Close your eyes and imagine a brick wall. What is the most basic building unit of that wall? Well, it's a single brick. Everything in the universe is built up of little building blocks, much like a brick wall. So let's gather the necessary blocks to construct the building of science together.
Building Blocks of Science: Introduction
In our everyday life, we are surrounded by objects we can touch and feel. In science, all these building blocks are considered matter.
Matter is any material that has mass and takes up space by having volume.
But the universe is not just made up of matter. Matter, together with energy, are the main components of the universe. In physics, energy is defined as the ability to do work. It can be potential, kinetic, thermal, electrical, chemical, radioactive, or other forms. Energy is conserved, meaning that it is neither produced nor destroyed. It can only convert from one state to another.
In certain forms, such as thermal and radioactive, energy can be carried by waves.
It is essential to understand what makes up the matter around us. Hundreds of chemical and physical reactions occur around us in our everyday life, most of which involve the interaction of matter particles at a chemical or physical level.
For example, when you put the kettle on to make tea, the water boils and changes from a liquid state to a gaseous state. This is an example of a physical reaction. Or when you turn on a gas stove to cook something, the methane (CH4) gas (i.e., natural gas) undergoes combustion and releases heat. The combustion of methane is a chemical reaction in which methane particles react with the oxygen (O2) in the air to create carbon dioxide (CO2) and water vapour (H2O) and release a substantial amount of energy.
Living organisms are made of living building blocks called cells. These cells are made of matter particles that constantly interact to keep the cells and the organism alive.
Having a good understanding of how particles behave and react is imperative for learning science and being able to understand and predict scientific phenomena in the universe.
Building Blocks of Matter
Atoms are the basic building blocks of matter. When two or more atoms are joined, they form a molecule. The majority of matter that exists in the physical world is made up of large clusters of atoms and molecules. The periodic table has 118 different types of atoms that have been discovered to this day, each representing a distinct chemical element.
Atoms are composed of subatomic particles called protons, neutrons, and electrons. The nucleus, which lies in an atom's heart, contains protons and neutrons. Protons have a positive charge, whereas neutrons are neutral. Electrons have a negative charge and reside in orbitals around the nucleus.
Dive into the world of Particle Model of Matter and Atomic Structure by checking out our articles!
Protons and neutrons are made up of elementary particles known as quarks, considered elementary particles since they cannot be broken down into smaller units of matter.
A compound is created when atoms and molecules from two or more elements come together in a chemical reaction.
This newly formed compound may have characteristics that bear no resemblance to that of the original elements.
States of Matter
Matter around us may exist in three different states depending on temperature and other variables. These are solid, liquid, and gas.
Learn more about the States of Matter by checking out our article!
Depending on the temperature and pressure in the system, a single element or compound of matter may live in more than one state.
Water (H2O), for example, exists in solid, liquid, and gaseous forms and can be easily observed in any of these states.
Solids
Atoms and molecules in solid materials are densely packed. This restricts the movement of these particles. All solids have an established shape, mass, and volume that prohibits them from changing form to the shape and volume of the container in which they are stored.
This is one of the characteristics that distinguish solid materials from liquids. Learn more about Solids by checking out our article!
Liquids
Contrary to solids, liquid particles are more loosely packed. This allows them to move around and flow over each other, giving the liquid an arbitrary form. As a result, liquids can adapt to the geometry of the containers they are poured into.
Want to know more about Liquids?! Be sure to check out our article!
Gases
Particles in the gaseous state are spread out since there is so much space between them. This property gives the gaseous particles greater mobility and higher kinetic energy. Gases can be contained, and they, too, can conform to the volume and shape of their container. But unlike liquids and solids, gases are compressible by shrinking the container and reducing the distance between the particles.
Gases have some unique properties, check out our article to learn more!
Building Blocks of Science: Waves
The term 'wave' refers to various specific methods by which energy can be shared. For instance, energy can be transferred via electromagnetic waves by vibrations of electric and magnetic fields. Sound waves transfer energy via the vibration of air particles or solid particles through which the sound passes.
