PHYSICAL SCIENCE-Notes, Chapter 1: Science Skills

Section 1.1-What is Science?

KEY CONCEPTS

How does the process of science start and end?

What is the relationship between science and technology?

What are the branches of natural science?

--Science involves asking questions about nature and then finding ways to
answer them. The process doesnt happen by itself-it is driven by curiosity.
--SCIENCE is a system of knowledge and the methods one uses to find that
knowledge
--Methods for gathering scientific knowledge may be
1. Qualitative-descriptive
2. Quantitative-numerical
--TECHNOLOGY is the use of knowledge to solve practical problems
Ex. development of the telephone
--Note that science and technology are interdependent-advances in one may
lead to advances in the other
--Science is divided into social science (Ex. psychology) and natural science
(Ex. biology)
--Natural science is divided into three branches:
1. PHYSICAL SCIENCE-chemistry and physics
2. EARTH AND SPACE SCIENCE-geology, astronomy, meteorology,
oceanography
3. LIFE SCIENCE (BIOLOGY)-botany, ecology, genetics, zoology
--The big ideas of physical science include:
1. SPACE AND TIME-the universe is very old (13.7 billion y/o) and very big (700
million billion billion meters in diameter)
2. MATTER AND CHANGE-a small part of the universe is made of matter, which
has volume and mass, and is made of atoms, which in turn is made of protons,
neutrons, and electrons
3. FORCE AND MOTION-a net force causes changes in motion
4. ENERGY-energy exists in different forms; when matter changes, energy is
absorbed or released; matter itself can be changed to energy; energy can be
transferred or transformed, but cannot be created or destroyed
Section 1.2-Using a Scientific Approach
KEY CONCEPTS

What is the goal of a scientific method?

How does a scientific law differ from a scientific theory?

Why are scientific models useful?

--A SCIENTIFIC METHOD is an organized plan for gathering, organizing, and
communicating information
--The goal of a scientific method is to solve a problem or better understand an
observed event
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--The general steps taken in a scientific method include:

1. Making an OBSERVATION-information obtained through senses
2. Asking a QUESTION
3. Forming a HYPOTHESIS-proposed answer to a question
4. Testing a hypothesis (EXPERIMENT)
5. ANALYZING data/drawing conclusions
6. Developing a THEORY-a well-tested explanation for a set of observations or
experimental results
--A VARIABLE is any factor that can change in an experiment; two types of
variables:
1. MANIPULATED (INDEPENDENT)-variable changed by or allowed to change by
the experimenter
2. RESPONDING (DEPENDENT)-variable that changes in response to the
manipulated variable
--A CONTROLLED EXPERIMENT is one in which only one variable (manipulated)
is changed at a time, and changes in the responding variable are observed; all
other variables are kept constant
--Why is this called a controlled experiment? What is a control?
--Why are all variables other than the manipulated and responding kept
constant in a controlled experiment?
--A SCIENTIFIC LAW is a statement that summarizes a pattern found in nature
Ex. Newtons law of gravity
--Note that a scientific law doesnt explain a phenomenon in nature; a
scientific theory attempts to explain
--A MODEL is a representation of an object or event
Ex. map, flow chart, schedule
--Scientific models make it easier to understand things that might be too
difficult to observe directly
Ex. model of an atom
PHYSICAL SCIENCE-Notes, Chapter 2: Properties of Matter
Section 2.1-Classifying Matter
KEY CONCEPTS

Why are elements and compounds classified as pure substances?

How do mixtures differ from pure substances?

What is the main difference among solutions, suspensions, and colloids?

--A PURE SUBSTANCE is matter that always has the same composition
--A HOMOGENEOUS material is one that is uniform throughout
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--There are two types of substances:

1. An ELEMENT is a substance that is composed of only one type of atom;
cannot be broken down into simpler substances
Ex. gold-Au, aluminum-Au, carbon-C, iodine-I
2. A COMPOUND is a substance that is composed of two or more types of
atoms (combination of two or more elements) in a fixed proportion; can be
broken down into simpler substances
Ex. water-H2O, silicon dioxide-SiO2
--Note that symbols for elements may be one, two or three letters, with the
first letter capitalized and any other letters lowercase
Ex. Co-cobalt; CO-carbon monoxide
--The properties of a compound are different from the elements of which it is
composed
Ex. Salt (NaCl) is edible, whereas sodium (Na) is a soft, shiny, very reactive
metal, and chlorine (Cl) is a green, poisonous gas at room temperature
--A MIXTURE is a combination of two or more substances with no fixed
composition
Ex. salt water, air, soil
--There are two types of mixtures:
1. HETEROGENEOUS MIXTURES are mixtures in which the parts are
distinguishable; you can see the parts
Ex. wood, granite, milk, fog
2. HOMOGENEOUS MIXTURES (SOLUTIONS) are mixtures in which the parts are
so evenly mixed they are virtually indistinguishable
Ex. salt water, air, brass
--A SOLUTION is a homogeneous mixture
1. that passes through a filter unaffected-WHY?
2. that, if liquid, allows light to pass through unscattered-LNB-WHY?
3. that does not separate upon standing-LNB-WHY?
--A SUSPENSION is a heterogeneous mixture that separates upon standing
Ex. oil and water, muddy water
--A COLLOID is a heterogeneous mixture that does not separate upon standing
Ex. fog, whipped cream, milk
Section 2.2-Physical Properties
KEY CONCEPTS

What are some examples of physical properties?

