Science / Year 9 / Science as a Human Endeavour / Nature and development of science

• TLF-IDL5826

Investigate the internal structure of the Earth using earthquake measurements. Examine the Earth’s outer layer. Fit the Earth's tectonic plates together like a jigsaw puzzle. Identify how plate movements produce many features of the Earth’s surface. Predict the formation of new volcanic islands. This learning object is ...

• TLF-IDL8031

Watch radioactive decay happen at the sub-atomic level. Make predictions and analyse graphs resulting from the decay of an array of radioactive atoms in order to determine the half-life of the element. For example, find the half-life of the radioactive element used in carbon dating, carbon-14. This learning object is a ...

• TLF-IDL10326

Test your understanding of the Earth's internal structure. Use animations and images to help you answer a series of questions dealing with the seismic exploration of the Earth’s internal structure and the structure of tectonic plates. View and print a report on your work. This assessment object is one in a series of two objects.

• TLF-IDL5828

Investigate tectonic plate behaviour. Identify how plate movements produce many features of the Earth’s surface. This learning object is part of a series of three objects. The series is also packaged as a combined learning object.

• TLF-IDL10327

Test your understanding of tectonic plate movement. Use animations and images to help you answer a series of questions dealing with evidence of plate movement. Interpret data from magnetic surveys of divergent zones, as well as patterns derived from hotspot traces. View and print a report on your work. This assessment object ...

• TLF-IDM016514

This 11 minute video segment from Catalyst explains how the sun can impact on Earth's power grid and satellite communications. This program also describes recent technology to study the sun and understand the causes of coronal mass ejections.

• TLF-IDL8033

Use radiocarbon dating to find and compare the ages of ancient remains. Convert organic samples to gas and use a Geiger counter to measure radioactivity. Use calculations and radioactive decay graphs to estimate the age of the samples. For example, check whether a bone from 'Sthenurus', a giant kangaroo, could be younger ...

• TLF-IDM019338

This is a comprehensive website about Tsunamis. Topics include: what is a tsunami, how tsunamis occur, the impact they have on the environment and people; developments in warning systems; and how to prepare in the event of a tsunami. Resource sections include: Key learning areas; Objectives; Get the facts, with six lesson ...

• TLF-IDM014090

This is a unit of work designed to help students investigate and understand how species interact with each other in an ecosystem. Students examine interactions between the biological and physical aspects of the environment, including possible changes in population numbers, which ultimately cause a change in the wider ecosystem. ...

• TLF-IDM016584

This program gives an update on research into solar thermal electricity. Liddell Power Station in the Hunter Valley, NSW is a hybrid power station using solar energy to pre-heat water and so reduce the use of coal and the production of carbon dioxide. Some scientists claim that harnessing the solar heat in an area 50km ...