Human senses allow organisms to detect stimuli in their environment. The five traditional human senses are sight, smell, taste, touch, and hearing. Each sense is associated with a specific sense organ - eyes detect light, nose detects chemicals, tongue detects tastes, skin detects touch sensations, ears detect sounds. Sensory information is transmitted via sensory nerves to the brain which processes the stimuli and allows the organism to respond appropriately. Maintaining biodiversity is important for balanced ecosystems as different species interact and depend on one another for survival.
Human senses allow organisms to detect stimuli in their environment. The five traditional human senses are sight, smell, taste, touch, and hearing. Each sense is associated with a specific sense organ - eyes detect light, nose detects chemicals, tongue detects tastes, skin detects touch sensations, ears detect sounds. Sensory information is transmitted via sensory nerves to the brain which processes the stimuli and allows the organism to respond appropriately. Maintaining biodiversity is important for balanced ecosystems as different species interact and depend on one another for survival.
Sense Sense organ Stimulus Touch Skin Pain, heat Smell Nose Chemicals Taste Tongue Chemicals Hearing Ears Sounds Sight Eyes Light 2. Human beings response to stimulus 3. The human skin has five receptors. The skin is sensitive to touch. It responds to the stimuli of heat, cold, pressure and pain. 4. The degree of sensitivity of the skin depends on (a) the thickness of the layer of epidermis (b) the number of receptors present 5. The nose is the sense organ that is sensitive to chemicals in the air (smell). The smell receptors are located at the upper part of the nasal cavity. 6. The sensitivity to smell decreases when a person has a cold or flu. 7. The tongue is the sensory organ that is sensitive to taste. 8. Different areas of the tongue are sensitive to sweet, salty, sour and bitter tastes. 9. The sense of taste is affected by the sense of smell. 10. The ears are the sensory organs for hearing. They are sensitive to sounds. 11. The ear also functions as an organ of balance for the body. 12. The path of sound waves from the ear to the brain Sound waves ear lobe auditory canal eardrum ossicles oval window cochlea auditory nerve brain Stimulus sensory organ nerves brain nerves response The World through Our Senses 1 13. The eyes are sense organs of sight and respond to the light stimulus. 14. The path of light from the eye to the brain 15. Light that falls on an opaque surface will be reflected or absorbed. 16. Refraction of light occurs because the speed of light changes in media of different densities. 17. Our eye lens forms an image that is real, inverted and smaller than the object on the retina. 18. Short-sighted people see near objects clearly. Distant objects look blurred. 19. Short-sightedness is corrected by using concave lenses. 20. Long-sighted people see distant objects clearly. Near objects look blurred. 21. Long-sightedness is corrected by using convex lenses. 22. Astigmatism happens when the cornea or the eye lens is not evenly curved. 23. Properties of light (a) Speed of light in air is 3 x 10 8 m/s. (b) Light travels in a straight path. (c) Light can be reflected. (d) Light can be refracted. light ray normal glass block bends away from the normal Light cornea aqueous humour pupil eye lens vitreous humour retina optic nerve brain QN2 24. Limitations of sight (a) Optical illusion: What is seen is different from the actual situation (b) Blind spot: Images that fall on this spot on the retina cannot be detected 25. Types of vision (a) Stereoscopic vision: Eyes are on the front and both eyes are used to see objects. (b) Monocular vision: Eyes are located on the sides of the head and the eyes are used to see all around. 26. Devices used to overcome limitations of sight include microscopes, magnifying glasses, telescopes, binoculars and X-rays. 27. Properties of sound (a) Sound is produced by vibrations. (b) Sound travels in waves. (c) Sound needs a medium to travel through. (d) Sound can be reflected. (e) Sound can be absorbed. 28. Responses in plants to external stimuli (a) Phototropism: response to light (b) Geotropism: response to gravity (c) Hydrotropism: response to water (d) Nastic movement: response to touch, light and heat (e) Thigmotropism: response to touch or contact 29. Positive geotropism and positive hydrotropism help roots to absorb water and mineral salts. They also help to support plants. 30. Positive phototropism helps leaves to obtain sunlight. Nutrition 2 1. There are seven classes of food: carbohydrates, proteins, fats, vitamins, minerals, fibre and water. 2. Carbohydrates and fats provide energy for the body. 3. Proteins are needed to make new cells and repair damaged body tissues. 