Physical Science – The Big StoryThe study of physical science is about TWO things:

Matter and Energy

NEITHER matter OR energy can be created or destroyed, but it can be changed. We will be studying some of the changes. Let’s start with matter.

Matter! Answer the questions. What is the smallest unit of matter? __________ How many different types are there? __________What are the types called? ________________Atoms are REALLY small, but they are what ALL MATTER is made of. (Your dog, you, your pencil, the air, clouds, the Sun, your favorite grandma, stars, nuclear bombs, your least favorite sibling, the ocean, your nose-hairs….)

Atoms have three different parts. Two of these parts are (relatively) heavy. They are found in the center of the atom which is called the ______________ (same word as the organelle found in the center of cells).

These two parts are called ____________ and ______________.

The third part is found buzzing/zipping/generally moving quickly around the outside of the atom. It is ALMOST mass-less. It is called the ______________.

Periodic Table The periodic table is nifty, because it tells us lots of helpful information about the 118 different elements (types of atoms) from which EVERYTHING (Your dog, you, your pencil, the air, clouds, the Sun, your favorite grandma, stars, nuclear bombs, your least favorite sibling, the ocean, your nose-hairs….) is made.

Here’s how to read it. The biggest thing in a single box is the symbol, which stands for the name of the element, in this case Helium. (Wheeeeeeeeeee…)

The atomic number is the number of a certain particle in 1 atom of helium. Which particle is it? __________

The atomic mass is the average mass of the NUCLEUS, which is two particles added together? ___________ and ___________.

Wait! So you’ve learned about elements. You know there are only 118 and they’re made of the same three particles, Protons, Neutrons and Electrons. If there’s only 118, where does all this STUFF (Your dog, you, your pencil, the air, clouds, the Sun, your favorite grandma, stars, nuclear bombs, your least favorite sibling, the ocean, your nose-hairs….) come from? I’m glad you asked.

ElementsIn the real world, ELEMENTS are sometimes found in pure form (copper pipes, silver jewelry, helium gas in balloons, polonium in nuclear bombs, arsenic in rat poison… You know, fun stuff.)

More often, they are COMBINED in different and interesting ways.COMPOUNDS are formed when two or more different types of atoms chemically combine. Examples include Water, Carbon Dioxide and Glucose.

BUT WAIT! Most stuff (Your dog, you, your pencil, the air, clouds, the Sun, your favorite grandma, stars, nuclear bombs, your least favorite sibling, the ocean, your nose-hairs….) isn’t made of pure compounds, either.

It’s made of different types of MIXTURES of compounds and/or elements. Mixtures aren’t like compounds, since they can always be separated PHYSICALLY!

There are TWO types of mixtures.

Homogenous Mixtures (Homo- = Same) are EVENLY mixed. All the different particles are equally distributed. Examples include SOLUTIONS (something dissolved into something else) like Coca-Cola, Lemonade or Saltwater, but also Jell-O and the air in this room.

The air is a homogenous mixture of (mainly) two elements and a compound. Can you name them? ___________, ____________, and _______ ________.

Heterogeneous Mixtures (Hetero-= Different) are UNEVENLY mixed, and are what most stuff (Your dog, you, your pencil, the air, clouds, the Sun, your favorite grandma, stars, nuclear bombs, your least favorite sibling, the ocean, your nose-hairs….) is made of.

It’s usually fairly easy to tell that a mixture is heterogeneous: You can SEE the different parts. Here’s some sand: a taco: and my grandma:

What a classy lady! States of MatterMatter (made of elements/compounds/mixtures) tends to behave in certain ways depending on how much energy it

has. There are three “states” of matter you need to know about. Solids, where the particles are stuck together and vibrating: Liquids, where the particles are stuck together but can roll around freely: Gases, where the particles are moving freely:

pH ScaleSubstances in a solution have a “pH”. This is a scale used to determine whether the substance is Acidic or Alkaline (Base-ic). Acids have a pH from 0-6.9. Though they sound scary, many common foods are acidic.Bases (Alkaline) have a pH from 7.1-11. Many cleaning supplies are bases. Salts are neutral, (along with pure water), and are created when an acid and base combine. (Vinegar + Baking Soda)

Properties of MatterDifferent types of matter (elements/compounds/mixtures/your mom) have different properties, which can be measured. There are physical properties and chemical properties.

