Unit 1: Scientific Study

Class 9 Science & Technology  |  Topic 1

1. What is Science?

Science is the systematic and organised study of the natural world through observation and experimentation. The word "science" comes from the Latin word scientia, meaning knowledge. Science helps us understand how and why things happen in nature, and it uses evidence — not guesswork — to build its explanations.

A person who studies science is called a scientist. Scientists ask questions, collect data, perform experiments, and draw conclusions to build our understanding of the universe.

Key Idea: Science is not just a collection of facts — it is a process of finding answers using evidence.

2. Branches (Fields) of Science

Science is a very broad subject. It is divided into several major branches, each focusing on a different part of the natural world:

Fig 1.1 — Left to right: Biology, Physics, Chemistry, Earth & Space Science, Environmental Science. (Source: Wikimedia Commons, CC)

3. Science and Technology

Science aims to understand the natural world. Technology uses scientific knowledge to create tools, machines, and systems that solve real-world problems and improve human life. The two are closely linked — advances in science lead to new technology, and new technology helps scientists make better observations and run better experiments.

4. Scientific Study — The Scientific Method

Scientific Study (also called the Scientific Method) is the step-by-step process scientists use to find reliable, evidence-based answers to questions about the natural world. It ensures that results are repeatable and trustworthy.

Steps of the Scientific Method:

1. Observation / Questioning — Notice something in nature and ask a focused question.
   Example: Why do objects fall to the ground?
2. Research / Background Information — Gather existing information from books and previous experiments.
3. Hypothesis Formation — Make a testable, educated guess about the answer.
   Example: Objects fall because of a force called gravity.
4. Experiment / Testing — Design and conduct an experiment to test the hypothesis. Collect and record data carefully.
5. Results & Analysis — Examine the data. Look for patterns and what the data tells you.
6. Conclusion — Decide if the hypothesis is supported or not. If supported → it may become a Theory. If not → revise and test again.
7. Communication / Report — Share your findings so others can verify and build on your work.

Fig 1.2 — The Scientific Method flowchart. (Source: Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0)

Remember: The scientific method is not always a perfectly straight line. Scientists often go back and revise their hypothesis when results don't match expectations.

5. Real-Life Example — COVID-19 Vaccine

The development of the COVID-19 vaccine is an excellent example of the scientific method in action:

Fig 1.3 — COVID-19 vaccine: a real-world product of systematic scientific study. (Source: Wikimedia Commons, CC)

6. Some Famous Scientists

Throughout history, many scientists have contributed to our understanding of the natural world:

Scientist	Photo	Contribution	Period
Aristotle		Father of Biology; classified animals and plants	384–322 BC
Isaac Newton		Father of Physics; discovered laws of gravity and motion	1643–1727
Antoine Lavoisier		Father of Chemistry; discovered the role of oxygen in combustion	1743–1794
Charles Darwin		Proposed the Theory of Evolution by Natural Selection	1809–1882

Fig 1.4 — Famous scientists and their contributions. (Source: Wikimedia Commons, Public Domain)

7. Key Terms

8. 📺 Watch & Learn

Watch these videos to better understand scientific study and the scientific method:

Video 1 — What is Science? | The Scientific Method | Famous Scientists (Twinkl)

Video 2 — Steps of the Scientific Method (FreeSchool)

9. Summary

• Science is the systematic study of the natural world using observation and experimentation.
• The major branches of science are Biology, Physics, Chemistry, Earth & Space Science, and Environmental Science.
• Technology applies scientific knowledge to solve real-world problems.
• The Scientific Method follows: Observation → Question → Research → Hypothesis → Experiment → Results → Conclusion → Communication.
• If a hypothesis is repeatedly supported by experiments, it may become a scientific Theory.
• Science is a continuous process — new evidence can always change our understanding.

Grade 9 Science & Technology | Unit 1: Scientific Study | Topic 1 | Based on CDC Teacher's Guide, Nepal