4. Fats also act as insulators and help in the transport of fat-soluble vitamins. 5. Vitamins and minerals are required in small amounts to maintain good health. 6. Fibre helps in peristalsis and prevents constipation. 7. Water is used to dissolve and transport hormones, digested food and to keep the body temperature and blood concentration constant. 8. The presence of the different classes of food can be shown using the following food tests. (a) Starch: turns to blue-black when tested with iodine solution (b) Glucose: a brick-red precipitate forms when heated with Benedicts solution (c) Protein: a white precipitate forms when tested with Millons reagent and turns red upon heating (d) Fats: forms an emulsion when mixed with alcohol 9. A balanced diet contains all the seven classes of food in the right proportions. The food pyramid 10. The factors that determine a balanced diet include age, sex, body size, amount of physical activity and occupation. 11. Energy in food can be measured in calories (cal) and joules (J). 12. The calorific value of food is usually given in kilojoules (kJ) or kilocalories (kcal). 13. Digestion is the breakdown of large complex food substances into smaller, simpler particles. 14. The human digestive system consists of the alimentary canal and its related organs like liver, pancreas and gall bladder. 15. The alimentary canal is made up of the mouth, Eat the least Eat the most Fats and sugar (little) Meat and proteins (2-3 servings a day) Fruits and vegetables (at least 5 servings a day) Cereals and rice (8-11 servings a day) QN3 Biodiversity 3 1. Biodiversity is the variety of living organisms present in a particular area. 2. Habitat is the place where an organism lives. For example, forest and pond. 3. All living organisms show diversity in characteristics, size and appearances. 4. Classification is the sorting of living organisms which have common characteristics into groups. 5. Living organisms can be classified into animals, plants, fungi, bacteria and very simple organisms. 6. Animals can be classified into vertebrates (with backbones) and invertebrates (without backbones). 7. Vertebrates can be classified into fish, amphibians, reptiles, birds and mammals. 8. Plants can be classified into flowering plants and non-flowering plants. 9. Flowering plants can be classified into monocotyledons and dicotyledons. 10. Examples of monocotyledons are maize, sugar cane, banana and paddy. oesophagus, stomach, small intestine, large intestine, rectum and anus. 16. Enzymes are organic catalysts which speed up the chemical reactions in the body. All enzymes are proteins. Enzymes are classified according to the substrate they act upon, like amylases which digest carbohydrates, proteases which digest proteins and lipases which digest fats. 17. Carbohydrates are digested by amylases in the mouth and duodenum into maltose and in the small intestine into glucose. Proteins are digested by proteases in the stomach and duodenum into polypeptides and in the small intestine into amino acids. Fats are emulsified by bile into small globules and then digested by lipases in the duodenum into fatty acids and glycerols. 18. Salivary glands secrete saliva which contains the enzyme amylase. 19. Gastric juice produced by the gastric glands in the stomach wall contains dilute hydrochloric acid and the enzyme protease. The acid stops the action of the amylase and provides an acidic medium for the protease to act. It also kills certain bacteria in the stomach. 20. Bile is a greenish alkaline juice secreted by the liver and stored in the gall bladder. It does not contain enzymes but it neutralises the acid from the stomach and emulsifies fats by breaking the fats and oils into small globules to increase the surface area for lipases to act on. 21. Pancreatic juice is secreted by the pancreas and flows into the duodenum. It contains the enzymes amylase, protease and lipase. salivary glands liver gall bladder duodenum appendix pancreas stomach rectum small intestine large intestine lower part of small intestine 22. The end products of digestion namely glucose, amino acids, fatty acids and glycerols are absorbed into the blood capillaries by simple diffusion in the villi of the small intestine. 23. In the large intestine, there is no digestion of food, but water, dissolved minerals and vitamins are reabsorbed. Undigested food is temporarily stored in the large intestine before it is changed into faeces, passed into the rectum and expelled through the anus. villi small intestine QN4 sunlight carbon dioxide for plant to produce food food grasshopper oxygen provides p r o v i d e s ant shelter food provides bird nutrients water and minerals decomposers Interdependence among Living Organisms and the Environment 4 1. A species is a group of organisms with common characteristics. 