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Physics and Chemistry 2 ESO

SOLUTIONS OF THE ACTIVITIES OF UNIT 1

1. Answer the following questions: a) What is Science? b) What do Natural Sciences study? c) What is Physics?
d) What is a physical change? e) What is Chemistry? f) What is a chemical change?
a) Science: Science is the systematic knowledge of the world gained through observation, experimentation and reasoning
and the formulation of laws and theories.
b) Natural Sciences are empirical sciences that are based on observable phenomena and capable of being tested for its
validity with experiments made by other researchers working under the same conditions.
c) Physics is an experimental and natural science that studies the composition of matter, its general properties and its
physical changes.
d) A physical change of matter is a change that undergoes a substance, a body or an object without transformation into
other substance/s, its chemical composition does not change.
e) Chemistry is an experimental and natural science that studies the composition, the structure and the properties of
matter and its chemical changes.
f) A chemical change of matter is a change that undergoes a substance, a body or an object with transformation into other
substance/s, its chemical composition changes.
2. Write the steps of the scientific method.
Observation, identify the problem (ask the question), background information, variables classification (dependent,
independent, controlled), formulate a hypothesis, experimentation (experimental design with material list, procedure,
experimental tests and experimental data organization with tables and graphs), data analysis, hypothesis validity,
scientific law (theory).
3. Answer the following questions: a) What is the independent variable of an experiment? b) What is the
dependent variable of an experiment? c) What is a hypothesis? d) What is a scientific law?
The independent variable is the variable that a scientist deliberately changes during the experiment.
The dependent variable is the variable that responds to the changes in the independent variable.
We call hypothesis an educated guess, a prediction that must be tested with an experiment. It is a tentative statement
that proposes a possible explanation to some phenomenon or event.
Scientific law is a concise verbal or mathematical statement which describes a relationship between the variables of a
determined natural phenomenon (e.g. Newton’s second law, F = m  a).
4. Imagine that you have a lantern and it does not work. Formulate a hypothesis and design an experiment to
test it.
You can formulate three different hypotheses.

 Hypothesis 1: The light bulb is fused. The experiment can consist of checking the light bulb by using a reliable electric
circuit.

 Hypothesis 2: The battery is consumed. The experiment can consist of replacing the old battery with a new one.
 Hypothesis 3: The electric circuit is open. The experiment can consist of checking if the electric current flows in the
circuit with a multimeter.

 Materials list: a light bulb, a multimeter, fresh batteries, a reliable circuit.

5. A student is investigating how the temperature of water affects how much salt can be dissolved.

a) Suggest a question that she could answer by doing an investigation.

Does temperature affect the amount of salt that can be dissolved in a determined amount of water?

b) Classify the variables of this problem.

 Independent variable: the temperature.

 Dependent variable: the amount of salt.
 Controlled variables: the type of solid (salt), the type of solvent (water) and the amount of solvent.

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c) Propose a hypothesis, a possible explanation for this investigation.

Yes, it does. If the temperature of a fixed amount water increases the amount of salt that can be dissolved is greater.
d) Design an experiment to test your hypothesis with a procedure, a list of materials and the measuring
instruments that you will use to make the experiment.
Procedure:
a. Pour 100 mL of water in a 250 mL beaker.
b. Measure its temperature.
c. Add weighed amounts of salt until no more salt is dissolved.
d. Repeat steps a, b and c with water at different temperatures.
Materials list: water, salt, a 250 mL beaker, a graduated cylinder, a thermometer, a spatula spoon, a watch glass, a
balance, a wash bottle, a dropper.
6. A group of students are investigating if the mass of an object affects the time of its free fall from a height to
the Earth’s surface.
a) Suggest a question that they could answer by doing an investigation.
Does the mass of an object affect the time of its free fall from a height to the Earth’s surface?
b) Classify the variables of this problem.

 Independent variable: the mass.

 Dependent variable: the time.
 Controlled variables: the height, the gravitational attraction, the shape of the object.
c) Propose a hypothesis, a possible explanation for this investigation.
No, it does not. The mass of an object does not affect the time of its free fall (https://www.grc.nasa.gov/WWW/K-
12/rocket/ffall.html).
d) Design an experiment to test your hypothesis with a procedure, a list of materials and the measuring
instruments that you will use to make the experiment.
Procedure:
a) Take three spherical objects of different masses.
b) Measure their masses on the balance.
c) Choose a high position and measure its height.
d) Drop one of the objects from the chosen position and measure the time of its free fall.
e) Repeat steps b and c for the rest of the objects.
Materials list: three spherical objects of different masses, a measuring tape, a chronometer.
7. Use the ICTs. Find information on the web about a relevant invention in history that shows the relationship
between science, technology and society. Create a presentation with 8-10 slides.
Free answer.
8. What is a physical quantity? Give five examples.
Property of a phenomenon, body or substance that can be quantified or measured. Examples: mass, volume,
temperature, speed, area.
9. What is a unit?
It is a definite magnitude (value) of a particular quantity, defined and adopted by convention, with which other particular
quantities of the same kind are compared to express their value. Examples: m, cm2, mm3.
10. What is a quality? Give five examples.
Property of a phenomenon, body or substance that cannot be quantified or measured. Examples: colour, shape,
roughness, intelligence, beauty, smell, taste.

