Chapter 1

INTRODUCING TO SCIENCE
Introducing Science

What is Science?

Science Laboratory

Steps in Scientific Investigation

Physical Quantities and Their Units

The Use of Measuring Tools

Weight and Mass

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1.1 Science is Part of Daily Life
What is Science?
Science is the systematic study of nature and how it effects us and our
environment.

Important is science.

• Understand ourselves. Knowing how our body work.

• Understand our environment. This helps us to improve the
quality of our environment and conserve it for our future
generation.
• Makes our life more comfortable.

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The examples of natural phenomena are:

(a) Earthquakes.
(b) Volcanic eruption.
(c) Rainbow formation.
(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.
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Careers in science.

Computer programmer
Vetenarinarian

Doctor

Careers in
science

Pharmacist Chemist
Engineer

Architect
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 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 equipment 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 Makes communication and transfer of information (local and
technology international) to be easier, faster and more efficient through
satelittes, internet, handphone and telefax.
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Areas of study.

Biology
Biochemistry

Physics

Areas of
Meteorology study

Chemistry
Geology Astronomy

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 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.
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1,2 Your Science Laboratory

1. Laboratory is the place where a scientist works.

2. Carrying out experiments is interesting and exciting. However, some
chemicals used may be dangerous and poisonous.
3. To prevent injury to oneself and others, one needs to know the
general rules and safety precautions in a laboratory.
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Rules and safety precautions in the laboratory.

- Never enter the laboratory unless a teacher is present.

- Do not eat, drink or taste any chemicals.
- Always follow the teacher’s instruction.
- Never touch chemicals with your bare hands. Use a spatula.
- Read the label on a reagent bottle before using its content.
- Turn off the bunsen Burner after use.
- Do not pure back any unused chemical into its bottle.
- Do not throw solid wastes into the sinks.
- Wash and keep all apparatus after use.
- Do not run or play in the laboratory.
- Do not taste anything without the teacher’s permission.
- Report any breakages to the teacher.
- Keep the bench clean and tidy.
General laboratory apparatus and their uses
Hazard warning symbols BACK

SYMBOL EXAMPLES PROPER HANDLING METHOD

Explosive Explodes easily when mixed with other substances

Follow instructions given
Potassium, sodium, concentrated acids and alkalis, when handling the
mixture of hydrogen and air. substance.

Flammable Catches fire and burns easily

Petrol, ethanol, kerosene, methylated spirit, white Keep away from fire and
phosphorus, yellow phosphorus. heat sources

Toxic or Causes death or harm to the body

Do not taste these
poisonous Mercury, sodium cyanide, hydrogen sulphide, lead, substance
benzene, chlorofrom, bromine Keep under lock and key

Corrosive Causes damage to the skin or eyes upon contract

Concentrated acids and alkalis, bromine, hydrogen Avoid direct contract with
peroxide. the skin or eyes

Irritant or Irritates (cause itchiness and rashes) eyes, skin and Avoid inhalation
respiratory system.
harmful Ammonia, alcohol, bromine vapour, chlorine, Use in a fume chamber
chloroform according to the
instruction given.
Radioactive Emits radiation that can destroy body cells/tissues
Keep in lead containers
Uranium, plutonium, radium, thorium
1.3 Physical Quantities and Their Units
Physical quantity SI unit Symbol A physical quantity is a
Length metre m quantity that can be measured

Mass kilogram kg
Time second s Prefix Symbol Numerical value
giga G 1 000 000 000
Temperature kelvin K
mega M 1 000 000
Electric current ampere A
kilo k 1 000
deca da 10
deci d 0.1
centi c 0.01
mili m 0.001
Prefixes are useful in expressing physical quantities
that are either very big or very small. micro µ 0.000 001
nano n 0.000 000 001
pico p 0.000 000 000 001
Converting Units of Base Quantity
Converting LENGTH Units
The Importance of S.I. Units in Life

The importance of using standard unit:

(a) facilitating global communication various fields.
(b) enabling measurements to be done accurately.
(c) Enabling data to be analysed, compared and understood by
scientists.
(d) No confusion because there is specific symbols for each unit.
1.4 The Uses of Measuring Instruments, Accuracy, Consistency,
Sensitivity and Errors
The Uses of Right Measuring Instruments

Measurement of length.
(a) Units used: milimetre (mm), centimetre (cm), metre (m) and kilometre (km).
(b) Measuring tools used:
Mass

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

(b) The SI unit of mass is kilogram (kg).
(c) The tools used to measure mass are, lever balance and beam
balance.

lever balance beam balance

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).
(c) The topics used to measure weight are compression balance and spring
balance.

spring balance compression balance

Measurement of temperature.

(a) Unit used: degree Celsius (OC).

(b) Tool used:

(i) Objects with temperature of between -10 OC to 110 OC – laboratory

thermometer.

(ii) Human body temperature – clinical/doctor’s

thermometer.
Measurement of volume

(a) Units used: cubic metre (m3), cubic centimetre (cm3), cubic milimetre
(mm3), litre
(l) and mililitre (ml).
(c) Tool used:

(i) Liquids – measuring cylinder, burette, pipette.

(ii) Solids – measuring cylinder or eureka can and measuring cylinder
(water displacement method).
Measurement of area

(a) Units used: square metre (m2), square centimetre (cm2)

(b) Measuring tool used:

(i) Regular shape – graph paper/mathematical formulae.

(ii) Irregular shape – graph paper .
Accuracy – The ability measuring instrument to obtain a value
closest to actual value.

Consistency/ Precise - The ability measuring instrument to give

same readings with repeated measurements.

Sensitivity - The ability measuring instrument to detect small

change in measurement quantity.
Using measuring instruments with higher accuracy
Positive zero error
Negative zero error
Try it on
 2.37 mm
+0.02 mm

2.37 – (+0.02) = 2.35 mm

 1.5 Density

Density of material is the mass per unit volume.

Formula of density:

Example:
Difference Density In Everyday Life

Ice floats on surface of water

Helium balloons float in air.

Helium gas is less dense than
air.
1.6 Steps in Scientific Investigation

Identify problem Construct a hypothesis Control variables

Collect data Conduct the experiment Plan an experiment

Analyse and interpret data Make a conclusion Write a report

1.7 Scientific attitudes and values in carrying out scientific
investigations

i. Students must have positive attitudes while conducting

experiments

ii. Be interested and curious about surroundings.

iii. Be honest and accurate while recording and validating data.

iv. Be responsible for your own and other safety as well as for the
environment.
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