THE FIEST YEAK OF SCIENCE 



CHAPTER I 



MATTER AND ITS MEASUREMENT 



1. The Earth and Science. In order that we may get 

 a knowledge of the earth we must study the separate 

 parts that make it up. We have already done this some- 

 what in Geography. Hence we know that the earth con- 

 sists of many different rocks and soils, trees and plants; 

 of bodies and streams of water; of the air; of a multitude 

 of animals that live on or in the soil, the vegetation, and 

 the water. We call any particular rock, tree, lake, or 

 animal an object, or body. The sum of all its objects, 

 large and small, is the earth itself. Nature, or the Uni- 

 verse, includes the earth together with the sun, moon, 

 stars, etc. 



Science is the study of the truth about the objects of 

 nature. Since the number of objects is very large, one 

 method of studying nature is to find important resem- 

 blances and differences between objects. We can then 

 arrange objects in groups or classes. Thus, we can make 

 a division of all objects into (a) living objects and (6) 

 non-living objects. Living things may then be classified 

 as either animals or plants. Plants in their turn may be 



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