Tutor Niedino: Pri Science Questions and Concepts

[tianzhu]

Hi moderator


I think the key word Misconceptions is missing from the header.
As the TS started this thread to help clear up misconceptions for primary science, it may be more appropriate to add Misconceptions to the thread’s title.

Please consider changing the header to

Niedino: Primary Science Questions, Concepts and Misconceptions

It reflects better the intention of TS.

Best wishes

[Niedino]

I thought of starting with a powerful Science Misconception.

Here's a misconception of the week for all.

Is a seed a living thing?

Lets' hear some responses before I post ok? (Professional Sickness) :lol:

[atutor2001]

Niedino:

Hi Tianzhu,


.....

Another way to look at it is that compression is a \"push\", while tension (stretching) is a \"pull\". So the movement of brown air upwards into the round space shows that air can be \"stretched\" since the air was \"pulled\" to fill a bigger container, not \"pushed\" into a smaller container like compression. ....

At last we have a real expert in primary science concept. Thank you. All parents don't miss this thread.

[Dharma]

Niedino:

I thought of starting with a powerful Science Misconception.

Here's a misconception of the week for all.

Is a seed a living thing?

Lets' hear some responses before I post ok? (Professional Sickness) :lol:

Hi Niedino,

I feel that a seed is not really a living thing because it does not possess certain characteristics of living things such as growth, movement. However, if given the right conditions (air, moisture and warmth), the seed will able to become a living thing and grow.

[Sun_2010]

Niedino:

I thought of starting with a powerful Science Misconception.

Here's a misconception of the week for all.

Is a seed a living thing?

Lets' hear some responses before I post ok? (Professional Sickness) :lol:

This is great - Thanks Niedino! :salute:

My take - Seed is a living thing.- since it has the potential to grow.
A seed can die, ie even with right conditions will not germinate.
Ergo seed is a living thing.

Sun

[Funz]

Niedino:

I thought of starting with a powerful Science Misconception.

Here's a misconception of the week for all.

Is a seed a living thing?

Lets' hear some responses before I post ok? (Professional Sickness) :lol:

Nope. Though it does possess the potential to become a living thing, in its current form, it does not possess all of the characteristics of living things, feeding, movement, respiration, growth, sensitivity, excretion, reproduction.

[atutor2001]

Niedino:

I thought of starting with a powerful Science Misconception.

Here's a misconception of the week for all.

Is a seed a living thing?

Lets' hear some responses before I post ok? (Professional Sickness) :lol:

Seed is a living thing because

1. It can grow, die and reproduce
2. It respires
3. It needs food

Trying my luck.

[Way2GO]

Hi Niedino,

Very nice of you to start this thread and help all interested parties in discussing science at primary school level and clearing common misconceptions.

You mentioned that steam is technically hot water vapour.
The descriptions 'water vapour' and 'steam' are used interchangeably in common usage even by adults, though there are differences.

Steam is a gas formed when water is vapourized during boiling or evaporation. However water vapour can exist at various temperatures eg water vapour is all around us; the level of humidity we feel is a measure of the amount of water moisture(vapour) in the air.

Both water vapour and steam are water in its gaseous state and both are invisible to the naked eye.
The question I like to clarify with you is, for the purpose of primary school science exams,
\"can students use steam and water vapour interchangeably?\"

[Way2GO]

Niedino:

I thought of starting with a powerful Science Misconception.

Here's a misconception of the week for all.

Is a seed a living thing?

Lets' hear some responses before I post ok? (Professional Sickness) :lol:

Niedino,
I asked my school going kids your question.
Two different reasons but both answers is \"No.\"

Their explanation:
DS1: It cannot move.
DS2: It cannot reproduce.

To be classified a living thing, it has to satisfy all the characteristics of a living thing;
if it does not satisfy any of the conditions, it is not a living thing.

Goes against the grain of common sense isn't it, I thought aloud.
My DS1 replied \"Aiya, throw out your common sense!\" :slapshead:

[ChiefKiasu]

Way2GO:

Hi Niedino,

Very nice of you to start this thread and help all interested parties in discussing science at primary school level and clearing common misconceptions.

You mentioned that steam is technically hot water vapour.
The descriptions 'water vapour' and 'steam' are used interchangeably in common usage even by adults, though there are differences.

Steam is a gas formed when water is vapourized during boiling or evaporation. However water vapour can exist at various temperatures eg water vapour is all around us; the level of humidity we feel is a measure of the amount of water moisture(vapour) in the air.

Both water vapour and steam are water in its gaseous state and both are invisible to the naked eye.
The question I like to clarify with you is, for the purpose of primary school science exams,
\"can students use steam and water vapour interchangeably?\"

Water evaporates at ALL temperatures between 0 to 100 degrees Celsius (where water remains in liquid state). Steam is water vapour at 100 degrees Celsius.

The rate of evaporation depends on various factors affecting the ability of the water to vaporize into its surrounding atmosphere. In space, where there is no atmosphere and pressure, the outer surface of a water droplet will immediately vaporize, but the act of evaporation will lower the temperature of the core of the droplet so quickly that it becomes ice.