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Areas of Study within KS3 Science

March 17, 2011 By
KS3 Science

KS3 Science

Teaching science at KS3 is usually done in a way which combines the separate areas of the subject, rather than separating it into separate physics, chemistry and biology lessons. The reason for teaching science in this way at KS3 level is that it is necessary to understand principles from one scientific subject in order to fully understand principles from another. For example, it is necessary to understand particles, from chemistry, in order to understand digestion and energy, from physics when studying food chains. Some schools do, however, teach physics, chemistry and biology separately. 

Through teaching science at KS3, pupils are encouraged to think about the world around them and to search for explanations as to how the world works. This is achieved through linking scientific ideas to practical experiences. Creative and critical thought is nurtured at this level as pupils conduct experiments and evaluate explanations. Teaching science at this level is also aimed at encouraging pupils to consider how scientific ideas lead to changes in many areas of technology which, in turn, improves quality of life. KS3 science also teaches the way in which science has developed around the world and highlights its cultural significance.

The national curriculum for KS3 science details the topic that should be included in teaching science at this level. Under the topic of energy, electricity and forces, pupils should understand that energy cannot be created or destroyed but it can be stored, transferred and dissipated. It also covers forces as interactions between objects which may affect the objects shape and motion and the range of effects that may be produced through the electric currents in circuits.

Under the KS3 science topic of chemical and material behaviour, pupils study the properties and behaviour of matter as explained by the particle model, the combinations of atoms within an element and the way that these atoms combine to form compounds and the chemical properties and patterns in the behaviour of compounds and elements.

In studying the environment, Earth and the universe, pupils study the causes of geological activity, the insight that can be gained from astronomy and space science and that changes to the environment can be a direct result of natural processes and human activity.

In KS3 science, pupils also study the topic of organisms, behaviour and health which covers the human reproductive cycle and the effect of diet, disease and drugs on growth, conception development, behaviour and health. Other areas of study under this topic include variation in living things and the facts that they can be classified but are also interdependent, the extent of external factors on behaviour and the way in which cells are organised into tissues, organs and body systems which support life processes.

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Famous Contemporary Scientists

February 28, 2011 By

Stephen Hawking

Born in England on 8th January 1942, Stephen Hawking is a cosmologist and a theoretical physicist. From 1979 to 2009, Hawking spent 30 years in the post of Lucasian Professor of Mathematics at the University of Cambridge. Currently, he is the Director or Research at the Centre for Theoretical Cosmology at the University of Cambridge. Hawking is well-known for his work in areas of science including cosmology and quantum gravity, particularly in relation to black holes. His theoretical prediction that radiation is emitted from black holes is referred to as Hawking radiation. Stephen Hawking has won many awards for his work in science. Hawking has also had two statues of him unveiled, a museum has been named after him and a building in Cambridge has also been named in his honour. 

Jane Goodall

The British scientist Dame Jane Morris Goodall, was born 3rd April 1934. The fields of science that she has worked in include primatology and anthropology. She is also a UN messenger of Peace. Goodall is famous for studying the social and family interactions of chimpanzees in Tanzania for 45 years and is considered to be the greatest expert on chimpanzees in the world today. The Jane Goodall Institute, which she founded, works with animal welfare and conservation issues. Goodall has received many awards for her discoveries in science.

Craig Venter                                                                          

Craig Venter, born in the United States 14th October 1946, is well-known for his work in the field of biology. His most famous achievement is being the first person to sequence the human genome. More recently, in 2010, Venter successfully created the first cell with a human genome. The single-celled organism’s DNA has four watermarks written into it in order for it to be identified as synthetic. These watermarks are the cells web address, the code table for the alphabet, the names of the 46 scientists that contributed and 3 quotations. At the moment, Venter is working to create synthetic biological organisms and is also attempting to patent the first life form that was created by humanity. The results of this research may possibly include creating bacteria in order for specific reactions to be performed, such as the creation of medicines or the production of fuels.

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The Nobel Prize in Physics

February 25, 2011 By

In his last will and testament, Alfred Nobel gave the largest share of his wealth to a series of prizes which would become known as the Nobel Prizes. He also specified that one of these prizes would be awarded to the person who is responsible for the most important discovery or invention in the field of physics.

