Branches of Science

One of the skills you will develop as you continue to study science is the ability to organize things in a logical, orderly way - that is, to classify things. Classification systems are an important part of science. For example, biologists classify all life on Earth into six broad kingdoms of living things. Astronomers classify stars into seven main types according to their temperature, and chemists classify the 118 known elements according to their properties, or characteristics.

Even the study of science can be classified into groups or, in this case, what we call branches of science. There can be many branches of science, each determined by the subject matter being studied. For our purposes, however, we will consider only the three main branches of science: Life, Earth, and Physical Sciences.

Life Science deals with living things and their parts and actions. Smaller branches of life science include zoology (the study of animals) and botany (the study of plants).

Earth Science is the study of the Earth and its rocks, oceans, volcanoes, earthquakes, atmosphere, and other features. Usually Earth science also includes astronomy, which explores stars, planets, and moons.

Physical Science is the study of matter and energy. Some physical scientists explore what substances are made of and how they change and combine. This branch of physical science is called chemistry. Other physical scientists study forms of energy such as heat and light. This is the science of physics.

It is important to remember that the branches of science are a handy way to classify the subject matter scientists study, but it would be a mistake to think that any branch works independently of the others. To the contrary, the branches of science actually interweave and overlap most of the time. Science does not happen in a vacuum, and the great discoveries of science do not usually occur unless scientists from many branches work together.

Now, answer the questions on THIS FORM.

You are done!