Chapter 1: Introduction to Physical Science

GPS: These are the Georgia Performance Standards that are covered in this chapter.

S8CS1 - Students will explore the importance of curiosity, honesty, openness, and skepticism in science and will exhibit these traits in their own efforts to understand how the world works.

S8CS2 - Students will use standard safety practices for all classroom laboratory and field investigations.

S8CS 3 - Students will have the computation and estimation skills necessary for analyzing data and following scientific explanations.

S8CS4 - Students will use tools and instruments for observing, measuring, and manipulating equipment and materials in scientific activities utilizing safe laboratory procedures.

S8CS5 - Students will use the ideas of system, model, change, and scale in exploring scientific and technological matters.

S8CS7 - Students will question scientific claims and arguments effectively.

S8CS9 - Students will understand the features of the process of scientific inquiry.

 

After reading this chapter, the student should understand the Big Idea and the Essential Question.

The BIG IDEA: Scientific Inquiry

The ESSENTIAL QUESTION: How do scientists investigate the natural world?

The ANSWER: Scientists investigate the natural world by posing questions, developing hypotheses, designing experiments, analyzing data, drawing conclusions, and communicating results.

 

KEY TERMS: These can be found in Chapter 1 Vocabulary List from the Home Page.

 

KEY CONCEPTS: After reading these sections, the student should be able to answer these questions.

Section 1:

What skills do scientists use to learn about the world?

What do physical scientists study?

Section 2:

How do scientists investigate the natural world?

What role do models, laws, and theories play in science?

Section 3:

What math skills do scientists use in collecting data and making measurements?

What math skills help scientists analyze their data?

Section 4:

Why is preparation important when carrying out scientific investigations?

What should you do if a lab accident occurs?

 

ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS:These questions can help the student with reading comprehension.

Section 1:

What are inferences based on?

What is physics?

Section 2:

What is a hypothesis?

Why do scientists use the SI system?

What is a scientific law?

What do scientists generally require to accept new scientific ideas?

Section 3:

What does an accurate measurement mean?

What is the median number in a list that has an odd number of entries?

Section 4:

What is the most important safety rule?

 

ONLINE HELP: Go online for help with Chapter 1

For: Build science vocabulary

Visit: PHSchool.com

Web code: crj-0001

           

For: More on scientific thinking

Visit: PHSchool.com

Web code: cgd-6011

 

For: The Nature of Inquiry activity

Visit: PHSchool.com

Web code: cgp-6012

 

For: Links on math and science

Visit: www.SciLinks.org

Web code: scn-1622

 

For: Self-Assessment

Visit: PHSchool.com

Web code: cka-1010

 

AT-HOME ACTIVITIES: These are activities that can be used at home.

Lab #1:

Quantitative or Qualititative?

Look around your room at home. Write down three qualitative and three quanititative observations. How do these two types differ from one another?

Lab # 2:

Which Falls Fastest?

Design an experiment to determine which falls fastest - an unfolded sheet of paper, a sheet of paper folded in fourths, or a crumpled sheet of paper. Be sure to develop a hypothesis, design a controlled experiment, and collect data. Do your data support your hypothesis? Discuss your results with a family member.

Lab #3:

For Good Measure

Estimate the length of a table or desk without using any measurement tools. Then measure this length. Be sure to express each measurement in the correct number of significant figures. How close were your estimates to the actual measurements?