What is Science? t is amazing to think of the facilities available today when compared to primitive era. Computers, mobile phones, internet, space shuttles, robotics, hybrid food grains, medicines, ete are all the result of ideas which originated in some human brains. They are the people who think differently to observe an understand the nature in a specific wayglet us understand how they think and w1 = A Whatis science? Science is the cor red an effort to understand or t and better, the history of the pétural§yorld and how the natural wo rks, With observable physicaevidentegfss the basis of that understanding. is done through obSrvatioW@f natural phenomena, and/or thr8tighJéxperimentation that tries to simufate natural processes under controlled conditions, Science is a process of thinking Science is an organized study of knowledge which is based on experimentation. Science is a tool for searching truths of nature. Science is the ere way of exploring the Questioniffg © primary or ep infScientific thinking. jenomenon in nature sprout up doubt in our uurse they may be problems. “observe the following experiences, 0 can add your observations to enrich 1 . Why do leaves fall down from the tree after turning yellow? . How do ants identify sweets kept in a tin? Why can't we see stars during day time? Pickles do not spoil, but sambar gets spoiled soon. Why? Farmers are afraid of unseasonal rains and uncontrolled pests. How to solve these problems? How are diseases caused and how to prevent and cure them? Consider some examples. An ecologist observes the behaviour of different organisms living in different habitats like crows on trees, tigers in forests, fish in water and earthworms in the soil and a v = v -geologist studies the distribution of fossils and minerals in the Earth's crust. Both the scientists are making observations in order to find out patterns in natural phenomena. Observations and research done by these people enlighten the general public. An Astrophysicist photographs stars, planets and distant galaxies and a climatologist draws data from weather balloons. Similarly there are other scientists making observations. The examples above are of observational science. There is also experimental science. A chemist observes the rate of one chemical reaction at different temperatures and a nuclear physicist records the results of angular momentum of a particular particle in the circular path, Both the scientists are performing experiments to discover consistent patterns. A biologis observing the reaction of a particular tis to various stimulants is Ii experimenting to find patterns o} others may f it. So the used’as a base se scientists labs and wear ats. investigate on the pre findings of a scie for the other sgj usually do impressi The €riticalycOmmonality is that all th ‘e making and recording ol ns of nature, or of simulations ofn: in order to learn more about how nature works in the broadest sense. We'll study below that one of their main goals is to show that old ideas (the ideas of scientists a century ago or perhaps just a year ago) are wrong and replace them with new ideas instead to explain about nature ina better way. The word science comes from the Latin word “scientia”, means knowledge. What does that really mean? Science refers to a system of acquiring knowledge. This method uses observation and experimentation to describe and explain natural phenomena. The term science also refers to the organized body of k ige people have gained using thatane formally, the word sciengg oftcRdeeribes any systematic field ofgtudy’or the knowledge gained fr Why scieng€? The ind! spective le conduct experiments? whtatare they doing?) In most of the above cas “re collecting information to test Rew ideas or to disprove old ones. =ntists become famous for discovering few things that change how we think about nature, whether the discovery is a new species of dinosaur ora new way in which atoms bond.) Many scientists find their greatest joy in a previously unknown fact (a discovery) that explains some problem previously not explained, or that overturns some previously accepted idea. The Societal Perspective If the above said ideas, explain individuals perspective of science and its relation to the society, one might wonder why societies and nations pay those individuals to experiment in science. Why does a society devote some ofits resources to this aspect of developingnew knowledge about the natural world, or what has motivated these scientists to devote their lives to develop new knowledge? SaOne realm of answers lies in the desire to improve the life of people, Geneticists trying to understand how certain characters are passed from generation to generation and biologists tracing