Science Can Be Physical!

Science is everywhere! Most people don't realize that science goes way beyond living and non-living things. In Part 4 of my textbook for Science Methods, the topics were about physical science. Physical science is the study of topics such as motion, matter, energy and machines. These topics help us understand and create the everyday life that we know. The chapter starts off naming a few jobs that someone could obtain in the field of Physical Science. A few of these jobs are:

• Chemist
• Physicist
• Engineer

The textbook then explains some of the technologies that people in these fields of study use on a daily basis to help our work become a better place. Some of these technologies are incredibly simple while others are more complex and require special knowledge in a persons field to use. Some of these technologies are: 

• Radiation-measuring devices
• Computers
• Circuit Testers
• Particle Accelerators
• Spectrophotometers
• Wind Tunnels
• Lasers
• Solar Energy Collectors
• Oscilloscopes

Like the part of the book on Life Sciences, this part of the book was broken into two chapters. The first chapter was on Matter and Motion. The second chapter was on Energies and Machines.The chapter on Matter and Motion started with the topic of Matter. It first talked about the 10 most common elements. They are:

• Oxygen
• Silicon
• Aluminum
• Iron
• Calcium
• Sodium
• Potassium
• Magnesium
• Hydrogen
• Carbon

The segment of the chapter also talked about:

• Physical properties of matter
• Kinetic molecular theory
• Chemical changes in matter
• Elements, Compounds and Mixtures
• Parts of an atom
• Fundamental parts of matter
• Nuclear energy. 

The next part of the chapter talked about motion. It contained topics such as:

• Newtons Laws of Motion
• Gravity and Motion
• Jet and Rocket Engines
• Flight

The next chapter talked about energies and machines. There are many different kinds of energy. They all are made differently and are used to different things. 

• Electrical Energy: Consists of static and current electricity. 
• Sound Energy: How its caused and is it absorbed or reflected
• Light Energy: Reflection, Refraction, Light, Prisms and Color
• Heat Energy: What is it? How is it measured? How do the changed occur?

Other concepts around energy are the conservation of energy, energy transfer and the concepts of simple machines and friction. 

Some major questions that can be posed to students with these topics are:

• What are the properties of matter?
• How can properties of matter be measured?
• What makes water change from solid to liquid to gas?
• How do sounds change?
• How can light be directed?
• What is the path of electricity through a circuit?
• What are the properties of magnets?
• What happens to the energy from the sun?
• How can energy be absorbed?
• What are the safest, cleanest, and cheapest ways to generate energy? 

Like the previous chapters, this chapter contained lesson plans and potential unit plans for students of all ages and learning levels. Like the lessons of the previous chapters, I most definitely plan to use in my future career as a teacher.