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

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Curriculum content descriptions

Scientific understanding, including models and theories, is contestable and is refined over time through a process of review by the scientific community (ACSHE157)

Elaborations
  • investigating the historical development of models of the structure of the atom
  • investigating how the theory of plate tectonics developed, based on evidence from sea-floor spreading and occurrence of earthquakes and volcanic activity
  • considering how ideas about disease transmission have changed from medieval time to the present as knowledge has developed
  • investigating the work of scientists such as Ernest Rutherford, Pierre Curie and Marie Curie on radioactivity and subatomic particles
  • investigating how models can be used to predict the changes in populations due to environmental changes, such as the impact of flooding or fire on rabbit or kangaroo populations
General capabilities
  • Ethical understanding Ethical understanding
ScOT terms

Evaluation,  Theories,  Paradigms,  Dissent,  Peer review

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20 direct matches to ACSHE157

Video

Catalyst: Climate and bushfires in Australia

  • TLF-IDM015380

What can science tell us about the major cause of bushfires in Australia's past? How can it help us predict future bushfires? Two scientists discuss evidence related to bushfire regimes (bushfire patterns, types and intensity). Please note that this clip contains recent images of homes destroyed by fire that may disturb ...

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Video

Elliot and the Surfing Scientist: Carbon dioxide (CO2) fire extinguisher

  • TLF-IDM015748

Different types of chemical reactions are used in many everyday products. Watch this clip to see how two common household substances can be combined to create an 'Invisible Candle Extinguisher'.

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Video

Can photons and atoms generate laser?

  • TLF-IDM019618

Electrons around atoms can absorb and emit photons of particular colours of light – see three different atomic models explain what's going on.

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Video

Catalyst: The home of Australian science

  • TLF-IDM015837

Australia has a long and proud history of excellence in science. How should we celebrate this? Watch this clip to find out about an Australian organisation that recognises and promotes outstanding scientific achievement. You'll also find why its Canberra headquarters is referred to as 'the flying saucer'!

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Video

Catalyst: How will fire change the climate?

  • TLF-IDM021143

Considering the impact of a changing climate on the severity and frequency of fires is one thing, but how about the impact of fires on climate? Why does Professor David Bowman describe this scenario as a 'fire spiral'? What are the consequences of a world with fewer forests? As Professor Craig Allen explains, drought and ...

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Interactive

SmartGraphs - African Lions: Modeling Populations - iTunes app

  • TLF-IDM019773

Investigate population modelling by studying the renowned African lions of the Ngorongoro Crater including real-life scientific data. Analyse graphs and data to answer questions and make predictions about changes in the lion population and other population models. Find out about important ecological and modelling concepts. ...

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Interactive

Kamay – looking up

  • TLF-IDM025852

This resource explores the navigation techniques used during the journey of the Endeavour and contrasts these with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander navigational and astronomical systems that have been in place for many thousands of years. This learning sequence contains activities suitable for Year 7 - Year 10 science ...

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Interactive

Tectonic boundaries

  • TLF-IDL5830

Apply different tectonic forces to plate boundaries. Compare the effects when plates collide, separate, or slide past each other. Investigate the causes of earthquakes, tsunamis and volcanoes. Investigate important boundary sites, for example the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, the Andes, the San Andreas Fault, the Himalayas, and the ...

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Video

Cloud seeding

  • TLF-IDM016406

This nine and a half minute video segment from Catalyst describes how researchers from Monash University have hard evidence that cloud seeding can produce good amounts of extra rainfall. Data collected over a long period of time has give hope to scientists and environmentalists who are trying to reduce the impacts of droughts ...

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Video

Earthshine

  • TLF-IDM016472

This six and a half minute video segment from Catalyst explains Earthshine as light from our own Earth reflected back from the Moon's dark side. A PhD student is studying it to learn about how light reflects from a planet that contains liquid water as well as land. Her work may one day lead to the discovery of other planets ...

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Interactive

Science Talk 2007: Jack Bacon

  • TLF-IDM016255

An interview with Dr Jack Bacon, NASA engineer and futurist. Jack talks to a teacher from Sydney Girls High School about his experiences on the Vomit comet and his research into alternative energy sources. Jack also shares with us his predictions for the future of science, space travel and energy sources.

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Video

Eco Farming

  • TLF-IDM016561

This six and a half minute video segment from Catalyst provides an example of a new strategy to balance human activities and needs with the maintenance of a quality and sustainable environment. Viewers will discover how EcoTender, a land management scheme being trialled by the Victorian Government, is combining science ...

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Video

Dr Ove Goegh-Guldberg

  • TLF-IDM016629

This 5 minute video segment from Catalyst highlights the vulnerability of some of our ecosystems and the way abiotic factors can have a dramatic effect. It also exemplifies the difficult process of having new scientific ideas accepted.

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Audio

CERN legend stuff of angels and demons

  • TLF-IDM016702

This ABC article or podcast by Dr Karl describes and outlines the role of the particle accelerator, the Large Hadron Collider and how it is helping to research the nature of mass. This article is dated (2008) as some significant results from the Large Hadron Collider have since been announced.

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Video

Catalyst: Megafauna fossils

  • TLF-IDM017570

Travel back in time in outback Australia and investigate the giant lumbering beasts of the past - the megafauna. Visit a fossil site in Cuddie Springs, New South Wales, where megafauna bones have been discovered. Explore the connection between Aboriginal peoples and megafauna, and theories for the extinction of Australia's ...

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Interactive

Thermal comfort – sustainability action process (Years 7–10)

  • TLF-IDM020885

This thermal comfort learning resource will guide students through an extended school based investigation. Students will develop and implement a chosen sustainability action and then evaluate and reflect on their success and their learning.

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Video

Complex pain

  • TLF-IDM016749

This 15 minute video segment from Catalyst describes Complex Regional Pain Syndrome, condition where pain never goes away after an injury and even gets worse. The pain becomes a disease in its own right.

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Video

Atoms of Fire: Atoms and organic compounds

  • TLF-IDM017557

Can you imagine someone who lived over 2400 years ago saying that all matter is made up of atoms? Democritus, an ancient Greek, did. Explore the history of this scientific idea with chemist Amanda Tilbury. Hear how Swedish scientist Jöns Berzelius postulated much later that only living tissue could make an organic compound ...

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Interactive

Biodiversity – sustainability action process (Years 7–10)

  • TLF-IDM020880

This biodiversity learning resource guides students through an extended school based investigation. Students develop and implement a chosen sustainability action and then evaluate and reflect on their success and their learning.

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Interactive

Exploring atoms: atom structure

  • TLF-IDL2562

See how scientists such as Ernest Rutherford have investigated the structure of atoms. Explore possible models. Fire charged particles at atoms and find which model best fits the results. This learning object is one in a series of six objects. Three of the objects are also packaged as a combined learning object.

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