the pathways by which diseases are transmitted are clearly secking information to improve the lives of ordinary people. Earth scientists developing better models for the prediction of weather or for the prediction of earthquakes, landslides, and volcanic eruptions ete are likewise seeking knowledge that can help people to avoid the hardships that have plagued humanity for centuries. (Any society concerned about the welfare of its people, will support efforts like these for betterment of their lives.) Another realm of answers lies in a society’s desires for econo: development. Many earth scientists rt their work in finding more effigfent more effective ways to discover orretayer natural resources like petrgf€um and ores. Plant scientists seeking $traigs or species of high yielding fryj@plants an@crops are ultimately wogkitgMto"Micrease the agricultural uutritionally and economi nations, Chemists developing nev§ chemical substances with popefitia (ological applications and physiéfsi§cleveloping new phenomena like supefeofiductivity are likewise developing knowledge that may spur economic development. In a world where nations increasingly view themselves as caught up in economic competition, can take support of such science as an investment to their economic future. Science and Change If scientists are constantly trying to make new discoveries (or) trying to develop new concepts and theories, then the body of knowledge produced by science should undergo constant change. Such change progress towards understanding of nature. It is ed by constantly questioning w1 current ideas are correct or The result jgthat ‘ies come and go, or atleast fied with time, as old ideas are q and new evidence is digegverk In the words of Karl Popper, “er a history of corrected stakes”, and even Albert Einstein arked of himself “That fellow Einstein . every year retracts what he wrote the year before”. Many scientists have remarked that they would like to return to life in a few centuries to see what new knowledge and new ideas have been developed by then - and to see which of their own century’s ideas have been discarded. Scientists observe the nature and its laws. They discover the secrets of nature. Based on these discoveries and inventions different innovations take place. Scientists follow a specific way for their innovations. The way that they follow is called ‘scientific method’. Let us find out how they followHow scientists work - Scientific Method Planning an investigation How do scientists answer a question or solve a problem they have identified. They use organized ways called seientifie methods which help them plan and conduct a study. They use scientific process skills. Which help them to gather, organize, analyze and present their information. Scientific method follows these steps. 1) Observe and ask questions 2) Forma hypothesis 3) Plan and experiment 4) Conduct the experiment 5) Draw conclusions and communicate the results Aravind is using this scientific method for experimenting to find out an answer to his question. You can use these steps, too. Step 1 Observe, and ask question Use your senses to make obsery; Record one question that like to answer. Write down what Boas know about the topic gf®yr que&tion. * Decide whab othgf imf8imation you need. © Do reS@irchYtg fd more information abolit your pic. ‘orm a Hypothesis. . a possible answer, or hypothesis, to your question. A hypothesis is a possible answer that can be tested. © Write your hypothesis in a complete sentence.Step 3 Plan an experiment. © Decide how to conduct a fair test of your hypothesis by controlling variables. Variables are factors that can affect the ‘outcome of the investigation. © Water, light are fixed variables. Soil is the changing variable. * Write down the steps you will follow to do your test. © List the equipment you need. © Decide how you will gather an your data Step 4 Conduct the ex ent. ¢ Follow the steps you haveNyritten. © Observe and fully. © Record jing that happens. © On %o that you can study Height of the plant Day! Sandy] Clay | Potting 3 [18cm [isSem_ [18cm 6 | 2cm 17m 2cm 9Step 3 Plan an experiment, ‘© Decide how to conduct a fair test of Tl put identical seeds in three diffe kinds of soil sandy, clay, potting soils. Each flowerpot will get the same amount of water and IRB. your hypothesis by controlling variables, Variables are factors that cam fet the outcome of the investigation, ° Ww the changing variable, tare fixed variables. Soilis ‘© Write down the steps you will follow todo your test ‘© Listthe equipment you need % = Decide how you wil yourdata results in a table and then Step 4 Conduct the expérimen make a bar graph to show «Follow the step itten the height of each plant 21 + One