Science help
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Science help
My daughter (Year 7) has this year been introduced to basic concepts in Biology, Chemistry and Physics. I have been unable to answer her a question on a fairly basic concept, which involves an understanding of Science.
The basic unit of life is a cell.
All matter is made up of molecules.
All molecules are made up of atoms.
So does this mean that cells too are made up of molecules and atoms? Or are only non living things made up of molecules and atoms?
Many thanks in advance!
The basic unit of life is a cell.
All matter is made up of molecules.
All molecules are made up of atoms.
So does this mean that cells too are made up of molecules and atoms? Or are only non living things made up of molecules and atoms?
Many thanks in advance!
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hermanmunster
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- Joined: Fri Sep 15, 2006 9:51 am
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everything is made up of atoms and molecules
living things - well humans - are essentially carbon / oxygen / hydrogen based with a touch of quite a few other atoms...
have a look at :
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chemical_m ... human_body
interesting that all the atoms have basically have been around for millions of years and have been recycled endelessly - get the kids thinking about where their skin and bone cells have been before.
living things - well humans - are essentially carbon / oxygen / hydrogen based with a touch of quite a few other atoms...
have a look at :
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chemical_m ... human_body
interesting that all the atoms have basically have been around for millions of years and have been recycled endelessly - get the kids thinking about where their skin and bone cells have been before.
We have had issues with lower school science because sometimes it is simplified so that what they are taught isn't strictly correct.
Year 7 DS likes to discuss his homework with older siblings (who are 'science specialists') when they are about, so he can go into more detail.
A few times this has resulted in him taking issue with what they are taught in class. Fortunately he has a receptive teacher but at least once he has had test answers marked as incorrect because it wasn't what was expected although it was techincally correct.
If you want to be sure of explaining topics at the correct level for the curriculum then there are quite a few study/revision guides available.
If children are interested in/ have a flair for science then sometimes they find the early stuff confusing because it doesn't deal with topics in sufficient details to answer their questions. We get lots of 'yes, but what if/ but surely.'..questions.
Thankfully I call in expert assistance - well if DS is going to eat me out of house & home during Uni vacation he can do something useful
Year 7 DS likes to discuss his homework with older siblings (who are 'science specialists') when they are about, so he can go into more detail.
A few times this has resulted in him taking issue with what they are taught in class. Fortunately he has a receptive teacher but at least once he has had test answers marked as incorrect because it wasn't what was expected although it was techincally correct.
If you want to be sure of explaining topics at the correct level for the curriculum then there are quite a few study/revision guides available.
If children are interested in/ have a flair for science then sometimes they find the early stuff confusing because it doesn't deal with topics in sufficient details to answer their questions. We get lots of 'yes, but what if/ but surely.'..questions.
Thankfully I call in expert assistance - well if DS is going to eat me out of house & home during Uni vacation he can do something useful
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hermanmunster
- Posts: 12894
- Joined: Fri Sep 15, 2006 9:51 am
- Location: The Seaside
agree that sometimes the level is far too simple and then suddenly there is a question like ; how does the chemical reaction at the launch of the shuttle demonstrate conservation of matter? OK managed that but I have got A levels in Phys and Chem (very old A levels) - not sure if a year 7 could manage!