1 Science is knowledge.

It is the study of natural

phenomena.
2 Science helps us to understand the natural phenomena
that take place around us.
3 For example:
(a) How does a baby grow into an adult?
(b) Why do objects always fall to the ground?
4 Through the study of science, we get the answers.
5 Discovering the answers leads us to new scientific
knowledge.
6 The application of scientific knowledge is called
technology.
7 We use technology in most aspects of life.
(a) Transport
Modern transport is faster, more comfortable
and safer.
Cars, motorcycles, buses, lorries, aeroplanes
and LRT enable us to travel to another places
faster.
(b) Communication
Nowadays, we can communicate easily with
one another through the telephone, mobile
phone, facsimile and the Internet.
(c) Construction
Buildings and structures can now be made
stronger using strong materials such as
concrete, steel and reinforced glass.
The use of modern machines makes the
building process faster and easier.
(d) Agriculture
The use of fertilisers, pesticides and modern
agricultural technology has increased crop
production and yield.
(e) Medicine
Medical instruments such as X-ray
machines, electrocardiogram and dialysis
machines have helped to save the lives of
many patients.
8 The study of science is divided into various fields.
9 Listed below are several fields of science and the area
of study.
(a) Biology the study of living things
(b) Chemistry the study of substances
(c) Physics the study of forces and energy
(d) Astronomy the study of planets and stars
(e) Zoology the study of animals
(f) Geology the study of rocks and minerals
(g) Meteorology the study of weather and climate
(h) Physiology the study of the process and
functions of systems in life
(i) Agriculture the study of farming
(j) Biochemistry the study of biochemical
processes in living bodies
10 Science offers us a wide choice of careers.
11 Careers in science include the following:
(a) Doctor
(b) Nurse
(c) Pharmacist
(d) Veterinarian
(e) Engineer
(f) Chemist
(g) Astronomer
(h) Computer programmer
1 Scientists can work anywhere.
2 However, most scientists conduct their experiments
in a laboratory.
3 In a science laboratory, there are various apparatus
and chemicals.
4 Some of these chemicals are dangerous.
5 Therefore, when working in the laboratory, we must
follow the rules and safety precautions to avoid
accidents.
6 Some substances in the laboratory are hazardous.
1 Chapter 1
1.1 What is Science?
1.2 A Science Laboratory
1
INTRODUCTION
TO SCIENCE
8 We use apparatus to do experiment in the laboratory.
9 Below are some common laboratory apparatus and their uses.
2 Chapter 1
7 You will know the nature of the substance by looking at the symbol displayed on the label.
Corrosive Examples
Concentrated acids and
alkalis, bromine,
hydrogen peroxide
Explosive Examples
Hydrogen and air
mixture, nitrates,
sodium, potassium
Flammable or
Inflammable
Examples
Petrol, kerosene,
ethanol, white
phosphorus, yellow
phosphorus
Toxic or
Poisonous
Examples
Mercury, lead,
benzene, sodium
cyanide, hydrogen
sulphide
Harmful or
Irritating
Examples
Ammonia, dilute
acids, chloroform,
chlorine
For containing small
amounts of liquids or
chemicals
Test tube For containing small
amounts of liquids or
chemicals
Boiling tube
For containing liquids
and chemicals
Beaker For containing liquids
and chemicals
Conical flask
For containing chemicals
used in preparing gases
when no heating is
required
Flat-bottomed flask For heating gases Round-bottomed flask
Radioactive Examples
Uranium, plutonium,
radium
1 Scientific knowledge can be acquired through a
series of steps called scientific investigation.
2 Scientific investigation is a systematic method of
studying problems.
3 The scientific investigation involves the following steps.
(a) Identifying the problem
(b) Making a smart guess (making a hypothesis)
(c) Planning the experiment
(d) Controlling variables
(e) Conducting the experiment
(f) Collecting data
(g) Analysing data
(h) Interpreting data
(i) Making a conclusion
(j) Writing a report
1 A physical quantity is a quantity that can be
measured.
2 The physical quantities that we can measure are
length, mass, time, temperature and electric current.
3 The physical quantities are measured in SI units.
4 The table below shows the physical quantities, the SI
units and their respective symbols.
3 Chapter 1
For collecting gas Gas jar For measuring different
volumes of liquids
accurately
Measuring cylinder
1000
900
800
700
600
500
400
300
200
100
For measuring small
volumes of liquids
accurately
Burette For measuring a fixed
volume of liquid
Pipette
For separating insoluble
solids from liquids
Filter funnel To evaporate a liquid
from a solution
Evaporating dish
For supporting
apparatus during
heating
Tripod stand For clamping or
holding apparatus
Retort stand
For providing a
flame to heat
substances
Bunsen burner For heating solids Crucible
1.3 The Steps in a Scientific Investigation 1.4 Physical Quantities and their Units
Physical quantity SI unit Symbol
Length
Mass
Time
Temperature
Electric current
metre
kilogram
second
kelvin
ampere
m
kg
s
K
A
5 These five physical quantities are called basic
quantities.
6 These quantities can be used to calculate other
quantities such as area, volume, density, speed,
power and energy.
7 While making measurements, we may get values
which are too large or too small.
8 These values can be expressed by using prefixes.
9 The table below shows different prefixes, their
symbols and their respective values.
10 You may use the standard form to avoid writing
many zeroes.
11 For examples:
(a) Four kilometers can be written as 4 10
3
m
(b) One milliampere can be written as 1 10
3
A
1 The weight of an object is the force of gravity on the
object.
2 The weight of an object changes from one place to
another depending on the force of gravity acting on
the object.
3 As an example, the weight of an object is greater at
the poles than at the equator.
4 The SI unit for weight is newton (N).
5 Weight can be measured using a spring balance or a
compression balance.
6 The mass of an object is the quantity of matter in it.
7 The mass of an object does not change because the
quantity of matter in it is the same wherever the
object is.
8 The SI unit for mass is kilogram (kg).
9 Mass is measured by using a lever balance, a beam
balance or an electronic balance.
Measuring Length
1 Length is the distance between two points.
2 The length of a straight line can be measured using a
metre rule.
3 The scale on the metre rule is in centimetres (cm)
and millimetres (mm).
4 When using a metre rule to measure the length of an
object accurately, the eye must be positioned
vertically above the mark being read.
5 Otherwise the reading is not accurate. This error is
known as parallax error.
6 The length of a curved line can be measured using a
thread and a metre rule as shown below.
7 The diameter of an object can be measured using
callipers and a metre rule.
4 Chapter 1
Prefix Symbol Value
giga
mega
kilo
deci
centi
milli
micro
nano
pico
G
M
k
d
c
m