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11. What is a base quantity? Give three examples.

Base quantities are quantities that are common to every object or phenomenon and are independent; they do not depend
on others. There are 7 base quantities used in The International System of Units (SI).
12. What is a derived quantity? Give three examples.
Derived quantities are quantities that derive from the base quantities. Examples: volume, area, density, speed, force,
pressure.
13. Convert the following units and indicate their corresponding quantity. Write the resulting numbers in decimal
and in scientific notations.

a) 7,2 mm to dam b) 5,2 m2 to mm2 c) 3,5 m to cm d) 20,456 hL to dL

2 2 3 3
e) 0,000 2 kg to mg f) 0,004 5 mm to hm g) 0,2 m to cm h) 3 m3 to dm3
i) 4 300 cm3 to L j) 3 dm3 to dL k) 0,000 3 cm3 to daL l) 3 820 s to h
3 3
m) 2,3 mL to m n) 0,2 cm to mL o) 1 day to s p) 2,34 L to dm3
q) 0,001 2 hL to dm3 r) 40,56 g to hg s) 1,000 3 mm3 to L t) 220 kL to m3

a) 7,2 mm to dam: length 1 dam = 10 000 mm

1dam
7,2 mm   0,000 72 dam
10 000 mm
b) 5,2 m2 to mm2: area 1 m2 = 1 000 000 mm2

1000 000 mm 2
5,2 m 2  2
 5 200 000 mm 2
1m
c) 3,5 m to cm: length 1 m = 100 cm
100 cm
3,5 m   350 cm
1m
d) 20,456 hL to dL: volume (capacity) 1 hL = 1 000 dL
1 000 dL
20,456 hL   20 456 dL
1hL
e) 0,000 2 kg to mg: mass 1 kg = 1 000 000 mg
1 000 000 mg
0,000 2 kg   200 mg
1 kg

a) 0,00072 dam, L b) 5 200 000 mm2, A c) 350 cm, L d) 20 456 dL, V

2 3
e) 200 mg, m f) 0,000 000 000 00045 hm , A g) 200 000 cm , V h) 3 000 dm3, V
i) 4,3 L, V j) 30 dL, V k) 0,000 000 03 daL, V l) 1 h, 3 min, 40 s, t
3
m) 0,000 002 3 m , V n) 0,2 mL, V o) 86 400 s, t p) 2,34 dm3, V
q) 0,12 dm3, V r) 0,405 6 hg, m s) 0,000 001 000 3 L, V t) 220 m3, V
L: Length. A: Area. V: Volume. t: Time. m: Mass.
14. Express in metres the result of the following operation: 0,30 km + 3,6 hm + 23,45 m + 284 cm.
300 m + 360 m + 23,45 m + 2,84 m = 686,29 m.
15. How many mL are there in 1/3 L?
333,33 mL.
16. How many g are there in 1/4 kg?
250 g.

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17. Convert the following units and indicate their corresponding quantity.

a. 5 500 cm, L b. 4 670 000 mm2, A c. 2 cm3, V d. 1 000 kg, m

3 2 3
e. 20 000 dm , V f. 0,0002 dm , A g. 0,000 2 m , V h. 120 030 000 000 000 mm3, V
i. 0,002 m, L j. 0,003 kg, m k. 3 min, t l. 200 000 000 mm3, V
m. 7 000 mm, L n. 10 800 s, t o. 2 kg, m p. 200 000 g, m
q. 172 800 s, t r. 3 600 s, t s. 200 000 mg, m t. 0,000 000 02 km3, V

18. We measured with a chronometer the time of the free fall of an object from the roof of a building. We obtained
the following measurements: 1,43 s; 1,45 s; 1,47 s; 1,42 s; 1,46 s; 1,43 s; 1,47 s. What is the accepted value
for the time of the free fall?
1,43  1,45  1,47  1,42  1,46  1,43  1,47 10,13
t    1,4471  1,45 s
7 7
19. What is the difference between saying that the mass of an object is 5 g, 5,0 g or 5,00 g?
The mass 5 g means that the sensitivity of the balance is 1 g. The measurement must be expressed: 5  1 g.
The mass 5,0 g means that the sensitivity of the balance is 0,1 g. The measurement must be expressed: 5,0  0,1 g.
The mass 5,00 g means that the sensitivity of the balance is 0,01 g. The measurement must be expressed: 5,00  0,01 g.
20. Round the following decimal numbers to the hundredth place:
a) 4,23 b) 16,27 c) 0,15 d) 8,69

a) 4,234 b) 16,267 c) 0,145 0 d) 8,685 0

21. Lab activity. Measurements and unit conversions

22. Indicate the name and the function in English and in Spanish of the following lab material:
a) b) c) d)

Round bottom flask Separatory funnel Kitasato flask Beaker

Matraz de fondo Embudo de Matraz Kitasato Vaso de precipitados
esférico decantación Vacuum filtration To contain liquids and
To contain liquids and Separation of solutions and to make
solutions and to make immiscible liquids solutions
solutions
e) f) g) h)

