Solutions to NCERT Class 6 Science Curiosity Chapter 1 The Wonderful World of Science

Hello students and welcome to the wonderful world of science in Class 6! We have included detailed notes for you on Chapter 1, which will make studying easy for you. We have also included solutions to the in-text questions and a set of extra questions of various formats, which will give you a taste of what exam questions might look like! Have fun!

Notes on NCERT Class 6 Science Curiosity Chapter 1 The Wonderful World of Science

Introduction:

This chapter introduces you to the wonderful world of science. It encourages you to be curious and ask questions to try to understand the world around you. Our surroundings, planet and universe are full of wonderful secrets for you to unlock. In this chapter you will learn to think like a scientist and realise yourself what a wonderful experience it can be. You will be introduced to the scientific method, which is of huge importance while studying this chapter and the entire book! We wish you an amazing journey of curiosity and discovery ahead! Good luck!

What Kinds of Questions Should you Ask?

Look around you. What do you see? Depending on what you see, you can ask questions akin to the following:

• How did mountains form? Why is there snow on top of some of the mountain peaks?
• What is sand made of?
• How do forests sustain themselves?
• How did oceans form?
• Why do the sun and stars shine?
• How does a flower in your garden bloom on its own?
• How did deserts form?
• What is outer space and what can you find there?

As you look at the above questions you will realise that they cover everything from your immediate surroundings, the planet and the vastness of outer space. The key is not to confine yourself when asking these questions and there will be limitless possibilities.

Science As a Jigsaw Puzzle:

Imagine science as a never-ending jigsaw puzzle. Pieces are being added all the time and the puzzle continues to take shape. There is no limit to knowledge and hence there is no limit to the jigsaw puzzle either. With every piece we unlock more questions and more secrets waiting to be explored. This is how science evolves. Every discovery leads to more questions and hence more discoveries.

For example, gravity was invented by Newton when he was sitting under a tree and an apple fell on his head. Thie discovery of gravity opened up the road to many other discoveries.

Also, sometimes new discoveries can overturn old ideas and change our understanding of the world. Thus, science is not only about accumulating knowledge but also about refining and evolving our comprehension through ongoing exploration and discovery. Once again, welcome to the wonderful world of science with limitless possibilities.

Just like a jigsaw puzzle, scientific discoveries are all connected.

Let us look at the planet Earth as a whole to understand the idea of science as a jigsaw puzzle.

• Seeds grow into plants, caterpillars grow into colourful butterflies and calves grow into adult cows. There are endless such examples.
• For plants and animals to grow, they need food. Now we need to find out more about the food that we eat. There are many different cuisines all over India and the world, which we should know about. We need to find out more about the kinds of food that keep us healthy and the kinds of food we should avoid. As you can see, these ideas are all interconnected.
• Water is also essential for survival. This reminds us of rainfall. Next, we want to know how clouds form and how rainfall occurs. We are also reminded that water becomes ice on cooling and becomes steam on heating. Water can be both hot and cold. The next question we should ask is how should we measure how hot or cold water or any other object is at any given time. Again, these ideas are all interconnected.

Next, let us take the example of green plants:

• Sunlight and Growth: Students learn that plants need sunlight to grow. They learn how the availability of sunlight affects where plants grow and how they develop.
• Water and Nutrients: They also discover that plants need water and nutrients from the soil. This introduces them to the concept of soil health and how different types of soil affect the growth of different types of plants.
• Oxygen Production: Plants produce oxygen, which we breathe. This connection helps students understand the essential role plants play in the ecosystem.
• Food Chain: They learn that plants are the ultimate source of food. Animals eat plants, and other animals eat those animals and so on. This shows them that all living beings are interconnected in the food chain.

Materials Around Us:

Let us study the objects around us. Objects around us are made up of different materials. Rulers are made of plastic and erasers are made of rubber. We move on to explore what other everyday objects such as magnets, clothes and cups are made of. We should ask if they are made of similar or different materials and how we should separate different materials from one another.

The Scientific Method:

The scientific method or protocol involves a step-by-step process which provides us with the answers to all our questions. The steps are given below:

Step 1: First, we observe something that we do not understand or feel intrigued by.