Do Waves sound groovy? Learn more about them by checking out our article!
The amount of energy carried by a wave is proportional to its frequency and amplitude. The greater the frequency, the greater the energy, and the greater the amplitude, the greater the energy.
A wave's amplitude is the distance between the centre line (or static position) and the peak of a crest or the bottom of a trough.
The number of waves that travel through a particular point in a given time is described by frequency. So, if a wave takes 0.25 seconds to pass, the frequency is 4 per second.
There are two types of waves, longitudinal and transverse. The vibrations in longitudinal waves are parallel to the direction of wave travel. In transverse waves, however, the vibrations are perpendicular to the direction of wave flow.
Building blocks of science: Cells
Cells are the building blocks of all living things. Some organisms are made up of simply one cell, while others comprise many cells.
Learn more about Cell Structure and how cells are formed via our Cell Division articles!
For example, a typical adult human body is composed of 37.2 trillion cells!
The cell is the fundamental structural and functional unit of all living things.
Cells support the organism's structure, absorb nutrients from their surrounding, transform those nutrients into usable energy, and perform specific activities. Cells also carry the body's genetic material and can replicate themselves. Each cell has many different parts and structures that each serve a particular function. These parts are called organelles. The table below shows a list of organelles found in various cells and their functions.
Delve into the world of Transport in Cells to see how nutrients become usable energy and Cell Differentiation to learn more about how different cells end up with specific functions!
Name | Type of Cell | Description | Function |
The cell membrane (plasma membrane) | Bacteria Animals Plants | Phospholipid and proteins bilayer | Selective barrier, separating the cell from the external environment |
Cell wall | Bacteria Plants | Rigid structure outside the plasma membrane | Giving the cell its shape and providing additional support and protection |
Nucleus | Animals Plants | Stores DNA, the genetic material | Determines the cell's function and controls all activities |
Golgi apparatus | Animals Plants | Found in the cytoplasm | Modifies newly made proteins |
Mitochondria | Animals Plants | The powerhouse of the cell | Site of aerobic respiration |
Chloroplast | Plants | Contains green chlorophyll pigments | Site of photosynthesis |
Ribosomes | Bacteria Animals Plants | Found floating in the cytoplasm or bound to the rough endoplasmic reticulum | Involved in protein synthesis |
Multiple cells come together and form tissues. Different tissues with related functions come together to create an organ, and numerous organs comprise an organ system. These organ systems together to form the body.
In multicellular organisms, most cells are specialised and have adaptations that make them better suited and more efficient in their roles.
As an example, we will look at neurons and how they form part of the nervous system in the next section.
Building Blocks of Science: The Nervous System
Neurons are information transmitters and are the building blocks of the nervous system. They transfer information between various parts of the brain and between the brain and the rest of the nervous system through electrical impulses and chemical signals. To perform their roles, neurons must be able to transfer electrical impulses quickly along their length and communicate with neighbouring neuron synapses that separate them.
Nerve cells have various adaptations to help them in their jobs. Each neuron has an axon, cell body, and projections coming out of the cell body called dendrites. The axon is a long, thin section through which the electrical impulse travels, and it is surrounded by a fatty myelin coating that functions as an electrical insulator. This enhances the rate of impulse conductance.
Dendrites provide a large surface area, allowing the neuron to communicate with many other neurons or sensory cells. In addition, many mitochondria are found in the cell body of a neuron. These mitochondria supply the energy needed to produce electrical and chemical signals.
Building Blocks of Science - Key takeaways
- Matter is any material that has mass and takes up space by having volume. Matter, together with energy, are the main components of the universe.
- Atoms are the fundamental building components of matter. When two or more atoms are joined, they form a molecule.
- Matter around us is observable in may exist in three different states depending on temperature and other variables. These are solid, liquid, and gas.
- The term 'wave' refers to various specific methods by which energy can be transferred.
- The cell is the fundamental structural and functional unit of all living things.
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