Quick Quiz

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context

Science and safetyUnitUnit 1.1 1.1

Science: Asking questionsThe answers to questions that scientists ask often can be found in textbooks, encyclopaedias or on the Internet. Sometimes the questions that scientists ask have never been asked before and that is when scientists need to find the answers themselves by

context Scientists ask questions about how the physical and living world around us works. These might be about how animals like ants breathe, how rainbows are formed, why sunsets are red or what affects the rate at which fruit rots. To

investigate the world, scientists carry out experiments. Many of these experiments can be extremely dangerous and so a set of laboratory safety rules is needed to reduce the risks involved.

Fig 1.1.1 Six of the many branches of science.

Prac 1 p. 7

Astronomy: astronomers ask questions about the planets, stars and the universe, like ‘What causes an eclipse?’

Ecology: ecologists study how living things affect each other and the environment in which they live. They might ask about what animals are likely to become extinct if world temperatures increase.

Geology: geologists study rocks, the Earth, earthquakes, volcanoes and fossils. They might ask what causes earthquakes to happen.

Physics: physicists ask questions about how and why things move and the forces and energy involved. They might ask questions about how to make bike helmets safer.

Biology: biologists ask questions about living things. They might study why mosquito and ant bites itch.

Chemistry: chemists investigate materials, chemicals and chemical reactions and how they can be used. They might ask why wood burns but steel doesn’t.

performing experiments. An experiment is simply a test on a small part of the world.

The branches of scienceScience covers many areas. So many, in fact, that science is split into branches or disciplines.

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Science and safety

Safety in scienceIn science you will need to deal with many potential dangers. You will work with intense heat, acids and other corrosive substances. It is particularly dangerous if any chemicals get splashed into your eyes. Other chemicals are poisonous and can make you extremely ill or can kill. Broken glass and equipment pose the risk of cutting you or of fragments entering your eyes if they shatter.

Safety rulesThe science laboratory can be a dangerous place, but it becomes far safer if everyone follows a set of safety rules.

Each laboratory is different and so is every class. This means that one set of rules cannot be used by everyone. Each class needs to develop their own set of rules with their teacher to keep everyone safe. Common sense is a good start. If something has the potential to hurt someone then DON’T DO IT!

Always look for potentially unsafe activities in the lab and report these immediately to your teacher.

Fig 1.1.3 The students here are doing something potentially dangerous. What are they doing wrong? What rules would you make to minimise the risk to themselves and to others in the lab?

Fig 1.1.4 The students here are doing the right thing. What are they doing right and what risks are they avoiding?

Fig 1.1.2 Working safely in the laboratory is the most important skill you will learn this year in Science.

Worksheet 1.1 Laboratory safety

Unit Unit 1.1

1.1

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Remembering 1 List six of the main branches of science. 2 Make a list of four safety DOs and four DON’Ts in the

laboratory. 3 Use your common sense to state whether the following rules

are good ones or silly ones likely to cause injury:a It is OK to pour all substances down the sink after an

experiment.b Running and pushing people in the laboratory is never

allowed.c It is OK to eat and drink in the laboratory.d Spilt chemicals can be left unattended.e The teacher always must be told if something goes wrong.f Safety glasses are optional when we use chemicals in the

laboratory.g Chemicals should never be tasted or smelled.h Always point test tubes away from yourself and others.i It is good science to mix unknown chemicals together.

Understanding 4 Describe four dangers that you might have to deal with in a

science laboratory. 5 Eye injuries are common in science laboratories. Explain what

could cause these injuries and describe what could be done to minimise the risk of them.

Applying 6 The following scientists are working in different branches or

disciplines of science. Identify which branch each is working in:a Johanna is studying the eating habits of a cheetah.b Yianni is developing a new type of plastic.c Lauren is studying the crystals embedded in a rock.d Brigid is studying the movement of the planets.e Gary is investigating what animals might be affected when

a new dam is built.f Ying is studying the flow of electricity through an electronic

circuit. 7 Within each branch of science are sub-branches. Identify

whether the sub-branches below belong in astronomy, biology, chemistry or ecology.a Optics: the study of lightb Entomology: the study of insectsc Vulcanology: the study of volcanoesd Zoology: the study of animals.

8 Identify five injuries that can happen in a science laboratory if simple safety rules are not obeyed.

9 Identify another simple experiment in which the following senses would be too dangerous to use:a sightb hearingc taste.

10 Sometimes it is too dangerous to use some of our senses. Complete this table by identifying which senses should and should not be used.

1.1 QUESTIONS

Experiment Senses that you would use

Sense that would give the most information

Senses that you would NOT use

Testing the ability of strong acids to clean a sheet of metal

Testing how long milk takes to go off

Testing how long it takes for six tomatoes to ripen

Studying lava flowing from a volcano

Testing a new pesticide>>

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Science and safety

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Evaluating 11 Inspect the safety signs shown in Figure 1.1.5 and propose what each one might be warning you about.

12 Propose what you should do if:a You accidentally break something in the laboratory.b You smell gas.c A hissing sound is heard coming from a Bunsen burner

that is not lit.d You need to leave a Bunsen burner to collect some extra

equipment?13 Propose a reason why some of the safety rules in Science are

different from those in other subjects, such as design and technology, food technology and PDHPE.

Creating 14 Without using any words, design a simple two-colour sign to

tell people that:a There is a slippery surface ahead.b Crocodiles are in the waterways.c Earmuffs must be used in this area.d You should not eat centipedes.

15 Design a series of simple signs to inform students of the science safety rules. The signs must be in only two colours and use only a few words.

Investigate your available resources (e.g. textbooks, encyclopaedias, Internet etc.) to: 1 Find and draw the symbols commonly used to label these

types of chemicals:a flammableb corrosivec explosive.

2 Define what these terms mean and write a definition for each: L a toxicb causticc flammable.

3 Outline what these sub-branches of science study:a botanyb microbiologyc paleontologyd acousticse seismology.

1.1 INVESTIGATING

Fig 1.1.5

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