Science reviewer

• Scientific approach to investigation

  The most reliable and accurate way of looking at a problem and explaining any observable occurrence or phenomenon
• Science investigation


  A process used to find answers to questions about the things around us. It involves the application of scientific knowledge and problem-solving skills. It can be done anywhere.
• Science investigation process

  1. Observation and identification of a problem

  2. Gathering preliminary data

  3. Formulation of a hypothesis

  4. Experimentation

  5. Analysis of data

  6. Drawing a generalization

  7. Verifying the validity of the generalization
• Phases of matter


  The particular state of a piece of matter (solid, liquid, or gas)
• Solid

  • Molecules are arranged in a fixed position and can only vibrate about their positions
  • Can be amorphous (random arrangement) or crystalline (orderly three-dimensional network)
• Liquid


  • Molecules can slide past each other, allowing the liquid to flow and take the shape of its container
  • Molecules are held together by weak attractive forces, making liquids hard to compress
• Gas


  • Molecules are spaced farther apart than in liquids, are in constant motion, and fill all the available space
  • Air is a mixture of gases, with nitrogen and oxygen as the major components
• Mass


  The amount of matter contained in an object, which does not change with the object's location
• Volume


  The amount of space occupied by an object
• A platform balance measures the mass of an object by comparing it to a standard set of masses
• Weight


  The pull exerted by a planet (like Earth) on an object. An object's weight depends on its mass and its distance from the center of the planet. Weight is expressed in newtons (N)
• Platform balance


  • An apparatus that measures the mass of an object. It has a beam (with pans attached to each end) that is free to swing about its center just like a seesaw. A pointer, which moves over a scale, indicates when the pans are balanced
• When you measure your weight, you are measuring the pull of Earth on you
• Spring balance


  Measures weight, not mass. Since weight is proportional to mass, a spring balance is usually calibrated to measure mass
• Volume


  The amount of space an object occupies. For a regularly shaped object like a cube, volume is calculated by multiplying the width, length, and thickness. The standard unit for volume is the cubic meter (m³)
• Graduated cylinder


  • A tall cylindrical container with markings or graduations to indicate the volume of a liquid. The proper way to read the volume is to hold the cylinder with the liquid surface at eye level, taking the reading at the lower meniscus
• Density - measures of how compact the mass in a substance or object, how heavy something is for it's size
• When the weight of the object is greater than the buoyant force

  The object will sink
• If the weight and buoyant force are equal


  The object will neither sink nor float; it can be found at any level in the fluid
• If the weight of the object is smaller than the buoyant force

  The object will float
• Metals


  • Have high thermal and electrical conductivity, making them good conductors of heat and electricity
  • Can be pounded and shaped into very thin sheets without breaking due to malleability
  • Can be stretched into wires or threads due to ductility
• Compounds

  -substance consisting of two or more elements that are chemically combined
• Mixtures

  -substance made out of two or more substances that are physically combined
• Homogenous

  • Completely combined, thus having 1 state of matter
• Heterogenous

  -not completely combined thus having 2 or more states of matter
• Total elements of the periodic table - 118 elements
• What is science? Science comes from a Latin word scientia which means "to know"
• What is technology? The term comes from a Latin word techne, which means "craft or skill" and logia, meaning study
• Technologies that improve our lives

  • Food preservation processes such as canning, drying, and freezing
  • Production of human insulin using bacteria and yeast
  • Diagnosis of internal body parts through CAT, PET, and MRI
  • Use of laser in communication, medicine, and industry
• Scientific Attitudes

  • Curiosity
  • Open-mindedness
  • Critical outlook
  • Truthfulness
  • Patience and perseverance
• General pattern of research activities

  1. Identifying the problem

  2. Gathering preliminary data

  3. Formulating a hypothesis

  4. Testing the hypothesis

  5. Analyzing the data

  6. Drawing a conclusion

  7. Verifying the conclusion
• To find the density of an object, you measure its mass and volume
• The science investigation:

  1. Observation and identification of a problem. Researchers make observations around then to spot problem areas. Then, they identify the specific problem they want to study
• 2. Gathering preliminary data. Thy use all available resources to learn as much about the problem as possible
• 3. Formulation of hypothesis. Educative guess, a hypothesis is an investigate tool that helps clarify ideas and state relationships so they can be tested. It is derived from the preliminary data that have been gathered
• 4. Experimentation. The stage where the hypothesis is tested, also called a "fair test" for scientists
• 5. Analysis of data. The analysis and interpretation of the data gathered from the experiment
• 6. Drawing a generalization. They draw a generalization or conclusion regarding the problem
• 7. Verifying the validity of the generalization. To verify the generalization is correct, they try to apply it to a similar situation and see if it will hold