Limitation of Observation
The sense organs help to make observations about the things
in the environment.
The measurements help to- give a numerical value for
observations carried out by the sense organs. Observations become more
scientific when a numerical value is given to a thing that is only with a sense
value.
Some observations and the sense organs that help to observe
are given in the following table.
Observation Sense organ
Seeing an object Eye
Hearing a sound Ear
Tasting a food Tongue
Smelling a flower Nose
Feeling pain /hotness /coldness Skin
/touch/pressure
Investigating the environment using the sense organs with
special attention is called observation. Observation is the most important step
in the scientific process. Can you see each and everything by your naked eye?
There are limitations in observations perceived by the sense
organs. Investments have been devised to observe things which are beyond the
scope of our sense organs.
Take a peel from the lower surface of a leaf and see it with
your naked eye. You will not be able to see anything clear. Now look at the
same peel with magnifying glass. You will see the peel magnified, but it is
still not very clear. You will see it more clearly by using an optical
microscope.
Did you know
The living organisms are built up of cells. Plants are built
up of plant cells while the animals are built up of animal cells.
Microscope |
Magnifying Glass |
A telescope and binocular can be used to get a clear close up of distant object.
Some observations and the instruments that help for the
observation
Observation Instrument
To measure the temperature Thermometer
To measure the length of an object Ruler/ measuring tape
To measure the pressure of a tyre tube Barometer
To get a clear close up of distant object Binocular
To read very tiny letters Magnifying
glass
To see the things that can’t be seen with the naked eye Microscope
Expected observations are the observations that were
expected to see. The observations that were not expected to see are known as
unexpected observations. The inventions of science are the results of expected
as unexpected observations.