maa dim ates Upland Os seeds. S) Step S Draw conclusions and AMI ae. @ scert.telangana.gov.inStep 5 Draw conclusions and communicate results. My hypothesis is not correct. The seeds sprouted equally well in potting soil and sandy soil. The: sprouted well in cl Analyze the data you gathered. Make charts, tables, or graphs to show your data. Write a conclusion, Describe the evidence you used to determine whether your test supported your hypothesis. Decide whether your hypothesis is correct or not. If your hypot I'll test this new hypothesis : Bean seeds sprout best in a combination of clay, sandy, and potting soil. I will plan and conduct a test using potting soil, sandy soil, anda combination of clay, sandy, and potting soil. You thay want 6 pose another question pic that you can test. i pothesis is incorrect... You may want to form another hypothesis and do a test of a different variable. Do you think Aravind’s new hypothesis is correct? Plan and conductatestto find iy it! LZ=Z© What is ScienceUsing science process skills When scientists try to find an answer toa question or do an experiment, they use thinking tools called process skills. You use many of the process skills whenever you speak, listen, read, write, or think. Think about how these students use process skills to help them answer questions, do experiments, and investigate about the world around them. What Saketh plans to investigate? Saketh collects seashells on his visit to the beach. He wants to make collection of shells that are alike in some way. He looked for shells of different size and shape. How Saketh uses process skills He observes the shells and compa their size, shape, and colours. He ela the shells first into groups base« thei sizes and then into "A on shape. Process Skills Observe — use the senses to learn about objects and events. Compare — identify characteristics of things or events to find out how they are alike or different. Classify — group or org: jects or events in categories cific characteristics. Y What C (2 to investigate chi terested in learning what mi Size and shape of a rock change. ‘She'pfans an experiment to find out whether sang Yubbing against a rock will cause ieces of the rock to flake off and change the size or shape of the rock.How Charitha uses process skills She collects three rocks, measures their mass, and put the rocks in a jar with sand and water, She shakes the rocks every day for a week. Then she measure and records the mass of the rocks, the sand, and the container. She interprets her data and concludes that rocks are broken down when sand rubs against them. Process Skills Measure — Compare the attributes of an object, such as mass, length, or capacity to a unit of measure, such as gram, centimetre, or litre. Gather, Record, Display, and Interpret the Data, © Gather data by making observati that will be useful for infer predictions. © Record data by writthg down the observations in ty@yorm Bf table or graph ina no} 8 01 * Display or ig tables, charts, © Intefpret daft by drawing conclusions al the data shows. What Aravind plans to investigate Aravind wants to find out how the light switch in his bedroom works. He uses batteries, a flashlight bulb, a bulb holder, thumbtacks, and a paper clip to help him. How Aravin ‘acess skills He decide: del of the switch and the wir ti ‘all. He pkedittthat the bulb , wires, and e to be connected to make the bull “ws infers that moving paper clip interrupts the flow of electricity and turns low. off the light. Aravind’s model verifies his prediction and inference. Process Skills Use a Model : make a model to help you understand an idea, an object, or an. event, such as how something works. Predict : form an idea of an expected outcome, based on observations or experience. Infer : use logical reasoning to explain events and draw conclusions based on observations. What Swetha plans to investigate Swetha wants to know what type of towel absorbs the most water. She plans a test to find out how much water different Sinntypes of towels will absorb. She can then suggest her father which type of towel is the best one to buy. How Swetha uses process skills She chooses three types of towels. She hypothesizes that one type will absorb more water than the others. She plans and conducts an experiment to test her hypothesis, with the following steps: * Pour I litre of water into each of the three beakers. * Soak a towel from all the three brands into three different beakers for 10 seconds. Take the towel out of the water, and let it drain back into the beaker for 5 seconds. Measure the amount of water each beaker. Reading to learn Swetha control variables by ensuring that each beaker contains exactly the same amount of water and by maintaining the