2. A population is a group of organisms of the same species living together and are able to mate to produce young ones. 3. A community consists of many populations of different organisms living together in a habitat. For example, a freshwater pond community is made up of fish, dragonflies, tadpoles, water snails and water hyacinths. 4. An ecosystem is a system that consists of living components that interact with each other and with the non-living components in the environment. 5. The living components refer to the living organisms in the environment. 11. Examples of dicotyledons are hibiscus, sunflower, balsam and mango tree. 12. Non-flowering plants can be classified into mosses, algae, ferns and conifers. 13. Biodiversity is important to keep the balance of living organisms in their natural habitats. 14. Biodiversity in the natural environment contributes the following. (a) Valuable plant and animal resources for research and development of new medicinal and agricultural products (b) Source of genetic diversity (c) Raw materials for industries (d) Source of food (e) Clean air and water 6. The non-living components refer to the physical factors of the environment like temperature, light, water, soil and oxygen. 7. A balanced ecosystem is one where each of its population of organisms does not change much over a period of time. 8. Interactions between organisms produce a balanced ecosystem. 9. Examples of interactions between organisms are predatorprey, symbiosis and competition. 10. Predatorprey relationship is an interaction where an organism hunts other organisms for food. 11. Predator is the organism that eats other organisms whilst prey is the organism hunted as food by the predator. For example, a snake feeding on a frog is a predator and the frog is the prey. 12. Symbiosis is an interaction between two organisms of different species living close together whereby at least one benefits from this interaction. 13. Symbiosis can be divided into commensalism, mutualism and parasitism. 14. Commensalism is an interaction between two organisms in which one organism (commensal) benefits while the other (host) neither benefits nor is harmed by it. For example, the interaction between a remora fish that attaches to the underside of a shark and the shark itself. 15. Mutualism is an interaction between two organisms in which both benefit. For example, the relationship in a lichen where the alga produces food for the fungi and the fungi provides shelter for the alga. 16. Parasitism is an interaction between two Interactions between organisms in an ecosystem QN5 organisms in which one organism (parasite) benefits from living outside or in the host. The host suffers harmful effects. For example, ticks, fleas and lice that live on mammals and suck their blood are called parasites. 17. Competition takes place when organisms living in a habitat fight for the same basic needs such as food, shelter, sunlight and breeding partners. 18. Biological control is a method used to control the population of a particular organism (for example, pests) by using another organism (for example, predators). 19. A food chain is the sequence of organisms through which energy is transferred in the form of food. For example: Paddy plant grasshoppers frogs snakes 20. Producers are organisms like green plants that make their own food. 21. Consumers are herbivores which feed on plants. For example, grasshoppers. 22. Decomposers are bacteria and fungi which cause the breakdown and decay of dead plants and animals. 23. A food web is made up of two or more interconnecting food chains that describes the feeding relationships and energy flow in an ecosystem. 24. A pyramid of numbers is a chart shaped like a pyramid that shows the number of organisms at each stage of a food chain. 25. Photosynthesis is the process in which green plants make food from carbon dioxide and water in the presence of sunlight and chlorophyll. 26. Plants need carbon dioxide, water, chlorophyll and light to carry out photosynthesis. owl (predator) rat (prey) parasite sucks the juice of plant stem ladybird beetle (predator) 27. Carbon cycle is the continuous process of removing and returning carbon in the form of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. 28. Oxygen cycle is the continuous process of removing and returning oxygen into the atmosphere. 29. Conservation is the careful and intelligent use of natural resources in an orderly and well- managed way. 30. Preservation is the act of keeping living organisms and the environment in their original state. 