Basic concepts of science

What is Science?
Science is the systematic study of the natural world through observation, experimentation,
and reasoning. It helps explain phenomena around us and enables technological
advancements.

Scientific Method:
1. Observation: Noticing and describing phenomena.
2. Question: Forming a question based on observations.
3. Hypothesis: Making an educated guess or explanation.
4. Experimentation: Testing the hypothesis through experiments.
5. Analysis: Analysing the results of the experiments.
6. Conclusion: Drawing conclusions and refining hypotheses.
7. Repeatability: Verifying results by repeating experiments.

Measurement in Science
Measurements are the foundation of scientific studies. Understanding units and tools is
essential.

Units of Measurement (SI Units):

Length: Meter (m)
Mass: Kilogram (kg)
Time: Second (s)
Temperature: Kelvin (K) or Celsius (°C)
Electric Current: Ampere (A)
Amount of Substance: Mole (mol)
Key Measurement Tools:
Ruler, Vernier calliper, Micrometre (for length)
Weighing scale (for mass)
Stopwatch (for time)
Thermometer (for temperature)
Accuracy vs. Precision:
Accuracy: How close a measurement is to the true value.
Precision: How consistent repeated measurements are.

Properties of Matter
Understanding matter is crucial in science as everything around us is made of matter.

States of Matter:
1. Solid: Fixed shape and volume.
2. Liquid: Fixed volume, variable shape.
3. Gas: No fixed shape or volume.
 4. Plasma: Ionized gas at high temperatures.
5. Bose-Einstein Condensate: Matter at near absolute zero temperatures.
Physical Properties:
Mass, volume, density, colour, shape, boiling/melting points.
Chemical Properties:
Reactivity, flammability, acidity, basicity.

Energy
Energy is the ability to do work or cause change.

Forms of Energy:
Kinetic Energy: Energy of motion (e.g., a moving car).
Potential Energy: Stored energy (e.g., water in a dam).
Thermal Energy: Heat energy.
Chemical Energy: Energy stored in chemical bonds (e.g., in food or fuel).
Electrical Energy: Energy of moving electric charges.
Light Energy: Energy that travels in waves (e.g., sunlight).
Law of Conservation of Energy: Energy cannot be created or destroyed, only
transformed from one form to another.

Force and Motion

Force and motion are central concepts in physics.

Force:
A push or pull that can cause an object to move, stop, or change direction.
Measured in Newtons (N).
Examples: Gravity, friction, tension.
Motion:
Movement of an object from one place to another.
Types of motion: Linear, rotational, periodic.
Described using terms like speed, velocity, and acceleration.

The Scientific Process

Experimentation:
Designing experiments to test hypotheses.
Controlling variables: independent (what you change), dependent (what you measure),
and controlled (what you keep constant).
Observations and Data:
Qualitative: Descriptive observations (e.g., colour, texture).
Quantitative: Numerical observations (e.g., mass, temperature).

The Interconnectedness of Science

Branches of Science:
Physics: Study of matter, energy, and forces.
 Chemistry: Study of substances and their interactions.
Biology: Study of life and living organisms.
Earth Science: Study of the Earth’s structure and processes.
Astronomy: Study of the universe beyond Earth.
Interdisciplinary Connections:
Example: Biophysics (biology + physics), Geochemistry (geology + chemistry).

Introduction to Scientific Tools

Tools are used to observe and analyse the natural world:
Microscope: For viewing tiny objects (e.g., cells).
Telescope: For observing distant objects (e.g., stars, planets).
Barometer: Measures air pressure.
Spectroscope: Analyses light to determine composition of substances.

Understanding Natural Phenomena

Cause and Effect:
Example: Why does a ball fall? (Cause: Gravity; Effect: It falls toward the Earth).
Patterns:
Identifying regular occurrences in nature (e.g., day-night cycle, seasons).

Introduction to Living and Non-Living Things

Living Things:
Characteristics: They grow, move, breathe, reproduce, and need food.
Examples: Plants, animals, humans.
Basic needs: Air, water, food, and shelter.
Life cycles: For example, a plant grows from a seed, and animals have distinct life
stages (e.g., egg → caterpillar → butterfly).
Non-Living Things:
Characteristics: They do not grow, move, breathe, or reproduce.
Examples: Rocks, water, air, and furniture.

Basic Needs of Plants and Animals

Plants:
Need sunlight, water, air, and soil to grow.
Photosynthesis: How plants make food using sunlight, carbon dioxide, and water.
Parts of a plant: Roots, stem, leaves, flowers, fruits, and seeds.
Animals:
Different animals eat different things (herbivores, carnivores, omnivores).