Physical Properties can be observed without changing the substance (NO chemical reaction.)

Solubility, how much can be dissolved in a solution.

Thermal conductivity, how well it transfers heat. (Metals and water are usually pretty good at this.)

Electrical conductivity, how well it transfers electricity. (Metals and water are also pretty good at this.)

Malleability, how easily the solid substance bends.

Melting and Boiling Points, how much thermal energy does it take to change from a solid to liquid to gas.

Density, how tightly packed the particles are in the substance.

Physical properties DO NOT change no matter how much substance you have. Will 1 milligram of Gold have the same density as 2000 kilograms of Gold? (Yes/No)

Density is a special property that we have to know a little more about.

Density equals mass divided by volume. (D=M/V) If the mass of a block of concrete is 80 kg, and the volume is 160 L, what is its density in kg/L? _________

If the volume of a block is 50 L, and its density is 2, what is the mass of the block in kg?

Chemical Properties

Chemical properties can only be observed during a chemical reaction. They include how easily something burns (flammability), how easily it rusts or reacts with oxygen, whether it forms a compound with Hydrogen or Carbon or any of the elements.

Chemical and Physical Changes

Chemical and physical changes are easy to tell apart.

Chemical Changes always result in the creation of a ______ _______________. Examples include: burning, rusting, molding, etc. Evidence includes, light/heat/smell/gas/color change…

Remember, that the speed of chemical changes will

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_____________ when you add ______.

Physical Changes Physical changes result a change in the form or shape or temperature of a substance, but NOT the creation of a new substance. Examples include: boiling, melting, evaporating, condensing, cutting, tearing, ripping, etc…

Remember, that neither chemical or physical changes will result in a change in mass, because matter can’t be ___________ or ______________.

Now, let’s move on, and talk about ENERGY! Energy does NOT have mass, but it can be measured. Energy is the ABILITY to do WORK. It is what you use when you walk, talk, lift something heavy, sit still silently, etc. Humans and other organisms get energy mainly from their food, though a special group of organisms get energy directly from the Sun.

Energy can be both TRANSFERRED, moved from one placed to the next, or TRANSFORMED, changed in type.

Remember, Energy, can NOT be either _________ or ______________.

ForceOne of the simplest ways energy is transferred is through a ______ , a push or a pull on an object.

Forces can be contact forces, or non-contact forces. Forces that are non-contact and work over a distance include magnetism, electric (static) force, and gravity.

Forces that are equal in size but opposite in direction are “balanced” forces.

Forces that are unequal in size or in the same direction are “unbalanced” forces.

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WavesAnother way that energy can be transferred is in __________, a repeated pattern of energy. Some waves like ocean waves or sound require a MEDIUM, or substance, to pass through.

Waves can be either TRANSVERSE

or LONGITUDINAL

Sound waves are longitudinal waves in the air or water.

When waves bounce off a surface they are ______________.

When waves soak into a substance, they are ______________.

And when waves pass through a substance, they are slowed down. This is called ______________

Electromagnetic Spectrum

Light waves are special. Visible light is only a small part of the Electromagnetic Spectrum, a kind of radiation that does NOT require a medium.

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The WHOLE spectrum is used in different ways by humans, but we can only SEE a tiny section.

Energy can also be TRANSFORMED.

Let’s look at some of the different types of energy.

Potential Energy is __________ energy, and can be stored in chemicals, or because of gravity.

Kinetic Energy is the energy of ACTION.

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Thermal Energy

One type of energy that you have to know a bit more about is __________, or “heat” energy.

Heat can be either CONVECTED,

RADIATED

CONDUCTED

Heat is always transferred in predictable ways.

THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS COLD. There is only the ABSENCE, or lack, of Heat.

HEAT energy ALWAYS moves from Hot to Cold.

Therefore: If you have glass of ice water, and the ice is beginning to melt, what is happening to the flow of energy? _____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________.

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