Science Form 1

Chapter 1
INTRODUCTION TO SCIENCE

1. Today we can travel very far within a short time by jet

planes. We can communicate with people overseas through
the telephone and by e-mail. we can cure many diseases and
transplant organs from person to person. This progress has
been made possible by science and scientists.
2. Science is the study of natural phenomena.
Examples
(a) Science studies what happens in our surroundings and
why they happen.
(b) Science studies the growth of a human being from the
time it is formed in the mother's womb until it is an adult.
(c) Science studies why a ball falls to the ground.
3. A scientist uses his knowledge on science to solve
problems, to discover and invent new things help mankind.
4. Science is always expanding because we have and
inquisitive mind which is always askingquestions and trying
to find answers to them.
5. However, science has limits and cannot answer all
questions or solve all problems. For example, scientists
cannot cure all diseases and cannot prevent volcanic
eruptions or earthquakes.

SCIENCE IS PART OF EVERYDAY LIFE

1. Natural phenomena are incidents that take place on their

own in our natural surroundings.

Science has made great contributions towards mankind. As a

result we are able to live more comfortably and longer.

2. Natural phenomena take place all the time involving living

things and non-living things.

1. Science help us to solve problems.

Science has helped us to supply water to our paddy fields by
irrigation. We are able to control plant pests and so produce
more food.

3. Examples of natural phenomena include:

a) earthquakes
b) volcanic eruptions
c) monsoons
d) eclipses of the moon and the sun
e) formation of rainbow
f) formation of seeds and fruits
g) freezing of water and melting of ice
h) germination of seeds
j) birth of babies and their growth
i) turtles returning to the shore a lay eggs.
4. Scientists get a lot of knowledge by studying these natural
phenomena.
5. As a result of their work, we are now able to understand
and control some of these phenomena for our benefit.
6. For example, we are able to invent machines for predicting
earthquakes, we are able to understand and cure many
diseases and we are able to control rivers and use their water
to produce electricity.

2. Science help us to make things quickly.

With the help of machines invented by scientists, we are able
to make things very quickly in large quantities.
3. Science helps us to make our work easier.
Machines make our work easier. A tractor can plough a large
paddy field in a short time. This saves us a lot of time and
work.
4. Science helps us to enjoy our leisure.
The television and the computer games have made our
leisure more enjoyable. The motorcar enables us to take our
family members for joy rides whenever we are free.
5. Science makes communications easy.
Information can now be relayed through telephones,
computers, discs and satellites.
6. Science help us to maintain good health.
With the discovery of more drugs we are now able to live
healthily. Advance in surgery has even made the transfer of
organs from person to person possible. We can expect to live
much longer than our forefathers.

Science involves the study o many things. It can be divided

into many branches so that each branch deals with the study
of particular things an offers different careers.

1. Science is very
important to us. Through science we get to know and
understand the environment and ourselves.
2. Science is a way of thinking that can bring answers to the
problems we face.
3. Science enables us to develop new technologies
4. Technology is the application of science knowledge for our
needs. Technology can helps
us in our daily lives and
improve our standard of living.

YOUR SCIENCE LABORATORY

1. The laboratory is a place equipped with apparatus for

conducting experiments, investigations and tests.
2. Accidents can occur any time in a laboratory and students
must follow laboratory safety rules.
3. Here are some laboratory safety rules that students must
follow while working in a laboratory.

1. There are many hazardous substances in the science

laboratory.
2. Below are some common hazard warning symbols that
warn of dangerous in the laboratory

Hazard warning symbols on chemical substances in the

laboratory.

1. Laboratory apparatus is used when doing scientific

investigation.
2. Here are some common apparatus used in the laboratory.

. Other common apparatus that can be found in the

laboratory are shown below

1. A Bunsen is used to heat things in a laboratory.

2. The air-hole allows the intake of air when burning.
3. The collar is used to open or close the air-hole.
4. When the air-hole is closed, the flame is yellow in colour
and is called a luminous
flame.
5. When the air-hole is open, the flame is blue in colour and is
called a non-luminous flame.
6. The comparison between a luminous flame and nonluminous flame is shown below.

1. Temperature is the degree of hotness or coldness.

2. The temperature of an object tells us how hot or cold an
object is.
3. A hot object has a high temperature while a cold object
has a low temperature.
4. Temperature is measured in units of degree Celsius ( oC).
5. Temperature is measured with a thermometer.

1. The laboratory thermometer consists of a long glass tube

with a bulb at one end as shown
in the diagram below.

The laboratory thermometer

2. The bulb contains mercury, a silvery liquid metal.
3. The glass tube is marked in degree Celsius from -10 to
110.
4. When the thermometer is put into a hot liquid, the mercury
expands and rises up the tube to show an increase in
temperature.
5. When the thermometer is put on ice, the mercury
contracts and falls to show a drop in temperature.

STEP IN A SCIENTIFIC INVESTIGATION

The desire to understand arises from what happens in our

surroundings. Questions like the following may be asked.
a) Why do frogs live in water and on land?
b) Why do coconut trees grow in sandy areas?

