reaction.
• Acid: A substance that donates protons or accepts electrons in a chemical reaction.
• Base: A substance that accepts protons or donates electrons in a chemical reaction.
• pH scale: A measure of the acidity or basicity of a solution.
• Neutralization: A reaction between an acid and a base.

Motion and Forces

• Motion: A change in position of an object over time.
• Speed: The rate at which an object is moving.
• Velocity: The rate at which an object is moving in a specific direction.
• Acceleration: The rate at which an object's velocity is changing.
• Force: A push or pull that can change the motion of an object.
• Newton's First Law of Motion: An object at rest stays at rest, and an object in motion stays in motion with the same speed and in the same direction unless acted upon by a force.
• Inertia: The tendency of an object to resist changes in its motion.
• Newton's Second Law of Motion: The acceleration of an object is directly proportional to the net force acting on it and inversely proportional to its mass (F=ma).
• Newton's Third Law of Motion: For every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction.
• Gravity: The force of attraction between objects with mass.
• Friction: A force that opposes motion between two surfaces in contact.

Energy

• Energy: The ability to do work.
• Kinetic energy: The energy of motion.
• Potential energy: Stored energy.
• Law of Conservation of Energy: Energy cannot be created or destroyed, but it can be transformed from one form to another.
• Heat: The transfer of thermal energy from one object to another.
• Temperature: A measure of the average kinetic energy of the particles in a substance.
• Conduction: The transfer of heat through direct contact.
• Convection: The transfer of heat through the movement of fluids (liquids or gases).
• Radiation: The transfer of heat through electromagnetic waves.
• Work: The transfer of energy when a force causes an object to move.
• Power: The rate at which work is done.

Electricity and Magnetism

• Electricity: The flow of electric charge.
• Electric charge: A fundamental property of matter that can be positive or negative.
• Electric current: The rate of flow of electric charge.
• Voltage: The electric potential difference between two points.
• Resistance: The opposition to the flow of electric current.
• Ohm's Law: Voltage = Current x Resistance (V=IR).
• Electric circuit: A closed loop that allows electric current to flow.
• Series circuit: A circuit in which components are connected end-to-end.
• Parallel circuit: A circuit in which components are connected side-by-side.
• Magnetism: The force of attraction or repulsion between magnetic materials.
• Magnetic field: The region around a magnet where magnetic forces are present.
• Electromagnetism: The interaction between electricity and magnetism.
• Electric motor: A device that converts electrical energy into mechanical energy using magnetic fields.
• Generator: A device that converts mechanical energy into electrical energy using magnetic fields.

Waves

• Wave: A disturbance that travels through a medium, transferring energy.
• Mechanical wave: A wave that requires a medium to travel through.
• Electromagnetic wave: A wave that does not require a medium to travel through.
• Transverse wave: A wave in which the particles of the medium move perpendicular to the direction of the wave.
• Longitudinal wave: A wave in which the particles of the medium move parallel to the direction of the wave.
• Wavelength: The distance between two consecutive crests or troughs of a wave.
• Frequency: The number of waves that pass a given point per unit of time.
• Amplitude: The maximum displacement of a wave from its equilibrium position.
• Speed of a wave: The distance a wave travels per unit of time.
• Reflection: The bouncing of a wave off a surface.
• Refraction: The bending of a wave as it passes from one medium to another.
• Diffraction: The spreading of a wave as it passes through an opening or around an obstacle.
• Interference: The superposition of two or more waves.

Light and Optics

• Light: A form of electromagnetic radiation that is visible to the human eye.
• Visible spectrum: The range of electromagnetic radiation that humans can see.
• Color: The perception of different wavelengths of light.
• Reflection: The bouncing of light off a surface.
• Refraction: The bending of light as it passes from one medium to another.
• Lens: A transparent object that refracts light.
• Convex lens: A lens that converges light rays.
• Concave lens: A lens that diverges light rays.
• Mirror: A reflective surface that forms an image.
• Plane mirror: A flat mirror that produces a virtual image.
• Concave mirror: A mirror that curves inward and converges light rays.
• Convex mirror: A mirror that curves outward and diverges light rays.
• Telescope: An instrument that uses lenses or mirrors to magnify distant objects.
• Microscope: An instrument that uses lenses to magnify small objects.

Sound

• Sound: A form of energy that travels through a medium as a longitudinal wave
• Speed of sound: The speed at which sound travels through a medium.
• Pitch: The perceived highness or lowness of a sound.
• Frequency: The number of vibrations per second, measured in Hertz (Hz).
• Loudness: The perceived intensity of a sound.
• Amplitude: The maximum displacement of a sound wave from its equilibrium position.
• Decibel (dB): A unit used to measure the intensity of sound.
• Echo: A reflected sound wave.
• Doppler effect: The change in frequency of a sound wave due to the motion of the source or the observer.

The Universe

• Universe: All of space and everything in it, including stars, planets, galaxies, and all forms of matter and energy.
• Galaxy: A massive system of stars, gas, dust, and dark matter held together by gravity. Examples include spiral, elliptical, and irregular galaxies.
• Solar System: A star and all the objects that orbit it, including planets, moons, asteroids, and comets.
• Star: A luminous sphere of plasma held together by its own gravity, producing light and heat through nuclear fusion.
• Planet: A celestial body that orbits a star, is rounded by its own gravity, and has cleared its orbital path of other objects.
• Moon: A natural satellite that orbits a planet.
• Asteroid: A rocky or metallic object that orbits the Sun, mainly found in the asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter.
• Comet: A celestial body composed of ice, dust, and gas that orbits the Sun and develops a visible atmosphere (coma) and sometimes a tail when near the Sun.
• Constellation: A group of stars that forms a recognizable pattern in the night sky.

Earth Science

• Earth's Structure: Study of the layers that include the crust, mantle, outer core, and inner core
• Plate Tectonics: Theory explaining movement of Earth's lithospheric plates.
• Earthquakes: Caused by sudden release of energy in the Earth's crust creating seismic waves..
• Volcanoes: Ruptures in Earth's crust where molten rock (magma), hot ash, and gases escape from below the surface.
• Rocks and Minerals: Rock types include igneous, sedimentary, and metamorphic. Minerals are naturally occurring, inorganic solids with a definite chemical composition and crystalline structure.
• Weathering and Erosion: Weathering is the breaking down of rocks, and erosion is the process of transporting weathered material.
• Water Cycle: Evaporation, condensation, precipitation, and collection.
• Climate vs. Weather: Climate is long-term average weather conditions; weather is short-term atmospheric conditions.

Biology

• Cell: Basic structural and functional unit of life.
• Cell Structures: Nucleus, cytoplasm, cell membrane, ribosomes, mitochondria, etc.
• Photosynthesis: Process where plants convert light energy into chemical energy, producing glucose and oxygen.
• Respiration: Process where organisms convert glucose into energy, releasing carbon dioxide and water.
• Genetics: The study of heredity and variation of inherited characteristics.
• DNA and RNA: DNA carries genetic information; RNA plays roles in protein synthesis.
• Evolution: Change in the heritable characteristics of biological populations over successive generations.
• Classification of Living Things: Kingdom, Phylum, Class, Order, Family, Genus, Species.
• Human Body Systems: Skeletal, muscular, nervous, circulatory, respiratory, digestive, excretory, endocrine, reproductive, and immune systems.

Explore the scientific method, including observation, hypothesis, experimentation, and data analysis. Learn about independent and dependent variables, control groups, and experimental groups. Understand matter and its properties, including mass, volume, density, and phase.