31. Man should conserve and preserve the resources in the environment by creating and maintaining natural parks, planning proper use of land for development, replanting trees that have been cut down and enforcing laws related to the preservation of the environment and wildlife. CARBON DIOXIDE in the atmosphere Photosynthesis Decomposition Burning Respiration of microorganisms Fossil fuels Wood and leaves Photosynthesis in aquatic plants Respiration Respiration in aquatic organisms Decaying organisms sunlight carbon dioxide from the air chlorophyll in leaves traps light energy product released into the air converted to starch for storage o x y g e n g lu c o s e water from soil QN6 7. In both evaporation and boiling (a) liquid changes to gas (b) heat energy is absorbed 8. Applications of evaporation of water (a) Drying hair, clothes, tools and utensils under the Sun (b) Drying agricultural products (c) Processing of dry food in factories 9. Solute (sugar cubes) + solvent (water) solution (sugar solution) 10. A solute is the substance that dissolves in a solvent. 11. A solvent is the substance that the solute dissolves in. 12. A solution is formed when one or more solutes dissolve in a solvent. 13. A dilute solution contains only a little solute. 14. A concentrated solution contains more solute compared to a dilute solution. 15. A saturated solution contains the maximum quantity of solute that can dissolve in it. It cannot dissolve any more solute at that particular temperature. 16. A solution is homogenous and its colour, density and other properties are the same throughout. 17. A suspension is a mixture of insoluble, small, solid particles suspended in a liquid or gas. 18. The factors affecting the solubility of a solute are (a) nature of the solvent (b) nature of the solute (c) temperature of the solvent 19. The factors affecting the rate of dissolving are (a) size of solute particles solute solvent solution mixture of solute and solvent particles Water and Solution 5 1. Physical properties of water (a) Water can exist as a solid, a liquid or a gas. (b) The freezing point of water or the temperature at which pure water becomes ice, is 0 C. (c) The boiling point of water or the temperature at which water boils and changes to steam under normal pressure, is 100 C. (d) The density of water is 1 g/cm 3 at 4 C. (e) Water is a neutral liquid. (f) Water turns blue cobalt chloride paper to pale pink. 2. Impurities in water decrease its freezing point and increase its boiling point and density. 3. The ratio of hydrogen to oxygen in one molecule of water is 2 : 1. This composition can be demonstrated by the electrolysis of water (breakdown of the water molecule using electricity). Oxygen is released at the anode and hydrogen at the cathode. 4. Evaporation is a process where a liquid changes to a gas at any temperature below the liquids boiling point. 5. Factors that affect the rate of evaporation of water are (a) humidity of air (b) temperature of the surroundings (c) surface area of water exposed (d) movement of surrounding air 6. Differences between boiling and evaporation Boiling Evaporation Fast process Slow process Occurs at the Occurs at any temperature boiling point only below the boiling point Occurs within the Occurs only at the surface whole liquid of the liquid evaporated particles air surface faster particle leaving liquid QN7 (b) rate of stirring the solvent (c) temperature of the solvent (d) volume of the solvent 20. Water is a universal solvent in life because it is used (a) in homes for washing, bathing, cooking and making drinks (b) in industries to manufacture drinks, food, soap, detergent, textile and steel (c) to dissolve nutrients in agriculture. In hydro- ponics, it is used as solutions containing nutrients for plant growth (d) to dissolve medicinal drugs (e) to support many biological processes such as digestion, circulation, respiration and transpiration 21. Uses of organic solvents (a) Alcohol: used to prepare antiseptics when iodine is dissolved in it (b) Ether: used to extract fats and oil (c) Turpentine: used to dilute paint (d) Petrol: used in making perfumes (e) Amyl acetate: used in cosmetics (f) Acetone: used in nail varnishes and lacquer 22. Properties of acids (a) Corrosive (b) Taste sour (c) Turn blue litmus paper red (d) Have pH values of less than 7 (e) React with a metal to give off hydrogen (f) React with carbonates to give off carbon dioxide 23. Properties of alkalis (a) Corrosive (b) Taste bitter (c) Feel soapy (d) Turn red litmus paper to blue (e) Have pH values of more than 7 (f) React with ammonium salts to give off ammonia gas 24. Examples of acidic and alkaline substances used in daily life Acidic substances Alkaline substances Chinese tea Toothpaste Lime juice Detergent Tomato sauce Milk of magnesia Bread Sea water Acidic substances Alkaline substances Apple Baking soda Vinegar Soap 25. Uses of acids (a) Hydrochloric acid: to clean metals before coating (b) Sulphuric acid: to make fertilisers, paints and used as an electrolyte in car batteries (c) Nitric acid: to make dyes and explosives (d) Ascorbic acid: used in the production of vitamin C (e) Acetic acid: to preserve food and used as an artificial vinegar 26. Uses of alkalis (a) Sodium hydroxide: to make soap, detergents and rayon (b) Potassium hydroxide: to prepare dyes and paint removers (c) Calcium hydroxide: to manufacture cement and neutralise soil acidity (d) Ammonia solution: as cleaning and bleaching agents (e) Magnesium hydroxide: to make toothpastes and milk of magnesia 27. Neutralisation Acid + alkali salt + water 28. Applications of neutralisation (a) Slaked lime (calcium hydroxide) is used to neutralise soil acidity. (b) Milk of magnesia is used to neutralise excess acid in the stomach. (c) Acidic bee stings are neutralised with bicarbonate powder. (d) Alkaline wasp stings are neutralised with vinegar. 