Name____________________________ Period_____ Date__________

Chapter 1: The World of Physical Science

Section 1: Exploring Physical Science – All answers must be in complete sentences

1. According to your text, what is science?

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_______________________________________________________

2. What is often the first step in gathering knowledge?

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3. List the two activities that are basic to most science.

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4. ______________ _____________ is the study of matter and energy.

5. Explain what matter is, according to your text.

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6. Define energy. Give two examples of things that have energy according to
the text.
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7. Physical science is usually divided into two categories:

_______________ and ________________.

8. According to your text, what is chemistry?

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9. What are three things that chemistry studies?

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10. What does physics mostly look at?

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11. List the six parts of physics.

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12. Other areas of science related to physical science include

_________________, __________________, and

________________________.
Section 2: Scientific Methods

1. What are scientific methods?

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2. Explain the definition of observation, according to the text.

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3. What is the purpose of asking questions?

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4. A possible explanation or answer to a question is called a

_________________________.

5. Describe what makes a good hypothesis.

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6. Explain how scientists test their hypothesis.

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7. What is data? Why do we organize data into into tables and graphs?
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8. After you collect and record your data, explain what you should do with it
and why.
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9. At the end of an investigation, you must _______________

_______________. Your results may or may not support your
hypothesis.

10. What are some ways that you can communicate the results of your
investigation?
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Section 3: Scientific Models

1. Explain how a model is defined in your text.

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2. Three types of models include _____________,

__________________, and ______________ models.

3. List 3 examples of a physical model.

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4. What is a mathematical model made up of?

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5. Name a possible limitation of a mathematical model.

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6. ___________ ____________might be systems of ideas or may be based

on making comparisons with familiar things to help explain an idea.

7. Explain why we use models to represent things.

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8. Models can be used to help illustrate and explain __________________.

9. Define Scientific Theory.

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10. What two things can a theory explain?

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11. When a model correctly predicts the results of many different

experiments, a ____________ ________________can be constructed.

12. According to your text, in science, what is a law?

_______________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________

REMEMBER

Laws are not theories. Laws tell you only what happens, not why it happens.

For example: the Law of Gravity will tell you that objects will fall, but not
tell you why they fall.
 Chapter 1: The World of Physical Science

Section 1: Exploring Physical Science – All answers must be in complete sentences

13. According to your text, what is science?

The process of gathering knowledge about the natural world.

14. What is often the first step in gathering knowledge?

Asking a question is the first step in the process.

15. List the two activities that are basic to most science.
Making observations & asking questions

16. Physical Science is the study of matter and energy.

17. Explain what matter is, according to your text.

Matter is the stuff that everything is made of. Examples are atoms &
cells.

18. Define energy. Give two examples of things that have energy according
to the text.
Energy is the ability to do work. Some examples of things that have
energy are anything that is moving, like a cheetah, or food.

19. Physical science is usually divided into two categories: chemistry and

physics.

20. According to your text, what is chemistry?

Chemistry is the study of all forms of matter and how matter interacts
with other matter.
21. What are three things that chemistry studies?
Chemistry studies how matter interacts with other matter, what the
structure and properties of matter are, and how substances change.

22. What does physics mostly look at?

Physics looks at mostly energy and the way energy affects matter.

23. List the six parts of physics.

Motion, force, gravity, electricity, light, and heat.

24. Other areas of science related to physical science include Meteorology,

Geology, and Biology.

Section 2: Scientific Methods

11. What are scientific methods?

Scientific Methods are the ways in which scientists answer questions and
solve problems.

12. Explain the definition of observation, according to the text.

An observation is any use of the senses to gather information.

13. What is the purpose of asking questions?

Asking questions helps focus the purpose of the investigation.

14. A possible explanation or answer to a question is called a hypothesis.

15. Describe what makes a good hypothesis.

A good hypothesis is testable, meaning an experiment can be designed to
test it.
16. Explain how scientists test their hypothesis.
One way scientists test a hypothesis is to do a controlled experiment.

17. What is data? Why do we organize data into into tables and graphs?
Data is any piece of information we gather through observations and
experiments. We organize data because it is easier to see and understand
when it is organized into graphs.

18. After you collect and record your data, explain what you should do with
it and why.
After collecting the data, you must analyze the results and find out if the
results of the test support the hypothesis.

19. At the end of an investigation, you must draw a conclusion. Your

results may or may not support your hypothesis.

20. What are some ways that you can communicate the results of your
investigation?
Some ways you can communicate results are by writing a scientific paper,
making a presentation, or creating a website.
Section 3: Scientific Models

13. Explain how a model is defined in your text.

A model is a representation of an object or a system and uses something
familiar to help you understand something that is not familiar.

14. Three types of models include physical, mathematical, and conceptual

models.

15. List 3 examples of a physical model.

Model airplanes, dolls, and drawings.

16. What is a mathematical model made up of?

A mathematical model is made up of mathematical equations and data.

17. Name a possible limitation of a mathematical model.

A possible limitation is some complex model have many variables and a
change in any variable can cause the model to fail.

18. Conceptual Models might be systems of ideas or may be based on making

comparisons with familiar things to help explain an idea.

19. Explain why we use models to represent things.

We use models to help learn about things that are too big or small for us
to see.

20. Models can be used to help illustrate and explain scientific theories.

21. Define Scientific Theory.

A scientific theory is an explanation for many hypothesis and
observations. A theory tries to tell you why something does or why
something will happen.
22. What two things can a theory explain?
A theory can explain a hypothesis or an observation.

23. When a model correctly predicts the results of many different

experiments, a scientific law can be constructed.

24. According to your text, in science, what is a law?

A law is a summary of many observations and experimental results. It
tells us how, not why, things work.

REMEMBER

Laws are not theories. Laws tell you only what happens, not why it happens.

For example: the Law of Gravity will tell you that objects will fall, but not
tell you why they fall.