1. A hypothesis is a proposal of thought (idea or prediction).

Hypotheses are possible explanations for the phenomena
that we observe.
2. A hypothesis that is accepted after going through
experiments can become a theory and if the hypothesis is
rejected a new hypothesis has to be formed.
Example:
- A problem is:
Why do iron nails left out in the open rust quickly?
-Hypothesis formed:
Water is necessary for iron to rust.
3. Observe whether a hypothesis can be tested. If it cannot
be tested then it cannot be formed as a hypothesis.

1. An investigation is planned after a hypothesis has been

formed. While planning an experiment, it is necessary for you
to follow some guidelines.
2. At the beginning, you need to list the material and
apparatus required to carry out the experiment and the way
the material and apparatus are to be set up.
3. Besides this, you need to know the way to collect, analyse
and interpret data. Determine if a table or a graph is
required.

1. Variables are situations or factors that can change in an

investigation. Examples of variables are time, mass,
temperature and the amount of substances used.
2. In a scientific investigation one variable is manipulated to
study its relationship with a
responding variable (dependent variable). At the same
time, other variables are kept
constant.
3. Three types of variables are shown below.
a) A variable that is kept constant
This variable is kept constant or fixed in a scientific
investigation.
b) A variable that is manipulated
This variable is used to test a hypothesis.

c) A variable that responds

A change in this variable is determined by the variable
that is manipulated. This variable is
the result of data
collected from the investigation carried out when testing a
hypothesis.
Example
Hypothesis: Water is necessary for the rusting of iron nails.

nail, size of the test tube and the surrounding temperature.

b) the variable that is manipulated is the presence of water.
c) the variable that responds is the rusting of the iron nail.
The experiment is carried out to test the hypothesis by
changing the variable that is manipulated. The results of the
experiment showed that the iron nail rusted in th presence of
water. Therefore, the hypothesis can be accepted.

When you are carrying out the investigation, the following

steps have to be followed.
Collecting data
a) When you are collecting data all the observations or
measurements have to be recorded honestly and accurately.
Experiment to determine whether water is necessary for the
rusting of iron nails

b) Data that are collected can include the quantity of

chemicals, length of an object, time taken, etc.

An experiment is carried out as shown in figure above. The

apparatus was left for three days. The results obtained are
shown in the table below:

Analysing and interpreting (evaluating) data

a) Data collected from and experiment are changed to
figures that can be entered into a table or chart in graphic
from for analysing data.
b) Data can be interpreted in the form of a table or graph .
This step is substantied with a statement to show what took
place during the investigation and then finding a meaning for
what has been observed.
Making conclusions

In the above experiment,

a) the variable that are kept constant are the type of iron

1. An accurate statement describing the problem identified is

made.
2. The acceptance or then rejection of the hypothesis.

A report is made after carrying out a scientific investigation

based on a certain format. An example of the format is
shown below.

The following are examples of simple methods of scientific

investigations.
Example 1:

Experiment 1
The experiment below is carried to study the relationship
between the length of the pendulum and the time taken for
the simple pendulum to swing.

Physical Quantity And Their Units.

1. Measurement is important and is often used in science.

2. In science we need to measure length, mass, time,
temperature and electric current. These quantities are known
as physical quantities.
3. Table below shows physical quantities and the
International System of Units (S.I). The S.I. unit a system is
used by all scientists in the world.

Physical quantities and the S.I. unit for each

measurement.

3. Values in science are usually written in standard form, i.e.,

using a number to the power of
10. The aim of writing a
value in standard form is to make it easier to record the
readings
that are very big or very small.

4. The physical quantities that are used in specification and

labels of goods have certain values and units.

Example:

1. Prefixes used in measurements include mega, koli, centi,

milli and micro.
2. Symbols for prefixes are signs that state or identify each
prefix.

4. The value of a physical quantity can be written using the

standard form with a prefix.
Example 1.

Change the value of physical quantities below to the

standard form, and to prefix form.

3. Different tools are used to measure different types of

lengths.

Using a ruler
1. The length of a straight line or of a straight object be
measured with a metre ruler.
2. The eye must be vertically above the mark that is to be
read. At this position a more accurate reading can be
obtained.
3. A number af readings should be taken to get an average
value that is more accurate.
Example:
First reading for length = 4.5 cm
Second reading for length = 4.4 cm
Third reading for length = 4.6 cm
Total length 13.5 cm

Use Of Measuring Tools

1. Length is the distance between two points.

2. Length is usually measured in units of kolimetres (km),
metres (m), centimetres (cm) and
millimetres (mm).

Using a measuring tape

1. A measuring tape is used for masuring lengths of several
metres.

2. When using a measuring tape ensure that it is stretched

between two points.
3. The length is read directly from the scale of the measuring
tape.

Example:
First reading for length = 5.5 cm
Second reading for length = 5.4 cm
Third reading for length = 5.6 cm.
Total length = 16.5 cm

Using an opisometer (map measurer)

An opisometer can be used to measure the length of a
curved line.

Using thread and a ruler

1. A length of thread and a ruler are used to measure the
lengthof a curved line.
2. Tie a small knot or make with a pen near the end of a
piece of cotton thread.
3. Lay the thread along the curved line a tittle at a time.
4. Then, measure the length of the curved line with a ruler.

