SCIENCE 20-4
UNIT 1: APPLICATIONS OF MATTER & CHEMICAL CHANGE
Students will extend their understanding of matter by investigating and classifying simple chemical reactions used at home and in the workplace. Students also become aware that many different materials can be created from a relatively small number of components and that technologies based on chemical changes are widely used in producing useful materials.
UNIT 2: ENERGY CONVERSION SYSTEMS
Students investigate a variety of important energy conversions occurring in biological, chemical, physical and technological systems. Although energy appears in many forms and is essentially conserved, in each energy transformation the availability of useful energy decreases. Students learn that the technologies for extracting, processing and using fossil fuels involve converting energy into more useful forms for our use.
UNIT 3: DISEASE DEFENSE & HUMAN HEALTH
The human organism as a living system is affected by a variety of environmental and genetic factors. Students investigate the nature of these factors, their effects on the health of the human organism and how social conditions and decisions play a role. Students learn about the body’s natural defence systems and about medical techniques used to minimize the risk of exposure to environmental toxins and disease-causing agents. Although inheritance is well understood, minimizing genetic disorders is a complex issue, involving scientific, ethical and social perspectives.
UNIT 4: MOTION, CHANGE, & TRANSPORTATION SAFETY
There is a greater risk of being injured or killed while travelling in a motor vehicle than when engaging in other common activities. Recognizing risk, governments and the transportation industry are working on new safety systems and practices designed to protect passengers. Students learn that these systems are based upon an understanding of the law of conservation of momentum.