Chapter 1- The Scientific Endeavour

Chapter 1 The Scientific Endeavour • What is Science? • How do we derive scientific knowledge from the world around us? • How does Science affect our lives? • Does the application of scientific knowledge always benefit us?

Chapter 1 The Scientific Endeavour 1.1 What is Science? 1.2 How is Scientific Knowledge Derived? — Attitudes in Science 1.3 How is Scientific Knowledge Derived? — The Scientific Method 1.4 How does Science and Technology Technology Affect our Lives? 1.5 Safety Practices Practices during during Scientific Investigations Investigations

Chapter 1 The Scientific Endeavour 1.1 What is Science? 1.2 How is Scientific Knowledge Derived? — Attitudes in Science 1.3 How is Scientific Knowledge Derived? — The Scientific Method 1.4 How does Science and Technolog Technology y Affect our Lives? 1.5 Safety Practices Practices during Scientific Scientific Investigations

1.1 What is Science?  At the end of this section, you should be able to answer the following questions: Is Science only observed in the laboratory?

What are the branches of  Science?

1.1 What is Science? Lesson trigger • The study of Science is not confined to the laboratory. • Doing research and conducting experiments out of a laboratory allow scientists to collect data which cannot be obtained in the laboratory. laboratory. Go to Think and Explore and Key Ideas (Page 4)

 A scientist goes on a field trip to study coral reefs

1.1 What is Science? • Science is the study of the natural and physical world. •  Area of study study of the natural world: world: • Organisms •  Area of study study of the physical physical world: • Energy • Matter  • Structure of matter and its interactions

Practical Book Link (Page 4)

Click here to find out about the top ten scientific fields. What other scientific fields can you name to add on to this list?

Chapter 1 The Scientific Endeavour 1.1 What is Science?

1.2 How is Scientific Knowledge Derived? — Attitudes in Science 1.3 How is Scientific Knowledge Derived? — The Scientific Method 1.4 How does Science and Technolog Technology y Affect our Lives? 1.5 Safety Practices Practices during Scientific Scientific Investigations

1.2 How is Scientific Knowledge Derived? — Attitudes in Science  At the end end of this section, you you should should be able to to answer the following question:

What are some positive attitudes that we should have when carrying out a scientific inquiry inquiry? ?

1.2 How is Scientific Knowledge Derived? — Attitudes in Science Lesson trigger •  A platypus is warm-blooded and feeds its young with milk. •

However, However, it lays eggs instead of  giving birth to its young.

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So, is a platypus considered to be a mammal? Yes

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What positive attitude in Science do you need to come up with a conclusion? Be open-minded and willing to consider all the information. Go to Think and Explore (Page 5)

1.2 How is Scientific Knowledge Derived? — Attitudes in Science • Scientists should have the spirit of scientific inquiry. • Good scientists: • question what they see around them; • make observations and sense of  the data collected from their  observations; • work well with their peers; and • consider the views of others.

What are the  attitudes that  are useful to  scientists in their  work? 

1.2 How is Scientific Knowledge Derived? — Attitudes in Science This space station allows scientists to live in space while they collect the data they need for their studies.

1.2 How is Scientific Knowledge Derived? — Attitudes in Science Lessons from Mpemba

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Mpemba’s story reflects all the attitudes that are essential in scientific inquiry. Curiosity: Mpemba wanted to know more about the unexpected result he observed.

Click here for a list of twenty essential attitudes in Science.

Go to Key Ideas and Workbook Link (Page 7)

What are the  attitudes that are  essential in scientific  inquiry? 

Chapter 1 The Scientific Endeavour 1.1 What is Science? 1.2 How is Scientific Knowledge Derived? — Attitudes in Science

1.3 How is Scientific Knowledge Derived? — The Scientific Method 1.4 How does Science and Technolog Technology y Affect our Lives? 1.5 Safety Practices Practices during Scientific Scientific Investigations

Method 1.3 The HowScientific is Scientific Knowledge Derived? — The Scientific Method  At the end end of this section, you you should should be able to to answer  answer  the following questions: What are the inquiry skills we need to carry out the scientific method? How has Science been a human endeavour?