From the time that the Nobel Prize in Physics was first awarded in 1901 until now, the prize has been given on a total of 104 occasions. It has been awarded to individuals and groups of two and three people.  Of these 104 prizes, 47 have been awarded to a single Laureate, 29 have been shared between two Laureates and 28 have been shared between three Laureates.

While the Nobel Prize in Physics has been awarded to 189 Laureates, only 188 different individuals have received the award as John Bardeen was awarded the prize twice, in 1956 and again in 1972. Marie Curie was also a multiple Nobel Laureate in Physics, although her other Nobel Prize was in chemistry.

Along with Marie Goeppert-Mayer, Marie Curie is one of only two women to have been awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics out of the total 188 individuals that have received the award in its history. Marie Curie shared her Nobel Prize in Physics with Pierre Curie, her husband.

The Nobel Prize has never been awarded posthumously and, since 1974, it is a rule that a Nobel Prize can only be awarded in this way if a death occurs after the winner has been announced. The youngest winner of the Nobel Prize for Physics, to date, is Lawrence Bragg. Bragg was awarded the prize at 25 years of age which means he is also the youngest Nobel Laureate in any field of the Nobel Prize. Raymond Davis Jr. is currently the oldest Nobel Laureate in Physics, being awarded the prize when he was 88 years old.

Of all the individuals to have received the Nobel Prize in Physics, there are four families that contain father and son winners. William Bragg and his son Lawrence Bragg were awarded the prize in 1915. Niels Bohr received the award in 1922, followed by his son Aage N. Bohr in1975. Manne Siegbahn preceded his son by winning the prize in 1924 and Kai M. Siegbahn became a Laureate in 1981. J.J. Thompson won the award in 1906, followed by his son, George Paget Thompson, in 1937.

 

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Famous Scientists from History

February 25, 2011 By

Albert Einstein (14th March 1879 – 18th April 1955)

Einstein was a German theoretical physicist who is often referred to as the father of modern physics. His famous discovery of the theory of general relativity had the knock-on effect of causing a revolution in the world of physics. Other discoveries that Einstein is to thank for include his particle theory and photon theory. Einstein was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1921. Einstein’s ideas, image and equations have achieved iconic status today.

Isaac Newton (4th January 1643 – 31st March 1727)

Born in Woolsthorpe, Lincolnshire, Isaac Newton is famous in the world of physics, as well as astronomy and mathematics, for developing his theory of universal gravitation along with his three laws of motion. In 1687, Newton published his ‘Philosophiae Naturalis Principia Mathematica’ which was his greatest work and demonstrated how gravity applied to all objects in the universe.

Galileo Galilei  (15th February 1564 – 8th January 1642)

Galileo Galilei, an Italian scientist, developed significant improvements to the telescope. He used his invention to make observations of the solar system which would lead to revolutionary discoveries. This included discovering objects such as Jupiter’s moons. Galileo Galilei is regarded by many to be the father of modern science.

Louis Pasteur (27th December 1822 – 28th September 1895)

Pasteur was a French microbiologist and chemist. He conducted experiments which supported the germ theory of disease and developed the first vaccines for rabies and anthrax. His work resulted in a greater level of understanding of the way that microoganisms work as well as the causes of disease and ways in which disease can be prevented.

Charles Darwin (12th February 1809 – 19th April 1882)

Born in Shrewsbury, Shropshire, the Victorian naturalist Charles Darwin is famous for his theory of natural selection which led to a revolution in the way that people thought about the origins of humankind. His theory was extremely controversial as it challenged religious beliefs which were very important to people at the time. He supported his theories on evolution with a great deal of data from observations which he recorded on his long voyages at sea.

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UK Science Museums

February 24, 2011 By

There are many science museums to be discovered across the United Kingdom. These museums are often interactive with a range of hands-on exhibits to explore, providing a great day out for families and an exciting way for children to expand their scientific knowledge.

Techniquest

Techniquest was opened in November 1986. It has been extremely popular with ten thousand people visiting it in its first seven weeks. Originally opened in Cardiff, Techniquest can now also be found in the additional locations of Glyndŵr University, Wrexham, Narbeth and Gwynedd. The science and discovery centre offers a hands-on approach to science through its exhibitions and also features a planetarium and a science theatre.   

Eureka!

