FORM 1 SCIENCE

CHAPTER 1 – INTRODUCTION TO SCIENCE

1.1 What is Science?

Science is a set of knowledge obtained from researches on the natural phenomena which occur on Earth.
The examples of natural phenomena are:

(a) Earthquakes.

(b) Volcanic eruption.

(d) Occurence of rain.

(e) Water evaporation from rivers, seas and pond.

(f) Solar and lunar eclipse.

(g) Occurrence of day and night

(h) Occurrence of thunder and lightning.

(i) A fruit falling down from the tree.

(j) Formation of clouds.

(k) Melting of ice.

(l) Growth of a child to adulthood.

(m) A pond appers to be shallower than its actual depth.

Science can contribute in the following areas:

	Area	Importance
(a)	Industry	Introduction of technology to manufacture new products to costumers.
(b)	Medicine	Prevention and treatment of diseases through the application of various new drugs, sophisticated equipments and technologies.
(c)	Agriculture	Invention of farm machinery, production of eco-friendly pesticides, high quality crops and the use of modern agricultural technologies.
(d)	Education	Makes teaching and learning process easier and more interesting through various teaching-aids such as projectors and transparencies.
(e)	Transportation	Makes the movement and travel of man and goods faster and easier, more efficient and comfortable through various land, sea and air transports.
(f)	Information technology	Makes communication and transfer of information (local and international) to be easier, faster and more efficient through satelittes, internet, handphone and telefax.

The various fields of science are:

	Fields of science	Area of study
(a)	Chemistry	Matter and its properties as well as its transformation.
(b)	Biology	Living things.
(c)	Physics	Natural phenomena, mass and energy.
(d)	Geology	Rocks and minerals.
(e)	Meteorology	Weather and climate.
(f)	Pharmacy	Medicine
(g)	Astronomy	Planets and stars.
(h)	Botany	Plants.
(i)	Zoology	Animals
(j)	Medicine	Diagnose and treat diseases.

Some careers in science are:

(a) Doctor

(b) Engineers

(d) Botanists

(e) Chemists

(f) Biologists

(g) Physicists

(h) Geologists

(i) Pharmacists

(j) Zoologists

(k) Astronomists

(l) Astronauts

(m) Meterologists

(n) Nutritionists

(o) Science educators

(p) Computer programmers

1.2 A Science Laboratory

1. The general rules and safety precautions that must be observed in a science laboratory are:

(a) Do not enter a science laboratory without permission from the teacher.

(b) Do not play or run around in the science laboratory.

(d) Do not play or meddle with any apparatus or chemical in the science laboratory.

(e) Do not conduct any experiment without permission from the teacher.

(f) Do not taste any chemical unless instructed otherwise by the teacher.

(g) Do not smell any gas unless instructed otherwise by the teacher.

(h) Do not breathe in any gas too deeply.

(i) Read the instructions carefully before using any chemical. Ask the teacher if any doubt about anything.

(j) Use the apparatus and chemicals carefully and correctly.

(k) Make sure the workbench is clean and tidy.

(l) Do not pour any chemical back into its bottle to avoid contamination.

(m) Hold the chemical bottles by their labels and not by the necks.

(n) Spit out any chemical that happens to be in one’s mouth and wash it with plenty of water. Then, report to the teacher about it.

(o) Wash off any chemical that happens to be on one’s skin or clothing with plenty of water. Then, report to the teacher about it.

(p) Throw solid waste material into the dustbin. Do not throw it into the sinkhole.

(q) Do not direct a test tube with heated substances at oneself or at anyone else.

(r) Clean and tidy up one’s place after every experiment.

(s) Put back all the chemicals and cleaned apparatus back to their original places after every experiment.

(t) Do not take out any chemical and apparatus from the science laboratory.

(u) Report any accident, injury, breakage or spillage to the teacher immediately.

(v) Leave all the doors and windows opened unless instructed otherwise by the teacher.

(w) Wash one’s hands after every experiment.

