Q1: What does a magnifying glass symbolise in the context of scientific exploration?
Ans: A magnifying glass symbolises careful observation – noticing patterns and paying attention to what might otherwise be missed.
Q2: What is a model in science?
Ans: A model is a simplified way of looking at a real system that focuses only on what is most important for a given question.
Q3: Why do scientists deliberately ignore certain details while building a model?
Ans: Scientists ignore certain details to keep things simple enough while still finding answers to what they are looking for.
Q4: What does a compass symbolise in the context of scientific exploration?
Ans: A compass symbolises that exploration needs direction – choosing appropriate models, asking the right questions, and knowing the limits of where ideas apply.
Q5: What is a law in science?
Ans: A law usually describes a regular pattern observed in nature, often expressed using words or mathematical relationships. For example, Newton’s laws of motion.
Q6: What is a theory in science?
Ans: A theory provides an explanation of why certain patterns occur, based on evidence gathered over time. For example, the atomic theory explains how molecules are formed.
Q7: What are principles in science?
Ans: Principles are broad ideas that help us make sense in a given situation. For example, the principle of conservation of energy.
Q8: In science, does a theory mean a guess or an untested idea?
Ans: No, in science a theory is not a guess. It is an explanation based on careful testing and critical examination.
Q9: What is the speed of light and why is it denoted by ‘c’?
Ans: The speed of light is exactly 299792458 m/s. It is denoted by ‘c’ because it comes from the Latin word celeritas, meaning speed.
Q10: Why are standard units (SI) important in science?
Ans: Standard units allow scientific results to be compared and ensure fairness in daily life and trade. They also avoid errors caused by unit mix-ups.
Q11: Give one real-life example showing the danger of not using standard units.
Ans: A passenger aircraft once ran out of fuel mid-flight because the ground crew used pounds per litre instead of kilograms per litre, leaving the aircraft about 15,000 litres short of fuel.
Q12: What are predictions in science?
Ans: Predictions are reasoned expectations based on evidence and careful thinking that allow us to anticipate what will happen under new or different conditions.
Q13: Name the physicist who simplified the study of stars by treating stellar matter as a hot gas.
Ans: Meghnad Saha.
Q14: What does science use to allow scientists across the world to describe observations and compare results?
Ans: Science uses a shared language of specific terms, symbols, and units, such as m for mass, v for velocity, F for force, and I for electric current.
Q15: Why is mathematics important in science?
Ans: Mathematics helps express relationships between quantities clearly and test them carefully. It is a powerful language for thinking, not just for finding numerical answers.
Q16: What is the role of estimation in science?
Ans: Estimation helps build intuition, detect errors, and develop confidence in thinking. An approximate estimate is often enough to tell us whether a result is reasonable or impossible.
Q17: Is science just a collection of facts and equations?
Ans: No, science is a human activity shaped by curiosity, creativity, collaboration, and careful questioning. It grows as people ask questions, test ideas, and learn from mistakes.
Q18: Why do weather forecasts sometimes go wrong?
Ans: Weather depends on many changing factors like temperature, pressure, humidity, and wind. Very tiny differences in initial conditions can grow over time and lead to completely different outcomes.
Q19: Why are the divisions of science into physics, chemistry, biology, and earth science made?
Ans: These divisions are made only to help organise knowledge. The natural world has no such boundaries, and most real-world problems require ideas from several branches together.
Q20: What feature of science makes it reliable and trustworthy?
Ans: The openness of science to being corrected by evidence makes it reliable. No scientific theory is ever final, and ideas change as new evidence becomes available.