29. Various methods of purification of water (a) Filtration: removes suspended particles in water (b) Boiling: kills bacteria in water (c) Chlorination: kills bacteria in water (d) Distillation: removes dissolved substances, microorganisms and suspended particles in water 30. The process of water purification in our water supply systeminvolves the following stages. (a) Water in reservoir Mud, silt and other suspended particles sink QN8 Dynamics 7 1. Force is a push or a pull acting on an object. 2. A force can (a) change the shape of an object (b) change the size of an object (c) change the speed of an object to the bottom of the reservoir or are removed by metal screens. (b) Coagulation Water is pumped into the aeration system to remove unpleasant smells and dissolve oxygen. Alum (aluminium sulphate) and slaked lime (calcium hydroxide) are added to water to coagulate the suspended particles and to reduce the acidity of water. (c) Sedimentation Precipitates settle to the bottom of the tanks. (d) Filtration Suspended particles are removed by sand filters. (e) Chlorination and fluoridation A small amount of chlorine is added to kill bacteria in the water. Fluorine is added to prevent tooth decay. 31. Water pollutants (a) Source: Households Pollutants: Domestic waste and garbage Effects: Cause diseases like typhoid and cholera, reduce the oxygen in the water (b) Source: Factory Pollutants: Inorganic and toxic chemicals Effects: Poisoning in plants, animals and human beings through accumulation of chemical residues in the food chain (c) Source: Farms Pollutants: Pesticides and fertilisers Effects: Poisoning of aquatic organisms, rapid growth of algae and reduction of the oxygen supply in the water (d) Source: Tankers Pollutants: Oil spills Effects: Kills aquatic plants, animals and seabirds Air Pressure 6 1. Air has weight and it exerts pressure on the surface of an object. 2. Air particles inside a container move randomly, collide with the walls of the container and exert pressure on the walls. 3. The air pressure around us is also known as the atmospheric pressure. 4. Air pressure is affected by volume and temperature. When the volume of a container increases, the pressure in it decreases. When the temperature of air in a container increases, its pressure increases too. 5. Syringes, pipettes, drinking straws, bicycle pumps and siphons apply the principle of air pressure. 6. Gases are compressed under high pressure and stored as liquids in gas cylinders. When the valve of a cylinder is opened, the pressure falls. This causes the liquid to change back to gas. The gas escapes through the valve. 7. Precautions when using a gas cylinder (a) Store gas cylinders in open spaces. (b) Keep gas cylinders away from direct sunlight or heat. (c) Do not place hot objects on top of the gas cylinder. (d) Check the rubber hose regularly for leakages. (e) Remove the regulator when not in use. 32. Ways to control water pollution include (a) educational campaign on preserving water (b) implementation of laws to safeguard water quality (c) not throwing rubbish into drains or rivers (d) recycling water (e) treating industrial waste products before disposing QN9 Support and Movement 8 1. There are three types of support systems in animals. (a) Exoskeletons: Support system for animals like grasshoppers and crabs (b) Endoskeletons: Support system for humans and animals like whales (c) Hydrostatic skeletons: Support system for animals like earthworms and caterpillars (d) change the direction of motion of an object (e) move a stationary object or stop a moving object 3. Types of forces (a) Gravitational force: The force that pulls all objects towards the centre of the Earth. (b) Magnetic force: The force of attraction or repulsion between a magnet and magnetic substances. (c) Electrostatic force: The force produced by charged substances. (d) Electrical force: The force produced when electrical charges flow through a conductor. (e) Electromagnetic force: The force produced by a current flowing through a conductor. (f) Frictional force: The force produced when two surfaces rub against each other. 4. Force is measured in newtons (N), using a spring balance or a Newton balance. 5. Some daily activities which depend on friction are walking, climbing, writing, holding objects and using brakes to stop a moving vehicle. 