2. The names and functions of the various apparatus are:

	Apparatus	Diagram	Function
(a)	Beaker		To hold solid or liquid chemicals.
(b)	Conical flask		To hold solid or liquid chemicals.
(c)	Test tubes		To hold liquid chemicals.
(d)	Filter funnel		To filter or funnel solid and liquid mixtures
(e)	Crucible		To hold chemical to be heated
(f)	Cork		As a stopper for test tube.
(g)	Gas jar		To collect gas.
(h)	Spatula		To transfer powder or solid chemicals.
(i)	Evaporating dish		For evaporating liquid solution.
(j)	Test tube holder		To hold test tubes during heating.
(k)	Tripod stand		To support apparatus while heating.
(l)	Crucible tongs		To hold hot objects or apparatus.
(m)	Glass slide		To hold specimens for microscopic observation.
(n)	Retort stand		To hold apparatus or objects during experiment.
(o)	Wire gauze		To act as foundation for apparatus during heating.
(p)	Glass rod		For stirring solutions.
(q)	Test tube rack		To hold test tubes.
(r)	Bunsen burner		To provide a fire flame for heating.
(s)	Measuring cylinder		To measure the volume of a liquid accurately.
(t)	Pipette		To measure the volume of solution accurately.
(u)	Burette		To measure the volume of solution accurately.
(v)	Thermometer		To measure temperature.
(w)	Stop watch		To measure time.

3. The proper methods of using a Bunsen burner are:

(a) Light up the match or lighter before turning on the Bunsen burner.

(b) Make sure the gas tap and the rubber tube are not leaking.

(d) Use a water bath when heating flammable substances.

(e) Make sure the gas tap is turned off after every experiment.

4. The hazard symbols their meanings, and examples of chemicals are shown below:

	Symbol	Meaning	Examples
(a)		Explosive	Pottasium, sodium, hydrogen
(b)		Poisonous	Mercury, chlorine, lead, cyanide
(c)		Corrosive	Concentrated acid and alkali
(d)		Harmful/ Irritating	Bromine, ammonia, chloroform, chlorine
(e)		Flammable	Alcohol, yellow phosforus, petrol, kerosene
(f)		Radioactive	Uranium, plutonium

1.3 The steps In A Scientific Investigation

Scientists can obtain scientific knowledge through scientific investigation.
The steps in carrying out a scientific investigation:

Steps	Scientific investigation
1	Identifying the problem
2	Forming the hypothesis
3	Controlling the variables
4	Planning the experiment
5	Carrying out the experiment
6	Collecting data
7	Analysing and interpreting the data
8	Making conclusion
9	Reporting

This set of steps in a scientific investigation can be applied to experiments such as the experiment to determine the oscillations (complete swings) of a pendulum.

1.4 Physical Quantities And Their Units

The five physical quantities and their SI Units are shown below.

Physical quantity	SI Unit
Length	metre (m)
Mass	kilogram (kg)
Time	Second (s)
Temperature	Kelvin (K)
Electric current	Ampere (A)

The prefixes, their values and symbols are shown below.

Prefix	Value	Symbol
Giga	1 000 000 000	G
Mega	1 000 000	M
kilo	1 000	k
deci	0.01	d
centi	0.01	c
mili	0.001	m
micro	0.000 001	m
nano	0.000 000 001	n

1.5 Concept of Weight and Mass

Weight

(a) Weight is the force acting on an object towards the centre of the Earth.

(b) The SI unit of weight is Newton (N).

spring balance compression balance

Mass

(a) Mass is the quantity (amount) of matter in an object.

(b) The SI unit of mass is kilogram (kg).

lever balance beam balance

1.6 Use of Measuring Tools

1. Measurement of length.

(a) Units used: milimetre (mm), centimetre (cm), metre (m) and kilometre (km).

(b) Measuring tools used:

	Diagram	What to measure	tool
(i)		Straight line	Ruler, measuring tape
(ii)		Curve	Opisometer, thread and ruler
(iii)		Internal diameter of cylindrical objects.	Internal calipers and ruler.
(iv)		External diameter of cylindrical objects.	External calipers and ruler.