1

Science is a set of knowledge that has

been obtained from research on the
environment.
Scientific knowledge develops because
of the things that happen in nature give
rise to questions.
The things that happen in nature are
called phenomena. (an event in nature: volcanic eruption, rain or
society: child abuse, terrorism, cultural)

Natural phenomena are not made by man.

Examples of phenomenon.
 Through the study of science
i) We are able to understand
the natural phenomena that
are happening around
ii) Learn how to use the things
around us to improve our
standards of living.
 Science is defined as:

The systematic study of

nature and how it
affects us and our
environment.
 What is science?
List down 4 examples of natural
phenomena.
Which of the following are
examples of natural phenomena?
1. Farmers planting paddy
2. Lightning and thunder
3. rainfall
The importance of science in our daily lives.

Understand oneself and

environment
 helps us to understand ourselves
i. knowing how our body works helps us take better
care of our body and safety.
ii. Provide better medical and health care facilities.
 Makes our lives comfortable
Inventing machine and appliances to
help us work more efficiently
Entertainment
 Better transportation and communications
 Increase the production of food

Improve standard of living

Develop new technologies
Overcome problems and provide answers
 The place where a scientist works
Students carryout experiments or
scientific investigations
There are rules and safety
precautions that must be followed in
order to avoid accidents.
 Some substances in the laboratory are
hazardous.
The nature of the substances can be
identified by looking at the label on the
bottles or container that contain the
chemicals.
 USING THE BUNSEN BURNER

Close the air hole by

turning the collar

Bring a lighted
matchstick near the
mouth of the barrel

Turn on the gas slowly

 When heating a test tube, hold the test
tube at angle of 450. Use a test tube
holder and do not point the mouth of
the test tube to yourself or your
friends.

Do not heat flammable substances like

alcohol directly.
 A filter funnel is used to separate solid
substances from a liquid.
It is used with a piece of filter paper.
How to use the filter funnel: wet the filter paper
before placing onto the funnel. Use a glass rod to
direct the flow of the solution as shown in the
figure.
 You should not
a) Hold the beaker containing the
mixture too far above the funnel.
b) Stir the mixture in the filter funnel
as you may tear the filter paper.
 Scientific knowledge is acquired through
observations and systematic experiments
by scientists (scientific investigation)
The study of science requires positive
attitudes like
a) Ask questions
b) Keep trying
c) Think logically (reasonable & good
judgment)
d) Work together
e) Share ideas g) Accept facts
f) Be patient h) honest
Steps in scientific investigations

Scientific investigation is a series of

steps done systematically to study a
problem or an event.

Each step involves the use of one or

more science process skills.

e.g. observe, predict, measure, estimate,

communicate, classify, making
inferences, controlling variables
Steps in scientific investigation
1. Identifying a problem
(determine what we want to find out)

2. Forming a hypothesis (making a smart guess)

3. Planning the experiment / investigation

4. Controlling variables (carrying out the experiment)

5. Collecting data (carrying out the experiment)

6. Analysing data (carrying out the experiment)

7. Interpreting data

8. Making conclusion

9. Writing a report
Hypothesis a proposal of idea on
what you think you want to find out.
e.g. problem: why do iron rust?
hypothesis: water is needed for iron to
rust

Variables factors that can change in an

investigation
a) Constant (fixed variable)
b) Manipulated (independent) variable
can be changed
c) Responding (Dependent) variable
depends on manipulated variable
Pendulum experiment
1. One complete oscillation/swing is
the movement of the pendulum
from
 Measurement of Physical
quantities

1. Measuring is an important scientific

skill.
2. Physical quantities are quantities that
can be measured.
3. S.I. unit International System of units
used as standard units all
over the world.
Physical quantity S.I. unit Symbol

a) Length metre m

b) Mass kilogram kg

c) Time second s

d) Temperature Kelvin K

e) Electric current ampere A

Basic quantities
 Area, volume, density, and
speed are example of
derivative quantities

They are obtained by

multiplying or dividing two or
more basic quantities.
 Prefix
The value of a quantity can be
written as prefixes.
Used in the S.I unit to state a very
small or a very big value.
Prefix Symbol Value Multiplying value
Giga G 1 000 000 000 x(109)
Mega M 1 000 000 x(106)
kilo k 1 000 x(103)
hecto h 100 x(102)
deca da 10 x(101)
deci d 0.1 x(10-1)
centi c 0.01 x(10-2)
milli m 0.001 x(10-3)
micro 0.000001 x(10-6)
nano n 0.000000001 x(10-9)
pica p 0.000000000001 x(10-12)
 Example
8 000 000K = 8x106K

5 000g = 5x103g

0.006m = 6x10-3m

0.000 003A =3x10-6A

Standard form is another way of stating a
numerical value which is very big or very
small in order to make it simple, neat, and
easy to state.

