Introduction to Physical Science

1.1 Introduction to Matter and Energy

• Physical Science

• An area of science that deals with non living materials and how they work

• Astronomy

• Physics

• Chemistry

• Earth sciences

• Deals primarily with matter and energy

1.1 Introduction to Matter and Energy

• Matter

• Described as the substance of the physical world

• Can be tasted, touched, or smelled

• Examples of things that are non-matter

• Time, sound, light, gravity, thoughts, reflections, energy…

• Inertia

• Property of matter that makes it resist changes in motion

• “a body on motion will stay in motion, a body at rest will stay at rest”

• The more matter that forms an object, the greater its inertia

1.1 Introduction to Matter and Energy

• Energy

• The ability to do work

• Forms of energy

• Light energy

• Thermal energy

• Chemical energy

• Mechanical energy

• Electrical energy

• All energy causes changes in matter

1.1 Introduction to Matter and Energy

• Physical properties of matter

• Can be observed without changing the composition of matter

• Is used to describe matter

• Appearance, texture, color, odor, melting point, boiling point, density…

• Mass

• The amount of matter in an object

• The amount of inertial an object has

• It constant unless the object itself loses or gains matter

• Weight

• Amount of gravitational pull on an object

• Varies from place to place

1.1 Introduction to Matter and Energy

• Volume

• Amount of space matter takes up

• Density

• The mass in a certain volume

• Indicates how tightly packed the matter is

1.1 Introduction to Matter and Energy

• States of Matter

• Solid

• Has a definite shape

• Liquid

• Has constant volume

• Gas

• Has no fixed shape or fixed volume

• Plasma

• Special type of gas that exists at high temperature

1.1 Introduction to Matter and Energy

• Chemical properties

• The properties of a substance describing how it changes when reacting with other substances

• Chemical change changes the type and identity of matter

• After a chemical change a new substance will have its own physical and chemical properties different from the original substance

• Examples

• Toxicity

• Flammability

• Stability…

1.1 Introduction to Matter and Energy

• Branches of Physical Science (studied this year)

• Physics

• Study of interactions between matter and energy

• Mechanics

• Thermodynamics

• Acoustics

• Optics…

• Chemistry

• Study of the composition and interaction of matter

• Organic

• Inorganic

• Physical

• Biochemistry

• Analytical

1.2 The Scientific Method

• Observe

• Research

• Hypothesis

• Plan/Design Experiment*

• Perform Experiment

• Collect/Analyze Data

• Conclusion

• Publish Research*

1.2 The Scientific Method

• Hypothesis

• An educated guess

• Theory

• An hypothesis that passes the test of many experiments with the support of other scientists

• Scientific law

• A theory that is verified by enough observations and experiments and stands the test of time

1.2 The Scientific Method

• Hypothesis

• Predictions

• Testability

• Repeatability

• Principle of Causality

• Law of cause and effect

• Events observed in the universe have rational causes