1.3 How is Scientific Knowledge Derived? — The Scientific Method • The scientific method is a systematic way of finding answers based on observing the things around us. • The scientific method requires us to use scientific inquiry skills when we explore the world.

1.3 How is Scientific Knowledge Derived? — The Scientific Method Here are some inquiry skills that we need in the scientific method. 1. Engaging

with an event • We obtain information as we interact with the world around us. When we encounter a puzzling situation that catches our attention, we pose questions to obtain more information and generate ideas. • We also propose a hypothesis to form a possible explanation for the observation. This hypothesis needs to be further tested.

1.3 How is Scientific Knowledge Derived? — The Scientific Method 2. Collecting and presenting evidence • Decide on what kind of evidence to collect. We make use of our five senses — sight, smell, hearing, taste and touch — to make observations as we collect evidence. • We also use instruments to extend our range of senses and gather  more accurate information. • The evidence collected may be descriptive information (qualitative) or measurable information (quantitative).

1.3 How is Scientific Knowledge Derived? — The Scientific Method 3. Making meaning of information and evidence • We analyse the results of our  experiment to identify trends. This involves comparing or classifying the data obtained. • We derive conclusion(s) based on the trends identified. We also evaluate the accuracy of the results of  the experiment. If our results are inconsistent with our hypothesis, we refine our hypothesis and test it again. Go to Practical Book Link (Page 9)

Click here for an interactive laboratory that teaches you what the scientific method is. How did you apply the scientific method to solve the mystery?

1.3 How is Scientific Knowledge Derived? — The Scientific Method Science — The human endeavour •  A scientific breakthroug breakthrough h is not usually usually achieved achieved by one scientist alone. • It takes the combined efforts of many scientists over many years to build the scientific knowledge we have today. • Scientific knowledge is thus subject to changes as new observations are made and new evidence is found. Thousands of years ago, it  was not well-known that the  earth revolves around the sun, nor that other planets existed.

1.3 How is Scientific Knowledge Derived? — The Scientific Method Aristotle •  A famous scientist scientist from ancient Greece. Greece. • He believed that the sun revolved around the earth.

Ptolemy •  An astronomer astronomer from ancient ancient Egypt. • He believed that the earth was the centre of the universe. For many years, people shared the beliefs of  Ptolemy and Aristotle.

Go to Science Bites (Page 10)

1.3 How is Scientific Knowledge Derived? — The Scientific Method Nicolaus Copernicus •  A European who who studied studied astronomy as a hobby. • He believed that the sun was at the centre of the universe. • He decided that the earth revolved around the sun, based on his observations. • However, his ideas remained unpopular during his time as he could not prove his idea. idea.

 About 65 years after  Copernicus’ time, the invention of the telescope led to more breakthrough in astronomy.

1.3 How is Scientific Knowledge Derived? — The Scientific Method Galileo • Created a more powerful telescope and was able to observe the moon better than previous astronomers. • His observations supported Copernicus’ idea. • People then were still not ready to accept that the sun did not revolve around the earth.

How did the works of Aristotle, Ptolemy, Ptolemy, Copernicus and  Galileo contribute to our  knowledge of astronomy  today? 

1.3 How is Scientific Knowledge Derived? — The Scientific Method • The scientific method helps to ensure that astronomy is based on accurate ideas. • Today, oday, using a record recor d of past observations observ ations and new discoveries, astronomers and scientists are able to predict accurately when an eclipse will occur. When scientists build on  one another’ s ideas and  expertise, this may lead to  even greater scientific  discoveries.

