Science Basics

Question 1

Explain the benefits of working in a team?

Answer 1

• Everyone is good at something and not as good at something else. Working in a team allows you to pool everyone’s talents.
• Big problems require teamwork across different branches of science to help solve.

Question 2

What are the branches of science?

Answer 2

Astronomy 
Biology 
Chemistry 
Ecology 
Geology 
Psychology 
Physics

Question 3

What are sub-branches of science - give examples

Answer 3

Each Branch of science can be broken further into sub-branches. Scientists can specialise in these sub-branches.
Microbiology (germs, bacteria, viruses) 
Botany (plants) Zoology (animals)
Seismology (earthquakes) 
Palaeontology (fossils) 
Vulcanology (volcanoes) 
Petrology (rocks)
Acoustics (sound) 
Optics (light) Mechanics
Entomology (insects) 
Arachnology (spiders) 
Ichthyology (fish)

Question 4

What Tasks do scientists undertake?

Answer 4

make observations and measurements
•make inferences and predictions about what is
happening and what might happen in the future
•analyse their measurements, construct tables and keys, plot graphs, make calculations and look for patterns
•make models to help them understand what is
happening
•classify objects into groups of similar things.

Question 5

What is an example of scientists across different branches working together?

Answer 5

Example:
The mountain pygmy-possum is endangered in NSW. Scientists are working to make sure it doesn’t become extinct. Only 500 left in the wild.
1. Ecologists need to find out whether the possums are being affected by the area being divided up into smaller and smaller parts by the local ski industry.
2. Botanists need to find out whether bushfires are damaging the plants whose seeds the possums eat.
3. Zoologists determined that foxes and feral cats were eating the possums.
4.

Question 6

What do scientist do?

Answer 6

Scientists study the world around them to find out how it works.

Question 7

Why is science important?

Answer 7

Science helps us to explain the complex world we live in, helps save lives and the planet, helps to make our lives easier though news technologies and inventions

Question 8

How are laws we follow influenced by science? Give examples

Answer 8

The observations that scientists gather and the conclusions they make form the basis of many of the laws and regulations that we all must follow every day.
Example:
1. Mandatory wearing of bike helmets - saves lives
2. Smoke alarms in houses - saves lives
3. Airbags in cars- saves lives
4. Bans on killing animals at risk of extinction- saves animals
5. Used by dates on food- prevents food poisoning
6. Governments across the world have since banned the use of chlorofluorocarbons in everyday products like deodorants and hair sprays and in fridges. - prevents destruction of Earth’s ozone layer

Question 9

List four sub-branches of biology

Answer 9

Microbiology (germs, bacteria, viruses) Botany (plants) Zoology (animals)

Question 10

List four sub-branches of geology

Answer 10

Seismology (earthquakes) Palaeontology (fossils) Vulcanology (volcanoes) Petrology (rocks)

Question 11

List four sub-branches of physics

Answer 11

Acoustics (sound) Optics (light) Mechanics