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Module 1
THE PHYSICAL WORLD: AN OVERVIEW
Introduction
Where do we come from? What are we made of? How did life on earth start? These are some
of the questions regarding our existence that science has been pondering for centuries. An-
cient people tried to answer these questions by formulating theories that could explain our
existence. With the advancement of mathematics, science, and technology, these theories
have been tested through scientific discoveries and experiments. Science 10 introduces you to
these widely accepted theories regarding the origin of the universe and life here on earth,
from the fields of physics, chemistry, and geology. It should be noted, however, that these
validated theories may still not be the absolute answers to questions regarding our existence
as science continues to advance and currently accepted theories are tested further.
In this module, we begin the course by defining the physical world and finding out how it is
being studied by physics, chemistry, and geology. We will also discuss the importance of
studying and understanding our physical world.
Learning Outcomes
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Activity 1
Read Chapter 3 - What is Reality? of the book The Grand Design by Hawking and Mlodi-
now (a copy of the reading is available at the SCIENCE 10 course site on your VLE) and an-
swer the following study questions:
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SCIENCE 10 - Probing the Physical World
In classical science, the physical world was considered real (it exists) to the extent that it
could be perceived through the senses. This is based on the philosophical concept of realism.
Thus, based on this definition, all of the things that we can see with the naked eye are part of
the physical world. This definition of the physical world, however, excludes things that are
invisible or that cannot be seen by the naked eye.
Basically, the physical world refers to the inanimate objects in the universe. The components
of the physical world range from elementary particles to light and heavy elements, stars, gal-
axies, and planetary systems; from molecules to supramolecules; and from the earth to its
spheres — geosphere, atmosphere, and hydrosphere.
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Activity 2
Read the articles listed below and answer the study questions indicated for each (a copy of
each reading is available at the SCIENCE 10 course site on your VLE).
Chapter 1.3 - The Structures of the World in Basic Physics edited by Kenneth W. Ford
1. What are the parts of the physical world as explained in this reading?
2. Which parts of the physical world are studied by physics? by chemistry? by geology?
Chapter 1.5 - Theory and Experiment in Science in Basic Physics edited by Kenneth W.
Ford
1. How does experiment complement theory?
2. How does scientific knowledge develop?
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The physical world can be classified using temporal and spatial scales. The temporal scale
presents the chronological order of the formation of the components of the physical world.
This can be best presented with the cosmic calendar, which gives us an idea of the time inter-
vals within which these physical components of the universe were created (see Figure 1).
On the other hand, the spatial scale classifies components of the physical world according to
its dimensions — i.e. from the submicroscopic scale to the cosmological scale. This type of
classification also provides information about which field of science studies a corresponding
component of the physical world (see Table 1) and how these fields are interconnected. As
shown in Table 1, Physics deals with the elementary particles, atomic nucleus, atoms, stars,
galaxies, and the known part of the universe; Chemistry deals with the elements, compounds,
and supramolecules (or aggregates); and Geology deals with the earth and its spheres.
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SCIENCE 10 - Probing the Physical World
Table 1. The structure of the physical world in terms of its spatial scale (adapted from Ford, 2016)
All three fields of science make use of probes in studying the physical world. These probes
are in the form of theories and technologies. A number of theories have been formulated to
explain and develop a better understanding of our physical world. These theories are tested
through scientific discoveries and experiments which can either reject or support them. For-
mulating a theory and doing an experiment are part of what we know as the scientific
method. Recall that the scientific method, which provides a logical and systematic way of
doing scientific investigations, includes the following:
1. Gathering facts
2. Observing to identify laws (patterns or regularities) tying the facts together
3. Making a hypothesis
4. Testing the hypothesis against known facts
5. Predicting new facts and further tests
6. Formulating a theory
7. Elaborating and applying the theory
The sequence of these steps in the scientific method may be modified in accordance with the
goals or objectives of scientific investigations. Moreover, it should be noted that all fields of
science, whether applied, natural, or social, use the scientific method to probe natural and so-
cial phenomena, which results in scientific progress.
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SCIENCE 10 - Probing the Physical World
For a further discussion of how we study the physical world, refer to the following learning
resources:
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Activity 3
Read Chapter 4 - Public Attitudes towards Science in Stephen Hawking’s Black Holes and
Baby Universes and Other Essays and answer the following study questions:
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The advancement of science and technology have brought drastic changes to how we live in,
think about, and relate to our physical world. Our current living conditions and our way of
thinking and making decisions are influenced by scientific and technological advancements.
