PHYSICS FORM ONE TOPIC 2: INTRODUCTION TO LABORATORY PRACTICE

A Laboratory is a room or a building designed specifically for carrying out experiments.

Laboratory Rules and Safety Guidelines

Rules in a Physics Laboratory

State rules in physics laboratory

While working in the lab, individuals are advised to adhere to specific lab rules to ensure their safety, that of other people working in the lab and the safety of the apparatus and chemicals stored in the lab.

Rules in the physics lab

1. You should only enter the lab in the presence of a lab attendant.
2. Keep all exits and entrances to and from the lab clear of obstructions.
3. Don’t eat or drink in the lab.
4. Solid objects should not be thrown into the sink or water ways.
5. Don’t use any lab container for drinking or storing food.
6. Make sure that you wash your hands with soap before you leave the lab.
7. The cover or stopper of a particular chemical must be replaced immediately after use.
8. After experiments, clean your bench and leave it dry and well arranged.
9. Never quarrel or fight in the lab.
10. Never use ungloved hands to hold hot objects

Safety Measures in the Physics Laboratory

Explain the safety measures in physics laboratory

Safety measures in physics lab

1. All experiments which produce poisonous fumes must be conducted in the fume chamber.
2. Lab floor should not be polished to avoid slipperiness.
3. Lab should have large windows and doors should be opened outwards.
4. Ensure that the fire extinguisher is fixed to an appropriate place ready to be accessed in case of fire.
5. In a multi storey building, a physics lab should be in the lowest floor.

Using First Aid Kit to Render First Aid

Use the First Aid Kit to render first aid

First aid is the immediate care given to accident victims or an injured person before he/she is taken to the hospital for further medical treatment. It reduces pain and it helps to bring hope and ennglish-swahili/courage” target=”_blank”>couragement to accident victims.

A First Aid Kit is a small box which is placed in a safe and accessible place in the lab and is used for the storage of instruments and chemicals for first aid.

Contents of a first aid kit and their uses

Warning Signs

Identify warning signs

Warning signs are signs on the containers of chemicals as warnings about the danger of the contained chemical. There are six warning signs.

Explosives

These are substances can explode. An explosion is a forceful rapid reaction which involves the throwing off particles at high speeds.

The sign means that it is dangerous to keep explosives in glass containers.

Oxidant

This is a chemical/substance that helps a burning substance to burn faster.

Oxidising agent makes a small fire to become bigger. Heating a mixture of an organic material with an oxidising agent may cause explosion. Eg; heating potassium permanganate with saw dust.

Flammable

These substances catch fire easily. They should not be kept near open flames. If heated,anelectric heater should be used.

Corrosive

These substances burn skin as well can corrode floors and desktops.

If by accident, a corrosive substance comes into contact with your skin, go to the sink and wash your skin with a lot of water. Examples; Concentrated mineral acids like HCl and HNO3 II. Concentrated alkalis like NaOH and KOH

Toxic

These are very poisonous and can cause death immediately after use or after a few days. They should not be allowed to come into contact with you.

-If you come into contact with such a chemical accidentally, wash it away with a lot of water.

Harmful/irritant

Harmful – these substances may cause illness or endanger your health. They won’t kill instantly but they are lethal. Irritating substances- cause pain in eyes or on your skin and can endanger your health if you are in contact with them doe too long.

They should be handled according to the stipulated instructions.

Warning Signs in Daily Life

Use warning signs in daily life

Activity 1

Use warning signs in daily life

Basic Principles of Science Investigation

The Concept of Scientific Investigation

Explain the concept of scientific investigation

Scientific investigation refers to the step-by-step procedures and methods employed in carrying out a scientific research.

Steps of Scientific Investigation

Identify the steps of scientific investigation

There are six different scientific step:

1. Identification of a problem:This is the first step where a problem is recognised. It provides explanations to the day-to-day questions which we come across in our lives Eg; It is observed that despite adequate feeding, vaccination, treatment and spacious rooms, hens lay fewer eggs each day. What is the cause of the fewer number of eggs?
2. Formulation of hypothesis: Hypothesis is an intelligent guess or a tentative explanation for the observation made. Using the example of a few eggs laid by hens per day the hypothesis could be; a smaller number of eggs are laid because of unusual high temperature in the room. In order to prove this hypothesis, an experiment have to be carried out.
3. Experimentation: The experimentinvolvesa series of investigations intended to discover relationships or certain facts that may lead to the acceptance, rejection or modification of a hypothesis. The first step in experiment is to construct a plan of investigation.
4. Observation and data recording:After setting up the experiment, a researcher makes careful observation using their sense organs and records all events that considers relevant.
5. Interpretation of data:Once a researcher has collected data, he should try to explain the meaning of the experiment. This is an attempt to interpret the data. The data may be presented in a form of a table, bar chart, histogram or even graph.
6. Conclusion:This is either confirmation or rejection of hypothesis.

A Theory is a set scientific assumptions consistent with one another and supported by evidence but not fully proved (is a hypothesis with more evidence).

Fact is a proved theory supported by evidence

Hypothesis →Theory →Fact

Scientifc Investigation Methods in Solving Problems

Use the scientific investigation methods in solving problems

Activity 2

Use the scientific investigation methods in solving problems

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