Go to Workbook Link and Key Ideas (Page 13)

Chapter 1 The Scientific Endeavour 1.1 What is Science? 1.2 How is Scientific Knowledge Derived? — Attitudes in Science 1.3 How is Scientific Knowledge Derived? — The Scientific Method

1.4 How does Science and Technology Technology Affect our Lives? 1.5 Safety Practices Practices during Scientific Scientific Investigations

1.4 How does Science and Technology Affect our Lives?  At the end end of this section, you you should should be able to answer the following questions:

How is science and technology beneficial or  harmful to our society? Why is there a need to be responsible towards our  environment and society in the use of science and technology? Can science and technology solve all our  problems?

1.4 How does Science and Technology Affect our Lives? Lesson trigger • ‘Supe ‘Superr car carrot rots’ s’ were created by scientists to contain high levels of  calcium. • Scientists first had to understand the Science involved in controlling the characteristics in carrots. • The scientists then applied their  knowledge to increase the calcium levels in carrots.

‘Super carrots’ contain high levels of calcium. Go to and

Think and Explore Link (Page 14)

1.4 How does Science and Technology Affect our Lives? • Technology is the application of scientific knowledge for practical purposes. • For example, studies in Science explain why iron sinks in water. • However, However, through technology, technology, we can build a submarine made of iron that can float as well as sink in water.

Go to Link (Page 14)

1.4 How does Science and Technology Affect our Lives? Advantages and disadvantages of technology •  Advancements  Advancements in technology technology have have improved our lives but it has some disadvantages too. • When abused, technology can cause harm to society and the environment. • Hence, it is important that we apply scientific knowledge responsibly.

Click here to watch a video on advancements in technology. From the video, link how attitudes in Science have led to these discoveries.

Go to Link (Page 15)

1.4 How does Science and Technology Affect our Lives? Medicines

• Advantage: Medicines such as antibiotics help cure diseases. • Disadvantage: May increase the risk of  antibiotic-resistant ‘superbugs’.

1.4 How does Science and Technology Affect our Lives? Pest- and disease-resistant food crops • Advantage: Resistant to attacks by pests and disease-causing organisms. • Disadvantage: Genes may be transferred to other wild plants during breeding. • This may upset the balance in the ecosystem when they compete with other plants for light and space.

1.4 How does Science and Technology Affect our Lives? Automobiles • Advantage: Allows for quicker transport of  people and things. • Disadvantage: Emissions from automobiles cause air pollution.

1.4 How does Science and Technology Affect our Lives? Styrofoam • Advantage: Used to make many useful objects such as cups and food containers due to its light weight and high heat capacity. • Disadvantages: • Contributes to global warming during its manufacture. • Non-biodegradable and pollutes the environment. • Harms and kills animals that accidentally consume it.

1.4 How does Science and Technology Affect our Lives? •

Despite the many benefits of  technology, technology, it cannot solve all our  problems.

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For example, technology cannot prevent natural disasters such as earthquakes and hurricanes.

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However, technology can predict the occurrence of natural disasters, even though such predictions are not always accurate.

Go to Practical Book Link and Key Ideas (Page 16) Click here to watch a video on the role of  technology in society. From the video, state how technology can affect society negatively.

Chapter 1 The Scientific Endeavour 1.1 What is Science? 1.2 How is Scientific Knowledge Derived? — Attitudes in Science 1.3 How is Scientific Knowledge Derived? — The Scientific Method 1.4 How does Science and Technolog Technology y Affect our Lives?

1.5 Safety Practices Practices during during Scientific Investigations Investigations

1.5 Safety Practices during Scientific Investigations  At the end of this section, you should be able to answer  the following questions:

What safety procedures should we exercise when carrying out experiments?

What types of  apparatus do we use when we carry out experiments?

1.5 Safety Practices during Scientific Investigations Lesson trigger

How could this  accident have been  prevented? 