Step 2: The observation makes us curious and we think of a question about it.

Step 3: To answer these questions, we guess a possible answer to the question. Scientists call it making a hypothesis.

Step 4: We then test this guess (or hypothesis) through experiments or more observations.

Step 5: We gather data and then analyse the results to see if our question is answered.

Step 6: If our question does not get answered we repeat steps 3 – 5 until our question is answered.

To explain the scientific method further let us take the example in the book. Let us suppose your pen stops writing. We follow the steps in the scientific method as given below:

Observation: The pen has stopped writing.

Question: Why has the pen stopped writing?

Guess: You guess (or form a hypothesis) that the ink has finished.

Experiment: To test your guess (or hypothesis), you open the pen and check the ink refill.

Analysis: If the ink refill is empty, this supports your hypothesis that the pen stopped because the ink has finished.

Second Guess (if necessary): If you find that the ink refill is not empty, you revise your guess. For example, you might guess that the ink has dried up.

Second Experiment: You gently shake the pen.

Second Analysis: If the ink does not redistribute within the cartridge, this supports your guess that the ink has dried up.

Third Guess (if necessary): If the ink flows within the cartridge, you once again revise your guess. You might guess that the tip of the pen is clogged.

Third Experiment: Look closely at the tip of the pen under good lighting.

Third Analysis: If there are any visible blockages, this supports your latest guess.

This process continues until you find the correct answer to your question.

The scientific method can be applied to many daily life situations. For example, a bicycle repair person might use the scientific method to find the point of leakage of air from a flat tyre. An electrician repairing a light bulb might apply to scientific method to ascertain whether there is a problem with the bulb or the switch. There are countless more examples. Try to find some more yourself as an exercise!

Conclusion:

The key is to ignite the spirit of curiosity within you. When you are curious about your surroundings, you start asking questions and finding answers to those questions by following the scientific method. Science is never done alone. Scientists work or collaborate in large teams for long periods of time to find answers to their questions. So, if you are unable to find answers yourself, you can seek the help of your friends. This fosters friendship and team-spirit. Come, ignite the fire within you as we embark on this joyful journey!

Take care and have fun!

Solutions to In Text Questions of NCERT Class 6 Science Curiosity Chapter 1 The Wonderful World of Science

1. (Page 1) What is Science?
Answer:
Science is a way of thinking, observing and doing things to understand the world we live in and to uncover the secrets of the universe. Science is not just about memorizing facts but about actively seeking knowledge through curiosity and critical thinking. It involves using the scientific method to ask questions and seek answers through experiments and analysis. From studying microscopic organisms to exploring distant galaxies, it reveals interconnected patterns and relationships that shape our understanding of the universe, much like a giant jigsaw puzzle.

2. (Page 3) What will we explore with the help of this book?
Answer:
With the help of this book, we will explore our home, planet Earth, and its enormous variety of plant and animal life. We will learn about the food that we eat, the different forms of water and the different materials the objects around us are made of. We will also study the rest of the universe – the Sun, the Moon, stars and other heavenly bodies. We shall learn about the scientific method and how to apply it to solve scientific problems as well problems related to our daily lives. The book will make us realise that the phenomena we learn about are all interconnected.

3. (Page 5) How can we try to find answers to our questions on our own?
Answer:
We can try to find answers to our questions on our own using the scientific method. We can follow the steps below:

Observation: First, we observe something that we do not understand or feel intrigued by.

Question: The observation makes us curious and we think of a question about it.

Guess (or hypothesize): We guess a possible answer to the question. Scientists call it making a hypothesis.

Experiment: We then test this guess (or hypothesis) through experiments or more observations.

Analysis: We gather data and then analyse the results to see our question was answered.

Iterate: If our question does not get answered we repeat steps 3 – 5 until our question is answered.

We will find that a large amount of knowledge can be gained in a short period of time using the logical scientific method.

Extra Questions to Complement Solutions to NCERT Class 6 Science Curiosity Chapter 1 The Wonderful World of Science

Very Short Answer Type:

1. What is essential for the growth of animals?
Answer:
Food is essential for the growth of young animals.

2. What is the ultimate source of all food?
Answer:
Plants are the ultimate source of all food.

3. What is the first step in the scientific method?
Answer:
The first step in the scientific method is to observe something that we find interesting or we do not understand.