Graduated cylinder Condenser Volumetric flask Buret or burette

Probeta Refrigerante Matraz aforado Bureta
To measure volumes of Distillation To measure volumes To measure volumes
liquids of liquids of liquids

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i) j) k) l)

Büchner funnel Crystallizing dish Evaporating dish Crucible

Embudo Büchner Cristalizador Cápsula de porcelana Crisol
Vacuum filtration Crystallization To contain solid To contain solid
substances substances
m) n) o) p)

q) Glass stir rod r) Erlenmeyer flask s) Funnel t) Round bottom flask

Varilla de vidrio Matraz Erlenmeyer Embudo Matraz de fondo
Stirring mixtures To contain liquids and Filtration esférico
solutions and to make to contain liquids and
solutions solutions and to make
solutions
23. Which of these hazard symbols is used for a corrosive substance?
a) b) c)

Option c is correct.

24. Flammable materials, like alcohol, should never be dispensed or used near:

a. an open door. b. an open flame. c. a sink. d. another student.

Options b and d are correct.
25. If an acid is splashed on your skin, wash at once with

a) a base. b) soap. c) oil. d) water.

Option d is correct.
26. If you are heating a substance in a test tube its open end must be pointed
a) toward your lab partner. b) toward another classmate. c) toward yourself. d) away from all people.
Option d is correct.
27. In a laboratory, the following should not be worn:

a) dangling jewellery. b) loose clothing. c) sandals. d) all of the above.

Option d is correct.
28. An investigation has been made on the relationship of the masses of the substances and their volumes. The
exposition of the problem is the following one: Does the volume of a substance affect its mass? The volumes
and the masses of different marble pieces have been measured to verify if there is a dependence between the
volume and the mass, and the following values have been obtained:

V (cm3) 3,1 4,8 7,6 10,0 14,1

m (g) 9 14 22 29 41
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a) Identify the independent variable, the dependent variable and the possible controlled variables.
b) Formulate a hypothesis.
c) Do the graph on graph paper of the variable mass and the variable volume and explain if there is some
type of mathematical relationship between both variables.
a) Identify the independent variable, the dependent variable and the possible controlled variables.
Independent variable: the volume.
Dependent variable: the mass.
Controlled variables: the type of substance, temperature.
b) Formulate a hypothesis.
Yes, it does. When the volume of a substance increases its mass also increases.
c) Do the graph on graph paper of the variable mass and the variable volume and explain if there is some type
of mathematical relationship between both variables.
Study of the relationship of the mass and the volume of marble
m(g)

40

30

20

10

0 3
0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14 V(cm )

The graph is a straight line. The straight line means that the mass and the volume are directly proportional.
29. During an investigation to find the relationship between the pressure and volume of an enclosed gas at
constant temperature, a glass syringe was filled of air, its opening was sealed so that no air can escape the
syringe, and the plunger was slowly pushed decreasing the volume and at the same time measuring the air
pressure inside the syringe. The following results were obtained.

V (cm3) 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
p (atm) 2,5 3,6 4,2 6,3 8,3 12,5 25

a) Identify the independent variable, the dependent variable and the possible controlled variables of this
investigation.
Independent variable: the volume.
Dependent variable: the pressure.
Controlled variables: the type of substance, temperature.
b) Formulate a hypothesis.
The volume of an enclosed gas at a constant temperature affects its pressure. If I decrease the volume of an
enclosed gas its pressure increases.
c) Do the graph on graph paper of the variable pressure and the variable volume and explain if there is some
type of mathematical relationship between both variables.

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Relationship between the pressure and volume of an enclosed gas at constant temperature
p(atm)

25

20

15

10

0
0 2 4 6 V(cm3)

The plotted data points do not form a straight line but they form a curve, an equilateral hyperbola. There is a
mathematical relationship between V and p: V and p are inversely proportional.
30. Science project. Take a milk tetra-brick pack and calculate the volume inside the carton package in cm3, dm3
and L by using its measurements (length, width and height). Calculate the area of carton needed to make the
container. Express the result in cm2 and in m2.
31. Science project. Influence of the surface area of a liquid on the evaporation.

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