Standard form is written as

a x 10n
(1 a<10 and n is an integer)

Example; write 1500 in the standard form

1500 = 1.5 x 1000
= 1.5 x 103 (standard form)
 Example
8 000 000K = 8MK

5 000g = 5kg

0.006m = 6mm

0.000 003A =3A

Mass
a) Definition The quantity of matter in
an object
b) S.I. unit kg
1 kg = 1000 g
1 g = 1000 mg

c) Constant (fixed) at all places

d) Not influenced by gravitational pull

e) Instrument for measuring mass ~ Lever

balance, Beam balance, Electronic
balance.
 Weight
a) Definition The force of gravity acting
on an object

a) S.I. unit Newton (N)

1 kg = 10 N , 1N = 100 g

c) Varies from place to place

d) Instrument for measuring weight

spring balance, compression balance
 The force of gravity on moon = 16 of the
force of gravity on Earth.

e.g. The mass of a person on Earth is 60 kg

a) His mass on the moon = 60 kg

b) His weight on the moon = 10 N

An astronaut weighs 120 N on the moon

a) His weight on the Earth = 720 N
b) His mass on the Earth = 72 kg
Differences between mass and weight

Mass From the point Weight

of
Quantity of Definition -gravitational
matter in an force acting on an
object object
Constant Value Changes from
everywhere place to place
kg S.I. unit N

Lever balance Measuring Spring balance

apparatus
Lengt
h
A. Measurement of length
Length distance between two
points
SI unit- metre (m)
Length Measurement
Short length centimetres (cm)
millimetres (mm)

Long distance kilometres (km)

1 cm = 10 mm
1 m = 100 cm = 1000 mm
1 km = 1000 m
 Tools for measuring the length of
straight lines

The scale on the metre ruler is in

centimetres (cm) and millimetres
(mm)
 While taking reading, the eyes must be vertically
above the mark to be read.
Tools for measuring the length of
curved lines
Tools for measuring the diameter of
objects
9. Thickness of the beaker
= Ed Id
2

Ed = External diameter
Id = Internal diameter
Tools for measuring the diameter of
a spherical objects
1. Definition Area is the total surface
covered by an object.

2. S.I. unit Square metre (m2). Other

units: cm2, km2, mm2

3. 1 cm2 = 100 mm2

1 m2 = 10 000 cm2
1 km2 = 1 000 000 m2
 Tools for measuring the area of
regular & irregular shapes

Area of regular shapes like rectangular,

triangle and circle can be estimated by
mathematical formulae.
e.g. Area of rectangle
= Length x Breadth

B
Area of irregular shapes like leafs,
stars can be estimated, using graph
paper.
 Measurement of volume
Volume-total space occupied by an
object.

S.I. unit cubic metre (m3).

Other units: cm3, mm3, litre (l), millilitre

(ml)

millilitre (ml) 1l = 1000

ml = 1000 cm3
1 cm3 = 1 ml
Tools for measuring the volume of
liquids
Measuring cylinder
the scale on the
measuring cylinder is in
cubic centimetres (cm)
It can measure liquid to
the nearest ml
The surface of the
liquid is curved
downwards
this curve is called
meniscus.
 To measure a fixed
volume of liquid
The liquid is
sucked into the
pipette using a
pipette pump until
it rises above the
graduated mark
The liquid is then
release slowly until
the bottom of the
meniscus of the
liquid touches the
graduated mark
 The smallest
division on a 50 ml
burette is 0.1ml
 The volume of irregular solids
e.g. stone can be determined by
using water displacement
method
Tools for measuring the volume of solids
 Volume of the cork = (58-52)ml
= 6 ml
= 6cm3
Eureka can
 Measuring skill
1. Measuring is an important scientific
skill.
2. A measurement is accurate if it is very
close to the actual value.
3. Accuracy of measurement can be
increased by
a) Taking the average of several readings
b) Using the right technique (e.g. correct
eye position)
c) Using suitable measuring tools
 The importance of standard
units in measurement

1. In the past, various systems of

measurement were used.

e.g. length foot, yard, inch, miles, chain

mass pound, ounce, kati, tahil, ton

2. These systems cause a lot of confusion

and difficulties.
3. Today, the S.I. units are used in
measurement.
4. Importance of S.I. / standard units
a) Facilitates buying and selling
b) Facilitates international trade between
different countries.
c) Enables scientists to exchange
information and communicate among
each other easily.
d) Helps in controlling air traffic at the
airport
e) Facilitates data analysis and
comparison of information.