Rev#1_General Science

• Science


  An organized body of knowledge gathered over a long period of time to explain the world we live in
• Science


  Knowledge or a system covering general truths or the operation of general laws especially as obtained and tested through scientific method
• What are the steps in a scientific method?

  1. Identifying the problem (Questioning)

  2. Gathering Preliminary data

  3. Formulating a hypothesis

  4. Testing of the hypothesis

  5. Analysis and Interpretation of data

  6. Drawing of Conclusion
• Independent Variable


  Variable changed by the experimenter
• Dependent Variable


  Variable that responds to the variable that is changed in the experiment
• Experimental group


  Groups that receive treatment
• Control group


  Opposite of Experimental; group that doesn't receive treatment
• Hypothesis


  What we think the answer to the question is and it should stated in terms of the variables defined
• Scientific law


  A description of a natural occurrence that has been observed many times
• Scientific theory


  A reasonable explanation of a scientific law. It is derived from a hypothesis that has been supported by repeated testing
• Model


  Helps visualize occurrences and objects that cannot be observed directly
• Scientific laws and theories cannot be proven absolutely. They are maintained as all observations support them
• In science, the metric system is used in all measurements for its convenience and simplicity
• The International System of Units (SI) uses the seven base quantities and units

  • Mass (Kilogram, kg)
  • Length (Meter, m)
  • Time (Second, s)
  • Amount of Substance (Mole, mol)
  • Temperature (Kelvin, K)
  • Electric current (Ampere, A)
  • Luminous intensity (Candela, cd)
• Significant digits


  No. of certain digits + one certain digit (0 or 5)
• Converting Metric Units

  1. Mega (10^6)

  2. Kilo (10^3)

  3. Deka (10^2)

  4. Hector (10^1)

  5. Base unit (10^0)

  6. Deci (10^-1)

  7. Centi (10^-2)

  8. Milli (10^-3)

  9. Micro (10^-6)
• Convert 37.5 cg to grams

  • 0.375 g
• Major Regions of the Earth

  • Lithosphere - solid; largest portion
  • Hydrosphere - liquid; covers about 71%
  • Atmosphere - gaseous portion
  • Biosphere - region where living things are
• Igneous rocks


  Formed from hardened magma and lava
• Igneous rocks

  • Rhyolite
  • Granite
  • Basalt
• Sedimentary rocks


  Form from deposited fragments or particles of other rocks that have been weathered and eroded
• Sedimentary rocks

  • Limestone
  • Conglomerate
  • Dolomite
  • Shale
• Metamorphic rocks


  Rocks that have undergone changes due to heat and pressure
• Weathering


  All processes which combine to cause the disintegration and chemical alteration of rocks at or near earth surface
• Erosion


  Includes all the process of loosening, removal, and transportation which tend to wear away the earth's surface
• Lithification


  The conversion of unconsolidated sediment into solid rock
• Meteorology


  The study of the earth's atmosphere, weather and climate
• Weather


  The daily condition of the earth's atmosphere
• Climate


  General conditions of temperature and precipitation in a large area over a long period of time
• Gases found in the atmosphere

  • Nitrogen (78%)
  • Oxygen (21%)
  • Water vapor
  • CO2
  • O3
• Winds


  The uneven temperature and pressure in the atmosphere result in the movement of air
• Ecology


  The study of how living things interact with their environment
• Ecological Factors


  • Biotic (all living factors in the environment)
  • Abiotic (nonliving factors that are essential to living organisms)
• Population


  A group of the same species living together
• Community


  All the different populations living together
• Ecosystem


  Community of different living things interacting with one another and with their nonliving environment
• Biomes


  A large area whose ecological communities are determined by its climate
• Nebular theory


  States that the solar system originated from a rotating gas and dust cloud composed of hydrogen, helium and some heavier elements
• Ptolemaic Theory


  The earth is stationary; each planet and the sun revolved around the earth
• Copernican Theory


  This theory considers the sun as the center of the solar system. The earth and other planets revolve around the sun in a circular orbit