time exactly. Process Skills Hypothesize — make a si about an expected outcome. Plan and Conduct eriment — identify and perf necessary to test a hy is, Using appropriate tools, lyzing the data Variables — identify and | factors that affect the outcome ofgih experiment so that only one iable is to be tested in an experiment. Scientists use reading, writing, and numbers in their work. They read to find out everything about a topic they are investigating. So it is important that scientists know the meaning of science vocabulary and that they understand what they read. Use the following strategies to help you become good science readers. Free distribution by T.S. Government Co)Before Reading © Collect relavent information . Flora and Fauna [Name of the species, related to your topic. ee Duidtapticrmaicettd © Think: I nced to find out what ‘medicinal plans, Rawvolia serpentine are the parts of an ecosystem and how they are organized. © Lookatthe Vocabulary words. © Besure that you can pronounce each word. * Look up each word in the Glossary. * Define each word. Use the word ina sentence to show its meaning. ¢ Read the title of the section. © Think: I need to know what an ecosystem is. I need to read to find out what are the parts of an Ecosystem. The heading, Different Ecosystem gives have both living anddfomtiying Let us observe the following table of endangered species ‘Animals out the world. Bu some species aclue that an ecosystegt may | of plifis and animals are found restricted to some areas only. Plants or animal species fund restricted ta paricular aca Leopard, Indian Lion Indian Wol, Red Fox, Red Panda,Tiger, Desert Cat, Hyena ete. Gharial, Tortoise, python, Green sea turtle et. Peacock, Great indian bustrd Pelican, Great Indian homed bill et. Golden monkey, Lion led | Nilgii Langue, Loris ‘© Name an Endemic Species of out State? *# You may notice that kangaroo is endemic to Australia and Kiwi to} New Zealand. Can you tell which} among the above pictures represent an} endemie species of India? are widely distriboted parts. ‘ofa country are called Endemic Species. During readi, Find the migea jp the first paragraph. * Grofip of di iPepm, g things and their make up an ecosystem. tails in the next paragraph that sup 1e main idea. * Some ecosystems have only a few living organisms. Environment that have more space, food, and shelter have many living organisms. schoo! Library or internet, © Plants and animals in an ecosystem can meet all their basic needs in their ‘ecosystem. Check your understanding of what you have read. Answer the question at the end of the section. © If you are not sure of the answers, reread the section and look for the answer to the question.After Reading: Biotic Components Summarize what you have read. Prodicers-magove, piregya euplena, oscil, be green alse, lots ete. * Think about what you have already learned about ecosystems their interaction. ae. © Ask yourself: What kind of system is an ecosystem? What interactions occur in an ecosystem? Study the photographs and illustrations. Cosumers = shrimp, crab, hydra, profoavans muse, snails turtle, daha, brite Word, abe Worm, et. ‘Decomposers-Detrius feeding bacteria, blot components «Salt and fresh water, Ai, sunlight, soil, et. microorganisms you have already seen the pictues of community consists bacteria, angi and smal atopods ead skin cells, water, salts and lof our sweat, air ‘We have studied that A living community cannot live in ‘soaon It ves in an environment which Read the captions and label the parts. e Think: What kind of ecosystem is shown in the photographs? What are the nonliving parts of. the ecosystem? What living parts of the ecosystem are shown? Reading about hel you understand shi jons you have m asgd orhyour investigation. Writig to junicate tinBeabut what you are learning hélp$yow connect the new ideas to what you aif€ady know. Scientists write about what they learn in their research and investigations to help others understand the work they have done. As you work like a scientist, you will use the following methods of writing to describe what you are learning. regarded as ecosystem. An canthusbe defined as finctional untof mature, wher ving orgasms inet among themselves and also with the surrounding physica environment (Brochure of CoP, Biodiversity Conference, Hyderabad -19, Ot, 2012) oexuemes of temperature the secies composition of dest ecoystem, ypc The various components of desert ecosystem. In informative writing: you may * Describe your observations, inferences, and conclusions. Tell how todo an experiment. In narrative writing: you may © Describe something, give examples, or tell a story. In expressive writing: you may * Write letters, poems, or songsIn persuasive writing: you may © Write letters about important issues in science. © Writing about what you have learned in science helps others understand your thinking. Measuring Scientists make accurate measut as they gather data. They us. measuring thermometer, clocks, spring balance, scale, and other contain rent such s, rulers, a se beakers instrument: they’ re liquids, yeay Milk Production Using numbers Scientists use numbers when they collect and display their data. Understanding numbers and using them to show the results of investigations are important skills that a scientist must have. As you work like a scientist; will use numbers in the followinggyay Interpreting Data Scientists collect, Ndisplay, and interpret data ey\dlo investigations. Scientists chogse display data that helps otheButdessfand what they have learnet ro: snd as mM 2 Production vs Countries Tables, charts, and graphs are good tools, to display data so that it can be interpreted by others easily. Using Number Sense Scientists must understand what the numbers they use represent. They compare values compute the numbers shown on graphs and record the measuring scales given on thermometers, measuring cups, beakers, and other tools.Cows © Buffalows BB Goat, Donkey, Camel Good scientists apply their math skills to help them display and interpret the data they collect. In your school laboratary you will have many opportunities to work like a scientist. Anexciting year of discovery lies ahead! Safety in science Doing investigations in science fun, but you need to be sure of dojfig the: safely. Here are some rules to follow: 1. Think ahead : Stu investigation soyOuWpill kn expect. If yon haany questions, ask sure that you d tRegffety symbols that are your te und 2. Beaware : Keep your work area clean. Ifyou have long hair, pull it back so that it doesn’t disturb you. Roll or push up long sleeves to keep them away from your experiment. 3. Oops! : If you want to thro} ak .d by your teacher. ‘otect yourself from shocks : Be careful while using an electrical appliance. Be sure that electric cords are ina safe place where you can’t trip over them, Don’t ever pull a plug out ofan outlet by pulling on the cord. 7. Keep it clean: Always clean up the place after finishing the work. Put everything back in their place and wipe your work area, Wash your hands. The secret of inventions and discoveries only lies in identifying the problem. The earth revolves around the sun even before the discovery of Helio centric theory by Copernicus. In the same way the things fall down on earth even before Newton's investigations. The meaning behind thatwas those people thought beyond the common man in identifying the problems. They thought and observed in unique way. We know that necessity is mother of invention, when people needed a mode to travel faster from one place to another, We discovered vehicles. In the same way to travel faster we invented supersonic jet planes and even space craft's (to learn more about the development of science go through the book History of science written by F. Cojori). There is a sequential order in discovering things. Let us observe how your mother cooks, you also can observe how a solutions possible for the identified problem. Ex: De filament, fuse failure, switch problem, wire problem. 3. Collecting information- To solve the identified problem, collect required material, apparatus, Informal persons to be consulted. screwdriver, wi insulationfpe, 4. Data agal¥gis - Atrange the collected di ormation to conduct ent. 5. rentation- Conduct experiment prove selected hypothesis. Ex: Observe filament of the bulb. cycle mechanic repairs a cycle, try t MW observe how farmer ploughs his field 401 sill ind a ayetennacinea panterd tig thie 6. Result analysis - Analyzing the results things. Write what you obsgAig about these patterns and discuss jgFByoups How do birds d their way home? Why ugés es in a particular season? ny more questions yut upjin your brain. Try to answer im jmyour own way. For this you need to folloyadequential order, please go through the following steps. 1. Identifying problem - Let us identify any problems from your surroundings Ex: The bulb is not glowing in the room. 2. Making hypothesis - List out different to find out the solution for the problem based on the results you need to select another hypothesis to prove. Ex: Filament of the bulb is good in condition, so we need to observe the fuse. 7. Generalisation- Based on the experiment and its results explain the solution for the problem. Ex: Fuse is damaged so the bulb did not glow, so we need to replace the fuse. This is the way to find out solutions for the problems ina scientific way. You may also select such problems and, find out your own solutions.