6. Friction opposes motion. It has direction (opposite of motion) and magnitude. 7. The magnitude of friction depends on the type of contact surfaces (smooth or rough). A rough surface has a bigger frictional force compared to a smooth surface. 8. Advantages of friction (a) Slows down or stops a moving vehicle (b) Enables a flint to produce sparks to ignite gas (c) Prevents vehicles from skidding (d) Enables us to walk, climb, write and hold objects (e) Holds a nail in the wood or the wall 9. Disadvantages of friction (a) Opposes motion and wastes energy (b) Wears away materials (c) Produces unwanted heat 10. Friction can be increased by increasing the roughness of the surfaces in contact, for example, the rough patterns on tyres and soles of shoes. 11. Friction can be reduced by using (a) wheels (b) ball bearings (c) rollers (d) grease or oil (e) air cushions 12. Work is done when a force moves an object over a distance. 13. Power is the rate of doing work. 14. We will not be able to do many things and use many devices in our daily life if there is no force. work (J) Power (W) = time (s) Work = force distance moved in the direction of the force J = N m metal rollers wheel Ball bearings hinge balloon Air pack glass tube cork air table plastic disc QN10 2. The functions of skeletons are to (a) support and maintain the shape of the body (b) support tissues and to protect the soft organs 3. Land and aquatic vertebrates have endoskeletons. Big and strong skeletons support the body weight of land vertebrates. The body weight of aquatic vertebrates are supported by water buoyancy. 4. Land and aquatic invertebrates have exoskeletons or hydrostatic skeletons. 5. Woody plants (mango, Angsana, Casuarina) use woody tissues (secondary xylem cells) for support. 6. Buttress roots and prop roots also help to support woody plants. 7. Herbaceous plants (balsam, banana, yam) are supported by cell turgidity. 8. Some land plants with soft stems have special support structures like (a) clasping roots: pepper and money plants (b) twining stems: morning glory, long beans (c) tendrils: cucumber, gourds (d) thorns: rose, cane 9. Aquatic plants have many air sacs in their stems and leaves. These plants are supported by water buoyancy. 8. Heavy objects are more stable than light objects of the same size and shape. 9. An object is more stable if it has a lower centre of gravity and a bigger base area. 10. The principle of a low centre of gravity for greater stability is applied in racing cars, heavy vehicles like buses and lorries, household utensils and laboratory equipments. 11. The principle of a heavier and larger base area for greater stability is applied in table fans, table lamps, Bunsen burners and retort stands. Stability 9 Simple Machines 10 1. All objects have a point of equilibrium. 2. The equilibrium point of an object is its centre of gravity. 3. The centre of gravity is the point through which the whole weight of an object acts on. 4. The point of equilibrium of a regularly shaped object is at its centre. 5. Stability refers to an objects ability to remain in its original position. 6. An object is said to be stable if the object does not topple easily when a force acts on it. 7. Factors that affect the stability of an object are (a) the position of the centre of gravity (b) the base area 1. Levers are simple machines. A lever is a rigid rod or bar which turns freely about a fixed point (fulcrum). It turns when a force (effort) is applied to overcome another force (load). 2. There are three classes of levers (a) First class levers (b) Second class levers (c) Third class levers 3. Characteristics of the first class levers (a) Fulcrum is between the load and the effort (b) Produces a large force from a small effort (c) Examples include scissors, see-saw, pliers, claw hammer and beam balance 4. Characteristics of the second class levers (a) Load is between the fulcrum and the effort (b) Produces a large force from a small effort (c) Examples include wheelbarrow, nutcracker, paper cutter, bottle-opener and can-opener distance of effort distance of load load fulcrum effort F distance of load load fulcrum effort distance of effort QN11 5. Characteristics of the third class levers (a) Effort is between the fulcrum and the load (b) A small movement of the effort produces a large movement of the load (c) Examples include broom, fishing rod, ice tongs, golf club and human arm 6. The moment of a force is the turning effect of a force. 7. The moment of a force about a point is equal to the product of the force and the perpendicular distance between force and the fulcrum. 8. For levers that are balanced Load (N) load distance (m) = Effort (N) effort distance (m) perpendicular distance fulcrum lever force fulcrum lever force perpendicular distance distance of load load fulcrum effort distance of effort