Example:

1. The internal diameter of a container like a beaker or

boiling tube can be measured using a pair of internal calipers
and a ruler.
2. The distance between the two arms of the calipers marks
the inside diameter of the container.
Example:

1. The diameter of a spherical object can be measured with:

a) two wooden blocks and a ruler.
b) two set squares and a ruler.
2. Measure the diameter at least three times, turning the
spherical object each time and using a different part of the
ruler.
3. Find the average of three measurements.

1. The external diameter of a container can be measured

using a pair of external calipers and a ruler.
2. Measure the distance between the two points of the
calipers with a ruler.

Example:

measure the external diameter of a cantainer.

3. This instrument gives readings with an accuaracy of up to
0.01 cm (2 decimal places).
4. The vernier calipers has two scales. The main scale is
graduated in centimetre units. The vernier scale, a scale of 9
mm, has to 10 divisions. One division is 0.9 mm.

Example: To measure the internal diameter of a container.

1. Vernier calipers can be used to measure small distances or

short objects accurately.

2. The internal jaws are used to measure the internal

diameter of a container. The external jaws are used to

5. The vernier calipers can be used to measure short lengths

such as the thickness of an eraser. It can also be used to
measure the internal and external diameters of object such
as a boiling tube, a measuring cylinder, a test tube and the
mouth of a conical flask.

1. Area is the total surface or space occupied by an object.

2. Area is measured in square metres (m2), square
centimetres (cm2), and square millimetres
(mm2) units.

1. Area of a square.
- The area of a square is measured using the following
formula.

Example:

1. The area of irregular shapes like leaves and petals can be

estimated by using graph paper.
2. Area of a triangle
-The area of a triangle is measured using the following
formula:

2. The outline of an irregular figure (leaf) is traced on graph

paper.
3. Mark
on every square or more than half of the square
covered by the figure.
4. The total number of squares marked
5. The area of the leaf is estimated.

is counted.

Example:

1. A measuring cylinder is used to measure the volume of

liquid in cubic centimetres (cm3).

1. Volume is the total space occupied by an object.

2. A few precautions must be taken when measuring the

volume of a liquid:

2. Volume is measured in litres (l), millilitres (ml), cubic

metres (m3) and cubic centimetres (cm3).

1. A pipette is a measuring instrument of the volume of

liquid. It is more accurate than a measuring cylinder.
2. A pump can be used to suck air out of the pipette until the
liquid rises above the mark on the tube.
3. Pipette in laboratories are usually used to measure
volumes of 5, 15, 20 and 25 ml.
4. The steps for using a pipette to measure the volume of
liquid are shown in diagram below.

3. To obtain an accurate reading of the volume of mercury

the reading has to be taken above the curve of the meniscus.

1. A burette is used to deliver volumes of liquids more

accurately than a measuring cylinder.
2. A burette usually has a capacity of 50 cm3, and is
graduated from the top down in tenths of
a cubic
centimetre.

1. A volumetric flask is used to measure a fixed volume of

liquid.
2. The neck has a mark on it indicating the fixed volume of
liquid it can measure.
3. To obtain the required fixed volume stated on the flask, the
lower level of the meniscus
must reach the mark.

Example:
Initial reading of the burette = 35 cm3 (or ml)
Final reading of the burette = 45 cm3
Volume of water = 45 - 35 = 10cm3
Therefore, the volume of water in the conical flask = 10 cm 3

The volume of regular and irregular shaped solids can be

determined by the water displacement method.

1. Water is poured into a measuring cylinder and its volume

noted.
2. The solid is then slowly put or lowered into the water till it
is completely submerged.
3. The water level rises, and the new reading gives the
volume of the water and the solid.
4. The difference between the volume of the water and the
solid, and the volume of the water
alone, gives the
volume of the solid.
Example:

4. The weight of an object is measured by using a spring

balance or a compression balance.

1. The volume of solids can be determined using an eureka

can and a measuring cylinder.

2. The solid is gently lowered into the water. Water will flow
out of the can into the cylinder.
3. The volume of water that has been displaced is equal to
the volume of the solid.
Volume of solid = volume of water in the measuring
cylinder.
Concept of Mass

1. The weight of an object is the force of the gravitational pull

that acts on the object.
2. The weight of an object can change. It depends on the
gravitational force that acts on the
object at a given
place. Because of this, the weight of an object differs from
place to place.
3. The S.I unit for weight is Newton (N).

1. The mass of an object is the quantity of matter that is

present in the object.
2. The mass of an object is fixed although it may be moved to
different places.

3. Mass is different from weight. The mass of an object is not

influenced by the force of
gravitational pull.
4. The S.I. unit for mass is kilogram (kg). Other units for mass
is gram (g) and milligram (mg).

Importance Of Standard Units In Everyday Life

1. Table below shows various units of measurement in use

around the world today.

2. Units of length, mass, volume and area of the British

Imperial System of measurements are given below.

3. Table below the change of factor of units in the standard

unit system

Situations in the absence of standard units are shown in the

chart below