📘 Chapter 9: Nature of Science – Exercise Short Answer Questions
Prepared by Muhammad Tayyab, Subject Specialist Physics, Govt Christian High School Daska. Based on PECTAA 2026 syllabus (National Curriculum 2023).
📖 What's Inside: This section covers exercise short answer questions from Chapter 9 Nature of Science including Science and its branches, Physics and its branches, Interdisciplinary fields, Scientific Method steps, Hypothesis, Theory vs Law, Laser technology, and Falsifiability. Each question is presented with a detailed answer as per the official PECTAA 2026 Physics curriculum.
📚 Related Resources – Chapter 9: Nature of Science
📖 Exercise Short Answer Questions & Answers (PECTAA 2026)
9.1 State in your own words, what is science? Write its two main groups.
Answer:
Science is a collective knowledge about the natural phenomena, processes, and events occurring around us.
Science is divided into two main branches:
1. Biological Science: The biological sciences which deals the living things.
2. Physical Science: The physical science which is about the study of non-living things.
✅ Science = knowledge of nature | Two groups: Biological Science and Physical Science
9.2 What is Physics all about? Name some of its branches.
Answer:
Physics: Physics is the fundamental science that deals with the constituents of the universe, that is, matter, energy, space, time and their mutual relationships and interactions.
Branches of Physics: Some branches of Physics are Mechanics, Heat and Thermodynamics, Acoustics, Optics, Electromagnetism, Quantum Mechanics, Nuclear Physics, Astronomy, Relativistic Mechanics, Particle Physics, Cosmology and Solid State Physics.
✅ Physics = study of matter, energy, space, time | Branches: Mechanics, Optics, Thermodynamics, Quantum, Nuclear, etc.
9.3 What is meant by interdisciplinary fields? Give a few examples.
Answer:
Interdisciplinary fields refer to the integration and interaction of Physics with various other fields of study.
Examples include Biophysics, Medical Physics, Astrophysics, Geophysics, Climate Physics and Computational Physics.
✅ Interdisciplinary = Physics + other fields | Examples: Biophysics, Medical Physics, Astrophysics, Geophysics, Climate Physics, Computational Physics
9.4 List the main steps of scientific method.
Answer:
The main steps of the scientific method are:
- Identify or recognize an issue or problem.
- Observation / Gathering information.
- Formulating a Hypothesis.
- Experimentation.
- Data analysis and formulation of a Theory.
- Prediction and testing.
- Formulation of a Law.
OR
The main steps of scientific method are:
- Observation
- Hypothesis
- Experiment
- Theory
- Prediction
- Fallibility
- Law
✅ Observation → Hypothesis → Experiment → Theory → Prediction → Fallibility → Law
9.5 What is a hypothesis? Give an example.
Answer:
A hypothesis is an explanation or a guess work proposed on the basis of data collected through observations or experimentation.
For example, shadows of opaque objects are formed when they come in the path of light because light travels in a straight line.
✅ Hypothesis = possible explanation based on observations | Example: shadows form because light travels in a straight line
9.6 Distinguish between a theory and a law of Physics.
Answer:
Theory: After the successful verification of an assumption and with the help of careful experimentation, it becomes a theory and is applicable to similar phenomena. It is a logical explanation of the causes and effects of an issue or an event that occurs in nature.
Law: When a theory has been tested many times and generally accepted as true, it is called a law. A law is a statement regarding the behaviour of nature which explains observations and experiments of the past and can predict about other aspects of nature.
✅ Theory = logical explanation | Law = widely accepted statement of nature's behaviour
9.7 What is the basis of laser technology?
Answer:
Laser technology is based on the principles of atomic physics. It is widely used in medical diagnosis and treatment, metallurgy, industry, telecommunication and space exploration.
✅ Based on principles of atomic physics | Used in medicine, industry, telecommunication, space exploration
9.8 What is falsifiability concept? How is it important?
Answer:
Falsifiability: Falsifiability is the concept that a theory is scientific only if it makes assertions and predictions that can be tested and potentially disproven.
Importance: It ensures that scientific theories are not based on vague, non-specific, or untestable claims and distinguishes true scientific theories from false or unscientific beliefs.
✅ A theory must be testable & possibly wrong | Distinguishes science from unscientific beliefs
📐 Key Concepts – Nature of Science (Exercise Short Questions)
Science: Collective knowledge of natural phenomena | Biological & Physical Science
Physics: Study of matter, energy, space, time and their interactions
Scientific Method: Observation → Hypothesis → Experiment → Theory → Law
Hypothesis: Possible explanation or guess based on observations
Falsifiability: A scientific theory must be testable and potentially wrong
💡 Exam Tip:
For exercise short questions, write concise and accurate answers. Use definitions, examples and key terms. These questions test your understanding of fundamental concepts like science, physics branches, interdisciplinary fields, scientific method, hypothesis, theory, law and falsifiability. These questions follow the PECTAA 2026 pattern and are prepared by Subject Specialist Muhammad Tayyab.
Chapter 1Physical Quantities and Measurements
Chapter 2Kinematics
Chapter 3Dynamics
Chapter 4Turning Effect of Forces
Chapter 5Work and Energy
Chapter 6Mechanical Properties of Matter
Chapter 7Thermal Properties of Matter
Chapter 8Magnetism
Chapter 9✨ Nature of Science
📖 Complete syllabus coverage for Class 9 Physics (PECTAA 2026) – Chapters 1 to 9
Created by Hira Science Academy | Aligned with PECTAA 2026 Syllabus