Opened by Prince Charles in July 1992, who is responsible for some of the inspiration behind the museum, Eureka! is an interactive museum for children which is based in Halifax. It is an attraction which has won awards and is also an educational charity. The museum is aimed at families with children up to the age of eleven. The main galleries in the museum include Our Global Garden, SoundSpace, Me and My Body, SoundGarden and Desert Discovery.

London Science Museum

The Science Museum in London is a publically funded national museum and is also a major London tourist attraction. The Science Museum is part of the National Museum of Science and Industry. Inside the museum, visitors can discover objects such as the Apollo 10 command module and Stephenson’s Rocket. 3D movies can be viewed in the IMAX cinema and there is also a simulator to experience special effects though. The many hands-on, interactive exhibits introduce visitors to science and technology through the ages.

Thinktank

Birmingham’s science museum, Thinktank, first opened in 2001 and has been an award-winning, popular attraction since then. There are over two hundred hands-on exhibitions in this science museum, located on three separate floors. Each of the floors has its own theme. Visitors to Thinktank are encouraged to explore and question how their daily lives are affected by science and technology and to discover the impact that science will have on the future. Thinktank also features an IMAX cinema and a planetarium.

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Key Stage Three Teaching and Homework Resources from the Science Museum

February 23, 2011 By

London’s Science Museum is a publically funded museum and tourist attraction which is part of the National Museum of Science and Industry. The Science Museum’s website provides resources for teaching science at KS3, including classroom and homework resources.

The resources available for KS3 science from this website are separated into 6 topics. These are Electricity and Magnetism, Energy Transfer, Light, Materials, Genetics and Brain Science and Medicine. Each of these topics features a range of activities which are related to KS3 science and teaching science at this level. They can be used in teaching science in the classroom, as a homework project or a challenge for a science club.

The Science Museum also offers ideas for KS3 science-related activities that are recommended for science and engineering clubs. These include projects such as a Martian shelter, bath fizzers and robotic bugs.

Inside the Science Museum itself, there are many hands-on, interactive exhibits for KS3 science pupils to explore, with have been created with the requirements of teaching science at this level in mind. The hands-on galleries that can help in teaching KS3 science include ‘Energy- fuelling the future’, which explores the importance of energy today and also its future implications, and ‘Launchpad’, a popular gallery which allows visitors to explore science and technology first-hand through exhibits and shows. Other galleries within the museum which feature exhibitions that are applicable to KS3 science cover the subjects of climate science, computing, materials, flight, energy, the future, the history of medicine, exploring space and the development of the industrial world. There is also a range of special exhibitions, events and an IMAX cinema that can help to teach KS3 science.

There is also a range of resources available to teachers available through the Science Museum and its website. These include training resources as well as ideas and material to help in teaching science at KS3. There are opportunities for teachers to explore the Science Museum without their pupils outside of normal opening times, courses that cover different areas of training for teaching science and ideas for engaging students through forming science clubs.

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The Nobel Prize in Chemistry

February 22, 2011 By

When Alfred Nobel signed his last will and testament in 1895, he specifies that the greatest part of his fortune would be dedicated to a series of prizes which would be known as the Nobel Prizes, His will also state that one of these prizes would be awarded to the person who has made the most significant discovery or improvement in chemistry.

A total of 102 Nobel Prizes in Chemistry have been awarded since 1901. There were only 8 occasions on which the prize was not awarded. This was due to the fact that the statutes of the Nobel foundation state that if none of the works under consideration are considered to be important enough to win the award in any particular year, the prize fund will be reserved until the next year.

A prize may be awarded to an individual or shared between more than one person. Of the 102 Nobel Prizes in Chemistry that have been awarded, 62 have been given to a single Laureate, 22 have been shared by two Laureates and 18 have been shared between three Laureates. Although a total of 160 Laureates have been awarded the Nobel Prize for Chemistry, only 159 individuals have received the prize as Frederick Sanger was awarded it twice. There are two other multiple Laureates in Chemistry, Marie Curie and Linus Pauling, although these winners were only awarded the Chemistry prize once and the additional Nobel Prizes for Physics and Peace respectively.

Marie Curie is one of only 4 female Nobel Laureates in Chemistry. The others are Irene Joliot-Curie (the daughter of Marie Curie), Dorothy Crowfoot Hodgkin and Ada Yonath. Of these 4 women, only Marie Curie and Dorothy Crowfoot Hodgkin were awarded with unshared Nobel Prizes in Chemistry.

