PHYSICAL SCIENCE Miss Sauer’s 7 th Grade Science

What Are Some of the Different Types of Sciences We Can Study? Physical Science is the study of matter and energy. What is Physical Science?

What are Matter & Energy? Matter is anything that has mass and takes up space. Energy is the ability to do work or to cause changes. Energy cannot be made/created or destroyed; it can only be changed into different forms.

2 Types of Energy: Potential energy which is the amount of energy something has stored inside it. Anything can have potential energy. A battery has potential energy stored by a difference in ionic concentration; even you have potential energy, as you sit in your chair. How much potential energy you have depends on a few things, including how high up you are and how big you are. (If you remember the example of the Angles of Board & Masses of Balls we did last year outside rolling the balls on the walkway.) Kinetic energy is the energy of an object in motion. Anything that is moving has kinetic energy. Mechanical objects, such as a clock or a person on a skateboard, have kinetic energy, but so do light, sound, wind and water. Can you see examples of energy around the classroom?

Observations vs. Inferences Observing is using one or more of your five senses (sight, hearing, smell, taste, and touch) to gather information about the world. When you make an inference, you are making an educated guess. Your brain makes an inference from the observations made.

Qualitative Observations vs. Quantitative Observations Qualitative Observations are descriptions that DO NOT use numbers. For Example, if you report colors, smells, tastes, textures, or sounds, you are making qualitative observations. Quantitative Observations are descriptions that do include numbers. For Example, if you count objects or measure them with standard units, you are making quantitative observations.

Qualitative vs. Quantitative Observations – USE THE ROOT WORDS TO HELP YOU Qualitative Observations QUALITY or QUALITITES something possesses. Quantitative Observations QUANTITY of something / how much.

Closure Questions What is Physical Science? What is Matter? What is Energy? What are the two types of energy and define each? What is the difference between an Observation and an Inference? What is the difference between a Qualitative and Quantitative Observation?