Introduction to Science

Branches of Science

biology
chemistry
physics
earth science
astronomy

We don't have time to learn each field, so we'll focus on ideas that are common to all of them by studying matter, energy, and interactions.

Interaction=two or more things come together and have an effect on each other.
Observations and questions are how people learn about science.
"The Making of a Scientist" gives an example of people making observations and asking questions.

What is Matter?

Matter is anything that has mass and takes up space.
Watch the first seven minutes of this video to review the scientific definition of matter and the three states of matter.
Mass relates to weight or heaviness
Volume is how much space something takes up--review this here

Scale and Atomic Theory

Watch this video to observe moving from the scale of the universe to an atom.
Try paraphrasing, or putting in your own words, this quote from Richard Feynman:

"If, in some catastrophe, all of scientific knowledge was destroyed, and only one sentence was saved, what statement would contain the most information in the fewest words? I believe it is the atomic theory that all things are made of atoms--little particles that move around in perpetual motion. In that one sentence, there is an enormous amount of information about the world."

Here is a video that reviews the atomic theory.

Change of State

What is heat?
what are the different phases of matter?
Watch this video to learn what heat is and how it relates to temperature.

Electric Charge

The takeaway of this lesson is that there are two varieties of charged particles, positive and negative, that exert forces on each other. Like particles repel each other and opposites attract. There is also a neutral particle. These three particles make up all of matter. Learning about these three charged particles prepares you to learn about the structure of the atom in the next lesson.

Go here to see a demonstration.

The Atom

Click here to play atom games and test your knowledge of atoms and charge.

The website has many other topics in math and science you can explore. Go to https://phet.colorado.edu/en/simulations/category/new to check out other topics.

Chemical Bonding

Atoms form molecules by bonding to each other.

Learn about the Periodic Table of the Elements here.
Watch NOVA Hunting the Elements to learn more about the Periodic Table and how elements bond.

Chemical Reactions

Macromolecules

Chemical reactions are what allow tiny molecules like carbon dioxide and water to react to build larger and larger things, like sugar molecules, proteins, membranes, cells, plants, and animals.

Go here to watch a demonstration of a chemical reaction.
Watch PBS Hunting the Elements beginning at minute 37 to see demonstrations and explanations of chemical reactions.
This video explains the difference between chemical and physical changes.

Chemical reactions produce molecules, and through many chemical reactions, the molecules can get bigger and bigger. There are four important macromolecules that make up human bodies. They are carbohydrates, lipids (fats), proteins, and nucleic acids.

Watch this video to learn the functions of these important molecules.

Conservation of Matter

Can you make or destroy and atom?

Watch this to find out where atoms came from.
Go here to learn how water is conserved in the water cycle.
There are other cycles as well, such as carbon, nitrogen, and rock.

Matter, energy, and information (DNA) are conserved in cycles.

Motion

Here we look at matter in motion.

Watch this to learn about speed, velocity, and acceleration.
Learn about Newton's Laws here.

Energy

In science, energy is defined as the ability to do work. There are different kinds of energy.

Potential energy
Kinetic energy

Here is a video about the basics of energy.

Transformation of Energy

Watch this video about electricity to review how energy transforms into different types.
Go to nvenergy.com to find out where our power comes from in northern Nevada.

This Khan Academy talk explains photosynthesis.
Questions about using the scientific method will certainly be on the test. Watch this crash course video to review it.

Photosynthesis

Ecosystems

Read this Khan Academy Article that explains ecosystems.

Atmosphere

Watch this video to review the layers of the atmosphere and how they protect our planet.

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