SSA REVIEW

  1. Earth and Space Science: 29%

  2. Physical Science: 29%

  3. Life Science: 25%

  4. Nature of Science: 17%

  5. Questions 48-54: questions for you to comprehend What's on the SSA

Earth And Space Science (29%)

  • Review the Solar System (like moon phases and planets). Rotation: the Earth’s spinning on its axis takes 24 hours, resulting in the cycle of day and night. -

  • Revolution: the Earth’s orbit around the sun takes approximately 365.25 days, which defines a year and constitutes the changing of seasons due to the tilt of the Earth's axis. -

  • The Moon: Understanding the moon's phases—new moon, crescent, first quarter, gibbous, full moon—and why it appears to change shape due to its position relative to Earth and the Sun.

  • - The Water Cycle: Mastering the cycle through which water moves through evaporation, condensation, precipitation, and runoff/collection, emphasizing the importance of this cycle for ecosystems and climate regulation. -

  • Weather vs. Climate: * Weather refers to the short-term atmospheric conditions (like rainfall or sunny days), while Climate describes the long-term patterns and averages of weather in a particular area (tropical, desert, temperate). - Examples of microclimates and how geographical features affect climate and weather patterns. -

  • The Atmosphere: Understanding the composition of the atmosphere as a mixture of gases (mainly nitrogen and oxygen) and its layers—troposphere, stratosphere, mesosphere, thermosphere, and exosphere—and their significance to life on Earth.

  • - Weathering, Erosion, and Deposition: - Weathering: the process of breaking down rocks into smaller particles through physical (mechanical) and chemical means. -

  • Erosion: the process of moving (transporting) these weathered materials to new locations through wind, water, or ice, shaping landscapes. -

  • Deposition: the process of dropping sediments in a new location, which can create new landforms such as deltas, beaches, and sedimentary rock layers. #### 3.

  • Earth's Materials - Rocks and Minerals: Understanding the classifications: Igneous (formed from cooled magma), Sedimentary (layered from deposited particles), and Metamorphic (transformed due to heat and pressure) rocks. -

  • Explore mineral properties such as Hardness (measured on Mohs Scale), Luster, Streak color, and Cleavage vs. Fracture characteristics. - Natural Resources: Awareness of Renewable (solar, wind, geothermal) versus Non-renewable (fossil fuels, minerals) resources and their impact on the environment, including sustainable practices.

  • WAX ON WAN OFF (signifying the cyclical nature of processes in astronomy and physics, where waxing indicates growth and waning indicates reduction).

  • Physical Science (29%)

  • Matter: The three states (solid, liquid, gas) and how these states differ based on temperature and pressure changes, alongside physical changes (like melting, boiling) versus chemical changes (like burning, rusting).

  • Energy: Understanding the various forms of energy, including kinetic (energy of motion), potential (stored energy), and the laws of thermodynamics governing energy transfer.

  • Electricity: Grasp the fundamentals of how electrical circuits function with components like power sources, conductors (that allow electricity to flow), and insulators (preventing flow), alongside basic safety principles.

  • Force & Motion: Exploring Newton's laws of motion, concepts of acceleration, inertia, gravity, and friction, and their applications in real-life scenarios.

  • Mixtures & Solutions: Understanding how substances can be mixed, the difference between homogeneous mixtures (solutions) and heterogeneous mixtures, and methods to separate them (filtration, distillation).

Life Science (25%) [really study this; I have not really paid attention]

  • Organs and Systems: Comprehending the functions of major organ systems in the human body, including the circulatory (heart and blood vessels), respiratory (lungs), digestive (stomach and intestines), and skeletal (bones and joints). -

  • Plants: Understanding the roles and structures of roots (nutrient uptake), stems (support and transport), leaves (photosynthesis), and flowers (reproduction), along with photosynthesis processes (conversion of sunlight into chemical energy). -

  • Life Cycles: Analyzing the different stages of growth and development in animals from birth (or germination in plants) to adulthood, including metamorphosis in amphibians and complete/incomplete metamorphosis in insects. -

  • Adaptations: Insight into how species develop unique adaptations in response to their environments (e.g., camouflage, mimicry, and specialized feeding adaptations) that enhance survival and reproduction.

Nature of Science (17%) [study this too, have not really paid attention]

  • The Scientific Method: A comprehensive understanding of the steps involved: making observations, asking a question, forming a hypothesis as a potential explanation, conducting experiments, analyzing data, and drawing conclusions.

  • Experiments vs. Observations: Differentiating between laboratory experiments that test hypotheses and field observations that involve studying phenomena in natural settings without manipulation. -

  • Variables: Understanding different types of variables in scientific experiments, including independent (manipulated), dependent (measured), and controlled variables (kept constant) to ensure valid results. -

  • Data and Tools: Familiarizing oneself with scientific tools like thermometers for measuring temperature, balances for determining mass, and how to interpret and communicate findings accurately.