Everyday Science — Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Space
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PPSC one-paper beginner notes. These are original lesson summaries, not copied books. Learn the topic, memorize important facts and test yourself. Some dates, political offices and figures are time-sensitive.
Chapter navigation
- Scientific method and measurements
- SI base and derived units
- Motion, force and gravity
- Work, energy and power
- Heat, temperature and waves
- Electricity and magnetism
- Atomic structure and periodic table
- Chemical compounds and reactions
- Cells and biological organization
- Human physiology essentials
- Nutrition, disease and health
- Astronomy, environment and technology
1. Scientific method and measurements
Scientific reasoning moves from observation to testable hypotheses and experiments. Reproducibility and controls are important. In multiple-choice exams distinguish observations from conclusions.
High-yield facts
- A hypothesis is testable
- Experiments can use a control condition
- SI system standardizes units
- Repeated observations support reliability
Recall practice
Try to remember all points before opening the cards:
Reveal fact 1 — Scientific method and measurements
A hypothesis is testable
Reveal fact 2 — Scientific method and measurements
Experiments can use a control condition
Reveal fact 3 — Scientific method and measurements
SI system standardizes units
Reveal fact 4 — Scientific method and measurements
Repeated observations support reliability
2. SI base and derived units
SI base units are metre, kilogram, second, ampere, kelvin, mole and candela. Derived units include newton, joule, watt and pascal. Practice matching the physical quantity with the correct unit.
High-yield facts
- Force unit is newton
- Energy unit is joule
- Power unit is watt
- Pressure unit is pascal
- Electrical current base unit is ampere
Recall practice
Try to remember all points before opening the cards:
Reveal fact 1 — SI base and derived units
Force unit is newton
Reveal fact 2 — SI base and derived units
Energy unit is joule
Reveal fact 3 — SI base and derived units
Power unit is watt
Reveal fact 4 — SI base and derived units
Pressure unit is pascal
Reveal fact 5 — SI base and derived units
Electrical current base unit is ampere
3. Motion, force and gravity
Speed is distance per time, while velocity includes direction. Acceleration is change in velocity per time. Newton's laws connect forces and motion; weight is a force whereas mass is not.
High-yield facts
- Speed is a scalar
- Velocity is a vector
- Acceleration has units m/s²
- Weight equals mass times gravitational acceleration
Recall practice
Try to remember all points before opening the cards:
Reveal fact 1 — Motion, force and gravity
Speed is a scalar
Reveal fact 2 — Motion, force and gravity
Velocity is a vector
Reveal fact 3 — Motion, force and gravity
Acceleration has units m/s²
Reveal fact 4 — Motion, force and gravity
Weight equals mass times gravitational acceleration
4. Work, energy and power
Work involves a force acting through displacement. Energy has many forms, and power expresses how quickly work is done or energy transferred. Units are frequent exam material.
High-yield facts
- Work is measured in joules
- Power is measured in watts
- Kinetic energy is energy of motion
- Potential energy can be stored due to position
Recall practice
Try to remember all points before opening the cards:
Reveal fact 1 — Work, energy and power
Work is measured in joules
Reveal fact 2 — Work, energy and power
Power is measured in watts
Reveal fact 3 — Work, energy and power
Kinetic energy is energy of motion
Reveal fact 4 — Work, energy and power
Potential energy can be stored due to position
5. Heat, temperature and waves
Temperature measures the thermal state of a system and heat refers to energy transfer due to temperature difference. Sound needs a medium, while electromagnetic waves can travel through vacuum.
High-yield facts
- Thermal conduction can occur through solids
- Convection involves bulk fluid movement
- Radiation can transfer energy through vacuum
- Sound cannot propagate through empty vacuum
Recall practice
Try to remember all points before opening the cards:
Reveal fact 1 — Heat, temperature and waves
Thermal conduction can occur through solids
Reveal fact 2 — Heat, temperature and waves
Convection involves bulk fluid movement
Reveal fact 3 — Heat, temperature and waves
Radiation can transfer energy through vacuum
Reveal fact 4 — Heat, temperature and waves
Sound cannot propagate through empty vacuum
6. Electricity and magnetism
Current is the rate of electric charge flow; voltage is electric potential difference; resistance opposes current. Use Ohm's law for ideal resistive circuits.
High-yield facts
- Ohm's law is V = IR
- Ampere measures current
- Volt measures electric potential difference
- Ohm measures resistance
Recall practice
Try to remember all points before opening the cards:
Reveal fact 1 — Electricity and magnetism
Ohm's law is V = IR
Reveal fact 2 — Electricity and magnetism
Ampere measures current
Reveal fact 3 — Electricity and magnetism
Volt measures electric potential difference
Reveal fact 4 — Electricity and magnetism
Ohm measures resistance
7. Atomic structure and periodic table
Atoms consist of a nucleus containing protons and generally neutrons, surrounded by electrons. Atomic number equals the proton number. Elements have chemical symbols.