Go to Think and Explore (Page 17)

1.5 Safety Practices during Scientific Investigations • Choosing a site (e.g. laboratory) for  investigation depends on factors such as the nature of the investigation, as well as the materials involved. • You need to be familiar with different scientific apparatus so that you can use the right apparatus safely. Go to Science Bites (Page 17)

1.5 Safety Practices during Scientific Investigations Laboratory rules Throughout the lesson  • Be serious at all times in the Science laboratory. Do not play or  tamper with the equipment. • Keep your desk clean and tidy.

Before you begin the experiment  • Prepare all apparatus and arrange them such that you will not knock them over while doing the experiment.

1.5 Safety Practices during Scientific Investigations During the experiment  • Never smell or taste chemicals unless your  teacher grants permission. • Wear goggles when heating or mixing reactive chemicals. • Never handle broken glass apparatus with your bare hands. Inform your teacher and use a broom and dustpan to remove the t he broken glass.

1.5 Safety Practices during Scientific Investigations After the experiment  • Dispose of waste materials in proper waste bins. • Never throw solids or corrosive liquids in the sink. • Wash your hands thoroughly when the experiment is completed.

1.5 Safety Practices during Scientific Investigations What should you do if a chemical spillage occurs?

If any chemical accidentally gets in your mouth, spit it out into a basin immediately. Rinse your  mouth with plenty of water and report it to your teacher. If any chemicals spilled onto other parts of your body or  clothing, wash it with plenty of  water. Report the spill to your teacher.

Report all accidents, breakage and spillage to your teacher  immediately.

Hazard symbols Hazard symbols are used to label harmful chemicals. Here are some common hazard symbols to look out for:

Explosive Substance will react violently when heated or struck. E.g. flash powder  Corrosive Substance will eat away other substances. E.g. sulfuric acid, potassium hydroxide, calcium oxide

1.5 Safety Practices during Scientific Investigations Radioactive Substance emits radiation. E.g. radioactive carbon, uranium

Flammable Substance catches fire easily. E.g. petrol, kerosene, alcohol, hydrogen

Biohazardous Poisonous substance of a biological nature. E.g. medical waste such as blood and urine samples, micro-organism, virus or toxin

1.5 Safety Practices during Scientific Investigations Irritant Substance produces vapours or fumes which irritate the eyes, nose and throat. E.g. phenol, chloroform

Toxic Substance is harmful in small doses. E.g. methanol, cyanide, mercury, mercury, carbon monoxide, chlorine Click here to try a quiz on laboratory safety practices.

Go to Key Ideas (Page 19) Go to Practical Book and Workbook Link (Page 19)

Map It  Advantages to society

provides

has

Technology is applied for practical purposes in

 Abused by people

may be

Science

involves

Limitations and Disadvantages Carrying out investigations

is the

Scientific Method

which can be carried out using the

includes skills such as

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Study of the natural and physical world involves attitudes such as

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requires knowledge of 

• Laboratory rules • Hazard symbols •  Apparatus and equipment

Map It includes skills sets such as Engaging with an event through posing questions, formulating hypothesis, defining the problem, generating ideas and predicting Collecting and presenting evidence Making meaning of  information and evidence Communication

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involves attitudes such as Curiosity Open-mindedness Objectivity Creativity Responsibility Perseverance Integrity

Chapter 1 The Scientific Endeavour Go to Get it Right (Page 21) Go to Let s Review (Page 21) Go to Science Today (Page 23) Click here for a mini quiz on the scientific method

Find Out More! • Science is constantly evolving and scientific theories are often debunked when new research proves them to be wrong. • They are replaced by new theories that are more complete and reliable. • Take, for example, the cold fusion theory which postulates that a nuclear reaction can occur at room temperature instead of extremely high temperatures.

Find Out More! • It was hoped that cold fusion can provide energy that will be cheap, clean and abundant, without any of the dangerous radioactive wastes from nuclear power  plants. • However, repeated experiments by scientists never really did yield positive results that could have supported the cold fusion theory. • Today, scientists are still trying to achieve a so-called ‘table-top nuclear reaction’, with some claiming to have successfully done so.

Click here for more info on cold fusion. What are the controversies regarding cold fusion?