Transition your student from middle school to high school with this course specifically designed to teach independent study skills and thorough notetaking, while mastering foundational scientific subject matter. Exploring Creation With Physical Science 4th Edition covers concepts in chemistry, physics, and Earth science, along with scientific research and the processes involved in conducting and presenting background research.

An exciting new component called Advanced Concepts has been added to each module. The more in-depth or difficult content has been arranged into these new sections to allow students who are eager for a greater challenge to extend their learning. This design feature makes the course accessible to students of varying science abilities to engage with the curriculum at their appropriate level. Testing on this additional content is optional.

This course is designed to be the last science course the student takes before high school biology. We generally recommend it as an 8th-grade course, but students can use it for their 9th-grade coursework.

• Lab Supply List

Table of Contents

MODULE 1: SCIENCE—THE BASICS

• What is Science
  • Science and Technology
  • What is Physical Science
• The Scientific Process
  • Making Observations
  • Experiment 1.1: Making Observations
  • Forming Hypotheses
  • Advanced Concepts: Forming and Testing Hypotheses
  • Testing Hypotheses
  • Conducting Experiments
  • Analyzing Data
  • Drawing Conclusions
  • Scientific Theories and Laws
  • Science Does Not Prove
  • When Direct Observation Isn't Possible in the Scientific Method
    • Inferences
    • Advanced Concepts: Scientific Models
• Measuring and Manipulating Data
  • The Metric System
    • Mass
    • Length
    • Volume
    • Time
    • Temperature
  • Converting Units
• Organizing, Analyzing, and Presenting Scientific Data
  • Data Tables
  • Analyzing Data with Graphs
    • Bar Graphs
    • Circle Graphs
    • Line Graphs
    • Experiment 1.2: Practice Collecting and Analyzing Data
    • Advanced Concepts: Analyzing Data with Graphs
• Summing Up
• Summary of Key Equations in Module 1
• Answers to the "On Your Own" Questions
• Study Guide for Module 1

MODULE 2: CHEMISTRY PROPERTIES AND STATES OF MATTER

• Classifying Matter
  • Pure Substances and Mixtures
    • Pure Substances
    • Mixtures
    • Advanced Concepts: Mixtures
  • Solids, Liquids, and Gases
    • Advanced Concepts: Other States of Matter
  • Kinetic Theory of Matter
    • Solids
    • Liquids
    • Gases
    • Experiment 2.1: Diffusion at Different Temperatures
    • Advanced Concepts: Another Classification
• Properties of Matter
  • Physical Properties
    • Appearance and Odor
    • Conductivity
    • Density
    • Experiment 2.2: Exploring Different Densities
    • Melting and Boiling Points
    • Advanced Concepts: Other Physical Properties
  • Chemical Properties
    • Flammability
    • Reactivity
• Changes in Matter
  • Physical Changes
    • Volume and Density Changes
    • You Do Science: Volume and Density Change Activity
    • Phase Changes
    • Advanced Concepts: Other Phase Changes
    • Solubility Changes
    • Advanced Concepts: Examples of Solubility
  • Chemical Changes
    • A Change in Color
    • Production of a Gas
    • Formation of a Solid
    • Experiment 2.3: Changes in Matter
• Summing Up
• Summary of Key Equations in Module 2
• Answers to the "On Your Own" Questions
• Study Guide for Module 2

MODULE 3: CHEMISTRY—ATOMIC STRUCTURE AND THE PERIODIC TABLE

• A History of the Atom
  • Ancient Atomic Models
  • Dalton's Atomic Theory
  • Advanced Concepts: Dalton's Atomic Theory
  • Thomson's Atomic Model
    • Advanced Concepts: Plum Pudding Model
  • Rutherford's Atomic Model
  • The Structure of Atoms
    • Subatomic Particles
  • Atomic Number and Mass Number
  • Advanced Concepts: Isotopes
• Modern Atomic Theory
  • Bohr's Atomic Model
  • The Electron Cloud/Quantum Mechanical Model
    • Advanced Concepts: The Electron Cloud/Quantum Mechanical Model
    • Experiment 3.1: Exploring the Plum Pudding and Bohr Models of the Atom
• Organizing Elements: The Periodic Table
  • Mendeleev's Periodic Table
    • Advanced Concepts: Experiment 3.2: Creating a Periodic Table—Mendeleev's Challenge
    • Groups and Periods
  • Modern Periodic Table
• Representative Groups
  • Advanced Concepts: The Alkali Metals
  • The Alkaline Earth Metals
  • The Boron Group
  • The Carbon Group
  • The Nitrogen Group
  • The Oxygen Group
  • The Halogens
  • The Nobles Gases
• Summing Up
• Answers to the "On Your Own" Questions
• Study Guide for Module 3

[Remainder shows only main module topics...]

MODULE 4: CHEMISTRY—CHEMICAL BONDS

• A Model for Chemical Changes
• Types of Chemical Bonding
• The Wonder of Water
• Summing Up

MODULE 5: CHEMISTRY—REACTIONS AND ENERGY

• Naming Compounds and Writing Formulas
• Types of Reactions
• Energy Changes in Reactions
• Summing Up

MODULE 6: PHYSICS—MOTION

• Distance and Displacement
• Speed and Velocity
• Acceleration
• Summing Up

MODULE 7: PHYSICS—FORCES

• Forces
• Newton's Laws of Motion
• Fundamental Forces
• Summing Up

MODULE 8: PHYSICS—ENERGY

• Energy
• Energy, Work, and Power
• Work and Machines
• Summing Up

MODULE 9: PHYSICS—WAVES AND SOUND

• Mechanical Waves
• Properties of Waves
• Sound
• Summing Up

MODULE 10: PHYSICS—LIGHT

• Electromagnetic Waves
• The Electromagnetic Spectrum
• The Behavior of Light
• Summing Up

MODULE 11: PHYSICS—ELECTRICITY AND MAGNETISM

• A Detailed Look at the Electromagnetic Force
• Electric Charge
• Electrical Circuits
• Magnetism
• Summing Up

MODULE 12: EARTH SCIENCE—OUR EARTH

• Earth's Structure
• Rocks and Minerals
• Processes of the Lithosphere
• Summing Up

MODULE 13: EARTH SCIENCE—OUR ATMOSPHERE AND BEYOND

• Our Atmosphere
• Energy and the Atmosphere
• Beyond Our Atmosphere
• Summing Up

MODULE 14: CHEMISTRY AND PHYSICS IN THE LIFE SCIENCES

• Chemistry and Biology
• The Chemistry of Life
• Physics and Life
• Summing Up

MODULE 15: PHYSICAL SCIENCE RESEARCH

• Conducting Research
• Preparing Your Research for Presentation
• Your Turn to Research
• Summing Up

• Glossary
• Appendix
• Complete Lab Supply List
• Index
• Image Credits