However, because of the lack of understanding of our physical world from the perspective of
science, there is a tendency to misuse technological advancements, resulting in effects that
are detrimental rather than beneficial to us.
The lack of understanding of our physical world may be traced to how science is being taught
in our schools. Science is usually presented in a dry and uninteresting manner, so much so
that we do not see its relevance to our daily lives. Science may be perceived by most of us as
just a subject full of equations that quantitatively define our physical world, without due ap-
preciation of its experimental and exploratory character. This creates a gap between the theo-
ries and technologies for explaining and understanding our physical world on the one hand,
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SCIENCE 10 - Probing the Physical World
and the physical world itself on the other hand, which in turn gives rise to many misconcep-
tions about the physical world.
There is a need to bridge this gap by “laymanizing” scientific ideas or theories without losing
their essence in explaining and understanding the physical world. This could spark the inter-
est of non-scientists in learning the science of the physical world. This spark could lead to a
desire to further explore and investigate the physical world and ultimately, our existence.
For further discussion of “laymanizing” scientific ideas and theories, refer to the following
resources:
• Delivering effective science communication: advice from a professional science commu-
nicator - https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1084952117301933
• The Power of Science Communication - https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/
pii/S1877042814050010
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Activity 4
Science’s quest for answers to existential questions has produced many technologies that we
are currently benefitting from.
Conclusion
The physical world includes the inanimate objects in the universe, which range in scale from
the submicroscopic to the cosmological. These include elementary particles, light and heavy
elements, stars, galaxies, and planetary systems; molecules and supramolecules and aggre-
gates; and the earth and its spheres — the geosphere, atmosphere, and hydrosphere.
Our knowledge of the physical world comes from the application of the scientific method in
physics, chemistry, and geology. This knowledge consists of various concepts, theories, and
models, a fuller understanding of which will enable us to better appreciate and relate to our
physical world.
Now that we have discussed the scope of the physical world, we should be ready to answer
the “existential” questions from the perspective of physics, chemistry, and geology, beginning
with the next module on the birth of our universe.
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SCIENCE 10 - Probing the Physical World
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Activity 5
Map in the graph below the following components of the physical world according to their
appropriate temporal and spatial scales.
Spatial Scale
Temporal Scale
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Instructions:
2. Explore and identify the technologies that we are currently using in our everyday lives.
3. With the technologies that you have identified, pick three of those that you most frequently
use and trace back their original uses in the quest through our physical world.
Hawking, S., & Mlodinow, L. (2010). The grand design. New York: Bantam Books.
Hawking, S., & Hawking, S. (1992). Stephen Hawking's A brief history of time: A reader's
companion. New York: Bantam Books.
Hawking, S., & Mlodinow, L. (2005). A briefer history of time. New York: Bantam Books.
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Hawking, S. (1993). Black holes and baby universes and other essays. London: Bantam Press.
References
Hawking, S. & Mlodinow, L. (2010). The grand design. New York: Bantam Books.
Hawking, S. & Hawking, S. (1992). Stephen Hawking's A brief history of time: A reader's
companion. New York: Bantam Books.
Hawking, S. & Mlodinow, L. (2005). A briefer history of time. New York: Bantam Books.
Hawking, S. (1993). Black holes and baby universes and other essays. London: Bantam
Press.
Sagan, C. (1977). The dragons of Eden: Speculations on the evolution of human intelligence.
Supplemental Resources
Books
Feynman, R.P., Leighton, R.B., & Sands, M.L. (1963). The Feynman lectures on physics.
Reading, Mass: Addison-Wesley Pub. Co.
Hutton, J. (2010). Theory of the earth. New York: Classical Books International
Videos
Power of Ten - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0fKBhvDjuy0
Timeline of the Universe - https://www.pbs.org/deepspace/timeline/
Timeline of the Universe - https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/10128
NASA Home and City - https://homeandcity.nasa.gov
Journal Articles
Illingworth, S. (2017). Delivering effective science communication: advice from a profes-
sional science communicator. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.semcdb.2017.04.002
Jucan, M.S. & Jucan, C.N. (2014). The power of science communication. DOI: https://
doi.org/10.1016/j.sbspro.2014.08.288
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