Shelter: Animals live in different places, such as nests (birds), dens (lions), or burrows
(rabbits).

Introduction to the Five Senses

 Five Senses and Their Organs:
Sight (Eyes): To see shapes, colours, and light.
Hearing (Ears): To hear sounds.
Smell (Nose): To detect odours.
Taste (Tongue): To taste sweet, sour, salty, and bitter flavours.
Touch (Skin): To feel textures, temperatures, and pressure.

Weather, Seasons, and Basic Environmental Science

Weather:
Components: Sun, clouds, rain, wind, and snow.
Tools: Thermometer (measures temperature), rain gauge (measures rainfall).
Seasons:
Spring: Plants grow, and flowers bloom.
Summer: Hot weather, long days.
Autumn: Leaves change colour and fall.
Winter: Cold weather, sometimes snow.
Environment:
Importance of clean air, water, and soil.
Pollution: How it harms plants, animals, and humans.
Simple ways to care for the environment: Recycling, planting trees, saving water.

Animals and Their Habitats

Types of Habitats:
Forests, deserts, oceans, grasslands, mountains.
Examples:
Camel: Lives in deserts, stores water in its hump.
Fish: Lives in water, has fins and gills for swimming and breathing.
Adaptations:
How animals survive in their habitats (e.g., polar bears have thick fur for cold
climates).

Introduction to the Solar System

Basic Components:
The Sun: A giant ball of fire and the source of light and heat for Earth.
Planets: Earth, Mars, Jupiter, and others orbit the Sun.
The Moon: Earth’s natural satellite.
Stars: Twinkling objects seen in the night sky.
Day and Night:
The Earth rotates on its axis, causing day and night.

Properties of Materials
Common Materials:
Wood, metal, glass, plastic, water, air.
 Properties:
Hardness: Some materials (wood, metal) are hard, while others (cloth, rubber) are soft.
Transparency: Glass is transparent, but wood is opaque.
Floating and Sinking: Some objects float in water (wood, plastic), while others sink
(stones, metals).
Uses:
Discuss why specific materials are used (e.g., metal for tools, wood for furniture).

Basic Health and Hygiene

Personal Hygiene:
Brushing teeth, bathing, washing hands, and keeping nails clean.
Healthy Eating:
Eating fruits, vegetables, and balanced meals.
Exercise and Rest:
Importance of physical activity and proper sleep for a healthy body.

Simple Machines

What Are Simple Machines?

Tools that make work easier.
Examples: Lever (seesaw), wheel and axle (cart), inclined plane (ramp), pulley (well
bucket).

1. Which of the following is NOT a living thing?

a) Cat
b) Tree
c) River
d) Bird
Answer: c) River
2. What is the main difference between living and non-living things?
a) Living things grow, non-living things do not.
b) Non-living things eat food, living things do not.
c) Living things do not move, non-living things move.
d) Non-living things reproduce, living things do not.
Answer: a) Living things grow, non-living things do not.
3. Which of these is NOT a characteristic of living things?
a) They breathe.
b) They grow.
c) They change shape on their own.
d) They can respond to the environment.
Answer: c) They change shape on their own.
4. Which of these can grow?
a) A chair
b) A puppy
c) A toy
 d) A clock
Answer: b) A puppy
5. Which characteristic of living things helps them create offspring?
a) Growth
b) Reproduction
c) Breathing
d) Eating
Answer: b) Reproduction
6. Non-living things can move if:
a) They are pushed or pulled.
b) They are hungry.
c) They feel tired.
d) They grow on their own.
Answer: a) They are pushed or pulled
7. Which of these is a basic need for all living things?
a) Shelter
b) Toys
c) Food
d) Clothes
Answer: c) Food
8. Which of these is an example of something that shows movement?
a) A rock rolling downhill after being pushed
b) A tree standing still
c) A picture on a wall
d) A sleeping cat
Answer: a) A rock rolling downhill after being pushed
9. How can you tell a dog is alive?
a) It changes color.
b) It barks and breathes.
c) It doesn’t move.
d) It never eats.
Answer: b) It barks and breathes.
10. Why can a seed be classified as both a non-living and a living thing depending on its
state?
a) It is always non-living because it does not move.
b) It is living when it grows into a plant but appears non-living when dormant.
c) It is non-living because it doesn’t need food.
d) It is living only when it is in soil.
Answer: b) It is living when it grows into a plant but appears non-living when dormant.