How can knowing the physical properties of matter be useful?

What processes are used to separate mixtures?

When does a physical change occur?

--A PHYSICAL PROPERTY is any property of a material that can be
observed/measured without changing the composition of the material
Ex. viscosity, conductivity, malleability, hardness, melting/boiling point,
density, etc.
--Physical properties can be used to
1. identify materials (by m.p, b.p., etc.)
2. choose materials for a particular application
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3. separate parts of a mixture (distillation, filtration)

--A PHYSICAL CHANGE is a change which does not result in new substances
Ex. change of state, dissolving, etc.
Section 2.3-Chemical Properties
KEY CONCEPTS

When can chemical properties be observed?

What observations might indicate that a chemical change has occurred?

What is the difference between chemical and physical changes?

--A CHEMICAL PROPERTY is a property of a material that can only be observed
by changing the composition of the material; by producing at least one new
substance
Ex. flammability, reactivity--FLAMMABILITY is the ability of a material to burn in the presence of oxygen
(O2)
--REACTIVITY of a substance describes how readily it reacts chemically to
produce a new substance
--A CHEMICAL CHANGE is a change that results in at least one new substance
Ex. burning a candle, rusting iron, ripening banana--Indicators of a chemical change include
1. color change
2. production of gas
3. release or absorption of energy
4. formation of a precipitate
--A PRECIPITATE is any solid that forms and separates from a liquid mixture
Ex. KI + Pb(NO3)2 reaction
--Recall that parts of a mixture can be separated by differences in physical
properties of the parts (Ex. filtration); however, elements in a compound can
only be separated by chemical means
Ex. separating water into H2 and O2, which are different substances-thus, a
chemical change takes place
PHYSICAL SCIENCE-Notes, Chapter 3: States of Matter
Section 3.1-Solids, Liquids, and Gases
KEY CONCEPTS

How can shape and volume be used to classify materials?

How can kinetic theory and forces of attraction be used to explain the
behavior of gases, liquids, and solids?
--Materials can be classified as solids, liquids or gases based on whether their
shapes and volumes are definite or variable
--SOLIDS
1. have definite shape and volume
2. have particles that are closely-packed, locked in place, and have a regular,
orderly arrangement
3. are virtually incompressible
--LIQUIDS
1. have indefinite shape, definite volume
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2. have particles that are closely-packed, not locked in place, with no orderly
arrangement
3. are virtually incompressible
--GASES
1. have indefinite shape and indefinite volume
2. have particles that are widely-spaced, with no orderly arrangement
3. are highly compressible
--Why are gases compressible, while solids and liquids are not?
--Most matter in the universe exists as a PLASMA,
--A BOSE-EINSTEIN CONDENSATE (BEC) is a fifth state of matter that exists at
temperatures near -273oC
--What is the significance of -273oC (hint-Kelvin)
--KINETIC ENERGY is energy an object has because of its motion; the faster
the motion, the greater the KE
--TEMPERATURE is a measure of the average kinetic energy of particles in a
sample of matter
Ex. If Kelvin temperature of a sample of matter is doubled, the ave. KE of the
particles is doubled
--How would the KE of particles in a sample of matter change if the Kelvin
temp. were quadrupled? Halved?
--The KINETIC THEORY OF MATTER states that all particles of matter are in
constant motion
--The particles in a gas behave similar to billiard balls-when one ball in motion
strikes a ball at rest, some KE is transferred from the first ball to the second
--There are forces of attraction between particles in all matter
--In gases, the attractive forces between particles are very small, and can
usually be ignored when describing gas behavior
--The KINETIC THEORY OF GASES has three main points:
1. particles in a gas are in constant motion
2. the motion of one particle is unaffected by motion of another particle
unless they collide
3. attractive forces between particles can be ignored under ordinary
conditions (not at high pressures or low temperatures)
--A liquid takes the shape of its container because the particles can flow to
new locations; liquid volume is constant because strong attractive forces keep
particles close together
--Particles of solids appear to vibrate about a fixed point because strong
attractive forces keep particles in fixed locations relative to neighbors