Science Form 1

Contents
Chapter 1: Introduction to Scientific Investigation
Chapter 2: Cell as the Basic Unit of life
Chapter 3: Coordination and Responses
Chapter 4: Reproduction
Chapter 5: Matter
Chapter 6: Periodic Table
Chapter 7: Air
Chapter 8: Light and Optic
Chapter 9: Earth
Chapter 1: Introduction to Scientific Investigation
1.1 Science is the part of daily life
Importance of science
-Helps us to understand ourselves and our environment
-to solve daily problems
-contributes to new discoveries and invention of new technologies
-opens up opportunities for science based careers

Fields of science
- Zoology 动物学
- Botany 植物学
- Astronomy 太空
- Microbiology 微生物
- Geology 地理
- Physiology 人体
- Engineering 工程
- Pharmacology 药物
- Oceanography 海洋学
- Forensics 法医

1.2 Your Science Laboratory

Apparatus and Function
**Draw the symbol and function

Hazard Symbols
**Draw the symbol, function and examples

1.3 Physical Quantities and Their Units

1) A quantity that can be measured is called a physical quantity.
2) All physical quantities are measured in a standard unit called the SI
unit.
Base physical quantity SI unit Symbol for SI unit
Length metre m
Mass kilogram kg
Time second s
Temperature 温度 Kelvin K
Electric current 电流 ampere A
Quantity of subtance mole Mol
Light intensity candela cd

3) Prefixes are used to represent a very small or a very big value.

Prefix Prefix symbol Value of prefix `
pico p 0.000 000 000 001 pm
nano n 0.000 000 001 nine
micro µ 0.000 001 until
milli m 0.001 milk Exp:
centi c 0.01 cold a) Convert
deci d 0.1 Drinks 145 cm to
deca da 10 daughter mm
hecto h 100 Henry’s 145cm
kilo k 1 000 king x10=1450m
mega M 1 000 000 man m
giga G 1 000 000 000 great
tera T 1 000 000 000 000 the or
Peta P 1 000 000 000 000 000 145x0.01
m =1.45m
1.45m÷0.001=1450mm

b) Convert 230km to m
 230km x 1000=230 000m

c) Convert 4500µm to m
4500µm x 0.000 001=0.0045m

d) Convert 710g to kg
710g ÷ 1000=0.71kg

e) Convert 0.475g to µg
0.475g ÷ 0.000 001=475 000µg

f) Convert 23g to dg
23g ÷ 0.1= 230dg

g) Convert 270ms to s
270ms x 0.001=0.27s

h) Convert 0.000 12s to µs

0.00012s ÷ 0.000 001=120µs

1.4 Use of Measuring Instruments, Accuracy, Consistency, Sensitivity and

Errors
1) Accuracy:
-Is the ability of a measuring tool to obtain accurate readings
-the closer the readings to the actual value, the more precise the
Measurement
2) Consistency:
-is the ability of a measuring tool to obtain consistent readings
 -the closer the values of the readings are to each other, the more
consistent the measurement

not accurate, not consistent

Not accurate, consistent
Accurate, not consistent
Accurate, consistent

3) Methods to increase accuracy or precision of a reading.

-Repeat the measurement a few times, then calculate the average
reading to get a more accurate answer.
-Increase the sensitivity of the measuring instrument.

4) Methods to increase the consistency of readings

-Use a more sensitive measuring tool.
-use a correct and consistent measuring technique.

Using Vernier caliper

Using a Micrometer Screw Gauge

Errors in measuring
Type of error Random error Systematic error
Cause of error *Parallax error - eye level *Zero error – pointer on
is not correct when taking the measuring instrument
the reading on the scale of did not point to zero
 a measuring before measurement is
*measuring instrument taken.
less sensitive
*the operation of the
measuring instrument is
affected by surrounding
factors: temperature,
wind, humidity &
gravitational force
Ways to ●Apply the correct ●Adjust the pointer to
overcome error measuring technique zero before taking
●repeat the measurement measurement.
a few times
●use a more sensitive
measuring tool
●carry out experiment in a
controlled laboratory

Estimating length, area, mass and volume of solids

1cmx1cm
Area=1x1cmx30
=30 cm 2

1.5 Density 浓度
1) What is density?
Density of an object is the mass per unit volume of the object.
Mass
Density=
Volume

m
p=
v

2) The ability of an object to float or sink in a liquid is known as its

buoyancy. 浮力

3) A denser substance will sink in a less dense liquid.

4) A less dense substance will float on the surface of a denser liquid.

5) The SI unit for density is kilogram per cubic metre (kg m ), or gram per
−3

cubic centimetre ( g cm ). −3

Example:
1) 20 cm mercury = 272g. Calculate the density of mercury.
3

Density=mass ÷ volume
=272g ÷ 20cm 3

−3
¿ 13.6 g cm

2) 120cm 3
alcohol=0.8 g cm
−3
. Calculate the mass of alcohol.
 Density=mass ÷ volume
0.8 g cm =mass ÷ 120cm
−3 3

Mass = 0.8 g cm x 120cm

−3 3

= 96g

3) 50g alcohol = 0.8 g cm . Calculate the volume of alcohol.

−3

Density = mass ÷ volume

0.8 g cm = 50g ÷ volume
−3

Volume = 50g ÷ 0.8 g cm −3

= 62.5cm 3

Using the water displacement method to calculate density.

1) The density of an irregular object such as a stone cannot be calculated
easily using a formula.

2) Water displacement method use to determine the volume of an object

and then divide it with the mass of the object to obtain the density of the
object.

Phenomena related to density

1) Ship and bamboo raft
-the space inside the ship is filled with air. This decrease the density
of the ship and enables it to float.
-A bamboo raft has spaces filled with air. This decrease the density
of the raft and enables it to float on water.

2) Hot air balloon

 -When the air in the balloon is heated. It expands and its volume
increases. Therefore, the balloon becomes less dense and rises higher in
the air.
-When the air in the balloon is less hot, Its volume decreases.
Therefore, the balloon becomes denser and descends lower.

3) Submarine
-The submarine has an empty ballast tank.
-When the ballast tank is filled with air, the submarine become less
dense. Therefore, the submarine floats to the surface of the water.
-When the ballast tank is filled with water, the submarine becomes
denser. Therefore, the submarine dives below the water’s surface.

4) Trawl buoys
-Plastic or polystyrene buoys are less dense than water.
-these buoys keep the trawl afloat across the surface of the sea.
-the dense tin weight tied below the trawl pulls the trawl
downwards so that it is spread out in the sea.

5) Float and life jacket

-floats and life jackets use air to keep us afloat in water.
-life jackets are also made of water-proof foam which is less dense.
6) buoy
-A buoy floats on the sea to guide the ship or to detect tsunami
waves in the sea.

7) Anchor
-Anchor is made of steel which is denser than water.
-When the anchor id dropped into the sea, it will fix the position of
the ship so that the ship will not be drifted away by sea currents.
8) Layered drinks
-Layered drinks are prepared by mixing a few different flavo ured
liquids in a glass.
-Each type of liquid has its own concentration, therefore the
densities are also different, forming a attractive layers.