n
p
1 000 000 000
1 000 000
1 000
0.1
0.01
0.001
0.000 001
0.000 000 001
0.000 000 000 001
1.5 Weight and Mass
0 0
100
200
300
400
500
600
700
800
900
1000
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
0
kg
9
8
7
6 4
5
3
2
1
Spring balance Compression balance
The correct eye position when taking a reading
0.00 g
Beam balance
Electronic balance
Lever balance
1.6 Measuring Tools
10 mm = 1 cm
100 cm = 1 m
8 cm 9 cm
Measuring the length of a curve
0 2 1 4 3 6 5 8 7 10 12 14 9 11 13 Curved line
Thread
8 External callipers are used to measure the external
diameter of an object.
9 Internal callipers are used to measure the internal
diameter of an object.
10 To get an accurate result, the diameter of an object is
measured three times. Then, the average diameter is
determined.
Measuring Area
1 The SI unit for area is square metres (m
2
).
2 Other units for area are square kilometres (km
2
),
square centimetres (cm
2
) and square millimetres (mm
2
).
3 The area of an object can be regular or irregular in
shape.
4 The area of a regular shape can be calculated using a
mathematical formula.
5 The area of an irregular shape can be estimated
using graph paper as shown below.
Measuring Volume
1 The SI unit for volume is cubic metres (m
3
).
2 Other units for volume are cubic centimetres
(cm
3
), cubic millimetres (mm
3
), litre (l) and
millilitre (ml).
3 The volume of liquids is usually measured in litre (l)
and millilitre (ml).
4 The volume of liquids is measured using a measuring
cylinder, a pipette or a burette.
5 When taking the volume of a liquid, your eye must
be at the same level as the bottom of the meniscus
(the curved surface of the liquid).
The correct eye position when taking the reading
6 A pipette measures a fixed amount of liquid, usually
25 ml.
7 When using a measuring cylinder, make sure it is
placed on a flat surface.
8 When using a burette, clamp it vertically to a retort
stand.
Measuring the volume of a liquid with a burette
5 Chapter 1
0 1 2 3 4 5 6
cm
External
callipers
Measuring the external diameter of a beaker
0 1 2 3 4 5 6
cm
Internal
callipers
Measuring the internal diameter of a beaker
1 m
2
= 10 000 cm
2
1 cm
2
= 100 mm
2
1 cm
3
= 1 ml
1 l = 1 000 ml (cm
3
)
1 m
3
= 1 000 000 (ml) cm
3
1 cm
1 cm
Area = 64 cm
2
Burette
25.0 ml
(initial reading)
46.5 ml
(final reading)
Volume of liquid in conical flask
= 46.5 ml 25.0 ml
= 21.5 ml
9 The volume of regular solids and irregular solids
can be measured using the water displacement
method as shown below.
Measuring the volume of a solid
10 The water displacement method can also be done
using a Eureka can.
11 The volume of water displaced gives you the volume
of the solid.
Measuring the volume of a solid with a Eureka can
1 We take a lot of measurements every day.
2 Thus, measurements play an important role in our
daily lives.
3 For example:
(a) When we buy fish, fruits or vegetables, we need
to know how much we should pay for the
amount we have bought.
(b) When we bake a cake, we need to know exactly
how much flour, butter and sugar to use.
(c) When we carry out an experiment, we need to
do measurements accurately to get an accurate
result.
4 If there are no proper tools or units used, the
measurements we get can be inaccurate.
5 Apart from this, our communication regarding
measurements with other people may create a
problem.
6 By using standard units, we can do measurements
easily and accurately.
7 The standard units are used all over the world.
8 This makes our communication regarding
measurements easily understood everywhere.
6 Chapter 1
50 cm
Water
Stone
58 cm
Volume of stone
Volume of stone
= 58 cm 50 cm
= 8 cm (ml
3
)
3
3
3
3
Stone
Eureka can
Water
Volume of
stone
1.7 The Importance of Standard Units
Abbreviation singkatan
Apparatus radas
Callipers angkup
Career karier
Curve garis lengkung
Displacement sesaran
Electric current arus elektrik
Estimate menganggarkan
Field bidang
Force of gravity daya graviti
Irregular tidak sekata
Laboratory makmal
Length panjang
Mass jisim
Natural phenomena fenomena
alam
Parallax error ralat paralaks
Physical quantity kuantiti fizikal
Prefix imbuhan
Scientific knowledge pengetahuan
saintifik
Regular sekata
Volume isi padu