High-yield facts
- Hydrogen symbol is H
- Oxygen symbol is O
- Sodium symbol is Na
- Iron symbol is Fe
- Atomic number equals proton count
Recall practice
Try to remember all points before opening the cards:
Reveal fact 1 — Atomic structure and periodic table
Hydrogen symbol is H
Reveal fact 2 — Atomic structure and periodic table
Oxygen symbol is O
Reveal fact 3 — Atomic structure and periodic table
Sodium symbol is Na
Reveal fact 4 — Atomic structure and periodic table
Iron symbol is Fe
Reveal fact 5 — Atomic structure and periodic table
Atomic number equals proton count
8. Chemical compounds and reactions
A compound contains elements chemically combined in definite proportions, while a mixture can contain substances without chemical bonding. Learn common formulas and simple reaction principles.
High-yield facts
- Water formula is H₂O
- Carbon dioxide formula is CO₂
- Table salt is sodium chloride NaCl
- pH below 7 is acidic in standard aqueous conditions
Recall practice
Try to remember all points before opening the cards:
Reveal fact 1 — Chemical compounds and reactions
Water formula is H₂O
Reveal fact 2 — Chemical compounds and reactions
Carbon dioxide formula is CO₂
Reveal fact 3 — Chemical compounds and reactions
Table salt is sodium chloride NaCl
Reveal fact 4 — Chemical compounds and reactions
pH below 7 is acidic in standard aqueous conditions
9. Cells and biological organization
Living organisms have cellular organization. A cell membrane regulates exchange; the nucleus houses genetic material in eukaryotes; mitochondria contribute to ATP production.
High-yield facts
- Cell is basic unit of life
- Plant cells have cellulose cell walls
- Mitochondria generate much cellular ATP
- Chloroplasts enable photosynthesis
Recall practice
Try to remember all points before opening the cards:
Reveal fact 1 — Cells and biological organization
Cell is basic unit of life
Reveal fact 2 — Cells and biological organization
Plant cells have cellulose cell walls
Reveal fact 3 — Cells and biological organization
Mitochondria generate much cellular ATP
Reveal fact 4 — Cells and biological organization
Chloroplasts enable photosynthesis
10. Human physiology essentials
Learn the function of organs by systems: respiratory, circulatory, excretory, digestive and nervous. Concept tables are more useful than disconnected organ-name lists.
High-yield facts
- Heart pumps blood
- Lungs exchange oxygen and carbon dioxide
- Kidneys form urine
- Pancreas secretes insulin
- Liver produces bile
Recall practice
Try to remember all points before opening the cards:
Reveal fact 1 — Human physiology essentials
Heart pumps blood
Reveal fact 2 — Human physiology essentials
Lungs exchange oxygen and carbon dioxide
Reveal fact 3 — Human physiology essentials
Kidneys form urine
Reveal fact 4 — Human physiology essentials
Pancreas secretes insulin
Reveal fact 5 — Human physiology essentials
Liver produces bile
11. Nutrition, disease and health
Macronutrients supply energy and building blocks; vitamins and minerals have varied functions. Understand infectious disease transmission and vaccination at a basic level.
High-yield facts
- Carbohydrates supply energy
- Proteins support tissue structure
- Vitamin C deficiency causes scurvy
- Vaccines train immune responses
Recall practice
Try to remember all points before opening the cards:
Reveal fact 1 — Nutrition, disease and health
Carbohydrates supply energy
Reveal fact 2 — Nutrition, disease and health
Proteins support tissue structure
Reveal fact 3 — Nutrition, disease and health
Vitamin C deficiency causes scurvy
Reveal fact 4 — Nutrition, disease and health
Vaccines train immune responses
12. Astronomy, environment and technology
The Solar System contains the Sun and eight recognized planets. Earth rotates, revolves around the Sun, and is affected by natural and human-induced climate processes.
High-yield facts
- Mercury is closest planet to Sun
- Jupiter is largest planet
- Earth rotates roughly once per day
- Pluto is categorized as a dwarf planet
Recall practice
Try to remember all points before opening the cards:
Reveal fact 1 — Astronomy, environment and technology
Mercury is closest planet to Sun
Reveal fact 2 — Astronomy, environment and technology
Jupiter is largest planet
Reveal fact 3 — Astronomy, environment and technology
Earth rotates roughly once per day
Reveal fact 4 — Astronomy, environment and technology
Pluto is categorized as a dwarf planet
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