4. Are all objects around us made of the same materials?
Answer:
No, most objects around us are made of different materials.

5. What is scientific collaboration?
Answer:
Scientific collaboration comprises of large teams of scientists working together to answer complex questions.

6. Name a liquid substance which is essential for our survival.
Answer:
Water.

7. Give one reason why it is important to find out how hot water is.
Answer:
It is necessary to find out how hot water is because you can burn yourself on touching it.

8. What should you do if you cannot find the answer to a scientific problem yourself?
Answer:
You should work in a team of friends to find the correct answer to the scientific problem.

9. What does a caterpillar grow into?
Answer:
A caterpillar grows into a beautiful butterfly.

10. Why is Earth described as special in the context of Science?
Answer:
Earth is the only planet that supports life, which we can study and explore using the scientific method.

Short Answer Type:

1. What is essential for scientific discovery?
Answer:
A curious mind, good observation power of the surroundings and the willingness to ask questions and experiment is essential for scientific discovery. The key is to never stop being curious about the phenomena occurring in our daily lives.

2. What is the main focus of the Science subject introduced in the Middle Stage of school?
Answer:
The main focus of the Science subject is to ignite your spirit of curiosity so you can keenly observe the surroundings, ask questions about them, experiment and analyse to find answers to those questions.

3. How does science resemble a giant jigsaw puzzle?
Answer:
Just like a giant jigsaw puzzle where each new piece sparks curiosity and raises more questions, every new discovery in science expands our knowledge and leads to more questions. Much like a jigsaw puzzle with a wrong piece which needs to be moved, new discoveries in science can overturn old discoveries and refine our knowledge.

4. Describe the three forms of water.
Answer:
The three forms of water are liquid, ice and steam. Water remains in liquid form at room temperature. It freezes to form ice when we cool it and becomes steam when we heat it.

5. Briefly describe the scientific method.
Answer:
The scientific method involves observing something interesting, asking a question about it, forming a guess or hypothesis, testing the hypothesis through experiments or further observations, and analysing the results to answer the question. It involves repeating the process until you find the correct answer to the question.

6. Give examples of daily life situations where we can apply the scientific method.
Answer:
Some examples of daily life situations where the scientific method can be applied are:

• Why your pen stopped writing.
• Why dal got spilt from the cooker while cooking.
• Why your bicycle tyre is flat.
• Why a light bulb is not working.

7. How does science impact our daily lives?
Answer:
Science influences everything from technology and medicine to agriculture and environmental conservation, improving quality of life and informing decision-making.

8. Name two examples of things that Science helps us understand.
Answer:
Science helps us understand why stars shine and how a flower knows when to bloom.

9. What are some of the environments mentioned in the text where Science can be applied?
Answer:
Science can be applied in various environments such as the depths of the ocean, the vastness of outer space, a kitchen, and a playground.

10. According to the text, what should you do if your first guess about a scientific question is incorrect?
Answer:
If your first guess about a scientific problem is incorrect, you should make another guess and test it through further observations or experiments. You repeat this process until you zero in on the correct answer.

Long Answer Type:

1. Describe how an electrician might use the scientific method to determine why a light bulb is not working.
Answer:
The electrician should make use of the scientific method by following the steps below:

Observations: The light bulb is not glowing.

Question: Why has the light bulb stopped glowing?

Guess: The bulb might be burnt out or damaged.

Experiment: The electrician should replace the old light bulb with a new one.

Analysis: If the new bulb works then it means the old bulb was broken.

Second Guess (if necessary): If the new bulb does not work either, then the switch might be faulty.

Second Experiment: The electrician should check the switch carefully to find out what is wrong.

Second Analysis: If the switch is fixed or changed and the bulb work, then it means that the switch was faulty.

Third Guess (if necessary): If the switch is fixed or changed and the bulb still does not work, then the wires might be faulty.

Third Experiment: The electrician should replace the wires.

Third Analysis: If the bulb works after replacing the wires, then the electrician should conclude that the wires were faulty.

             

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