The youngest Nobel Laureate in Chemistry is Frederic Joliot who was awarded the prize at 35 years of age. He shared this award with his wife, Irene Joliot-Curie. At 85 years old when he was awarded the Chemistry Prize, John B. Fenn is the oldest Nobel Laureate in Chemistry. The Nobel Prize for chemistry has not been awarded posthumously on any occasion. The statutes of the Nobel Foundation stipulated that this could only occur if death has occurred after the Nobel Prize Announcement in 1974 and no Nobel Prize in Chemistry was awarded in this way before that date.

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Definition of Chemistry

January 9, 2011 By

Chemistry is a physical science that is concerned with the structure of matter along with its properties and behaviour and also involves concepts such as the entropy and energy involved in a chemical process. This includes the changes that matter undergoes when it is involved in a chemical reaction. While physics also addresses the science of matter, it does so in a way that is less specialised. Chemistry studies forms and components of matter such as atoms, molecules and substances, either individually or in combination.

Chemistry, as a term, is derived from alchemy. Practices involved in alchemy included chemistry along with astronomy, metallurgy and philosophy. The word alchemy originated from an Arabic word which means value. The connection between the term value and the study of alchemy may be related to the pursuit of attempting to turn lead into gold which is often associated with alchemy. It is also thought that the word alchemy is a variation of the Ancient Egyptian name for Eygypt, ‘Chemi’ or ‘Kimi’. A person who practised alchemy was referred to as a ‘chemist’ and the ‘-ry’ suffix was added in order to describe the work of a chemist.

The definition of chemistry has evolved since it was first adapted from the word alchemy. In the 17th century, the term referred to the principles of mixed matter and breaking down substances into separate bodies and them forming new substances from the broken down components. The 18th century definition of the term also involved breaking a compound substance into separate components and then reforming them. During the 19th century, Chemistry was the name given to describe the science of studying molecular forces and the law and effect that relate to them. The mid-20th century definition of the term described the science of substances, concentrating on their properties, their structure and the reactions that occur when they are altered into different substances. The late 20th century use of the term chemistry simply described the science of matter and the changed that matter undergoes.

The origins of chemistry can be traced back to the Ancient Egyptians who practised a form of it around 4,000 years ago. In 1,000 BC, the practise of chemistry was being demonstrated by ancient civilisations with examples including fermenting alcoholic beverages, extracting plant chemicals on order to create medicines and extracting metal from ore.

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Definition of Physics

January 7, 2011 By

Physics is a form of natural science, involving the analysis of nature in a way that helps us to understand the way in which the universe behaves. To be more specific, physics involves the study of concepts such as energy and force in relation to matter and its motion through spacetime.

Physics as a term originates from ‘physika’, a Greek word which relates to all things in nature. A more detailed investigation into the origins of the term suggests that this Greek term referred to the science of nature. In its earliest definition, ‘physika’ described something which appeared spontaneously and then went through a period of growth and evolution.

As the astronomy is one of the branches of physics, it may be described as one of the oldest of all academic principles. Prior to the Scientific Revolution of the 16th century, physics, chemistry, biology, and some areas of mathematics were all subjects of academic study within natural philosophy. After this time, natural sciences gained independence from these other subjects and became academic principles in their own right. Although physics has been a major unifying feature in the philosophy of science since the 19th century, there are many interdisciplinary areas within physics, such as quantum chemistry and mathematical physics.

The subject of physics uses abstract theories to provide a model of the natural world. Calculus, an area of mathematics, is involved in this process in order to explain the behaviour of the path of a particle. This area of physics is known as mechanics.

Physics also tests physical theories by using a scientific method. Through conducting experiments and carrying out observations, physicists collect data and use this to compare the results with the implications of a theory that they are investigating. Data collected from experiments and observations is matched with a theory’s predictions in order to prove or disprove its validity. If a theory is proved, or heavily supported, through data, it is referred to as a scientific law.

Of all areas within natural science, physics is often considered to be the most fundamental as the interaction of matter and energy that is involved in chemistry and the chemical properties that are applied to living things under the subject of biology are ruled by the physical laws that the subject of physics is centred on.

 

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