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Grade 7 General Science – Exam-Ready Short Notes

Unit 5: Living Things and Their Diversity
5.1 Living Things
5.1.1 Characteristics of Living Things
• Living thing: Any organism that possesses or shows the characteristics of life.
• Key characteristics of life:
✓ Movement: An action causing a change of position or place.
▪ Note: Animals move as a whole; plants make movements with growth of
body parts.
✓ Respiration: Chemical reactions that break down nutrient molecules in living
cells to release energy for metabolism.
✓ Sensitivity (irritability): The ability to detect stimuli in the internal/external
environment and make appropriate responses.
✓ Growth: A permanent increase in size and dry mass by increase in cell number or
cell size (or both).
▪ Why it matters: Living organisms grow from within using food; non-living
things grow by adding material to the outside.
✓ Reproduction: The process of making the next generation (asexual or sexual).
✓ Excretion: Removal of toxic materials, waste products of metabolism, and
substances in excess.
✓ Nutrition: The mode of taking food by an organism and its utilization by the
body.
✓ Adaptation: The ability to adjust to surroundings; a change in structure or
behavior that allows survival in a habitat.
Exam tip: Movement (locomotion) cannot define all living things because plants and some
organisms show only growth movements, not locomotion.
5.1.2 Classification and Scientific Names of Organisms
• Classification: Sorting or grouping things together on the basis of common features or
criteria.
• Taxonomy: The science of classifying and naming organisms.
• Nomenclature: The naming of organisms.
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• Two ways of classifying organisms:
✓ Artificial classification: Based on one or a few easily observed characteristics
(e.g., grouping all flying animals together). Emphasis on convenience, not
evolutionary relationships.
✓ Natural (biological) classification: Uses natural relationships (internal + external
features); describes evolutionary history.
• Purpose of classification:
✓ Identify species at risk of extinction.
✓ Understand common ancestors.
✓ Make study of organisms easier.
✓ Identify new organisms by finding which group they fit.
• Binomial system (Binomial nomenclature):
✓ Developed by Carl Linnaeus (Swedish naturalist).
✓ Scientific name has two parts: genus (capital letter) + species (small letter).
✓ Must be underlined or printed in italics (e.g., Homo sapiens).
✓ Why it matters: One universal scientific name avoids confusion caused by
regional common names.
• Species: A group of organisms that can reproduce to produce fertile offspring.
✓ Example: A horse and donkey produce a mule – the mule is infertile, so they are
different species.
5.1.3 Hierarchy in the Classification of Organisms (Kingdom to Species)
• Hierarchical levels from broadest to most specific (Exam Focus – memorize order):
1. Kingdom – largest group
2. Phylum (Division for plants)
3. Class
4. Order
5. Family
6. Genus
7. Species – smallest, most specific group

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• Key definitions within the hierarchy:
✓ Kingdom: Group of related phyla (or divisions).
✓ Phylum/Division: Group of related classes.
✓ Class: Group of related orders.
✓ Order: Group of related families.
✓ Family: Group of related genera.
✓ Genus: Group of closely related species.
✓ Species: Basic unit of classification.
• Rule: As you move from Kingdom → Species, organisms share more features.
5.2 Kingdoms of Life
• Five-kingdom system developed by Robert H. Whittaker (1969).
• Kingdoms: Animalia, Plantae, Fungi, Protista, Monera.
5.2.1 Kingdom Animalia
• Major characteristics (Exam Focus):
✓ Eukaryotic, multicellular.
✓ No cell wall, no photosynthetic pigments.
✓ Mostly motile (capable of movement).
✓ Heterotrophic – must feed on other organisms.
✓ Store carbon as glycogen and fat.
✓ Reproduce sexually or asexually.
• Major groups:
A. Invertebrates (lack backbone)
✓ Insects (Phylum Arthropoda):
▪ Segmented body with exoskeleton (external skeleton).
▪ Body parts: head, thorax, abdomen.
▪ Three pairs of jointed legs, one pair of antennae, typically two pairs of
wings.
▪ Reproduce sexually; metamorphosis (complete or incomplete).
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▪ Examples: Bees, butterflies, mosquitoes, houseflies, beetles.
✓ Worms (several phyla):
▪ Long cylindrical, flattened, or leaf-like body; no limbs; no
eyes; hydrostatic skeleton (fluid-supported).
▪ Habitats: marine, freshwater, terrestrial; some parasitic, some free-living.
▪ Examples: Flatworms (Platyhelminthes), segmented worms (Annelida),
roundworms (Nematoda).
B. Vertebrates (have backbone / vertebral column)
✓ Common features: internal skeleton (bone/cartilage), closed circulatory system,
well-developed nervous system, two pairs of limbs, kidneys.
✓ Classes of vertebrates (Exam Focus – comparison table):

Class Key Features Examples

Cold-blooded (poikilothermic); wet scales; gills;

Fish Shark, rays
external fertilization; fins; live only in water

Cold-blooded; moist skin with capillaries; lungs + skin

Amphibian breathing; external fertilization; jelly-covered eggs; Frog, toad
live in water and land

Cold-blooded; dry scaly skin; lungs; internal

Reptiles Snakes, lizards
fertilization; eggs with leathery shell on land

Warm-blooded (homeothermic); feathers; scales on

Birds legs; two wings + two legs; internal fertilization; Pigeon, duck
hard-shelled eggs; toothless beak

Warm-blooded; fur/hair; young develop inside mother;

Mammals Human, dog, cow
feed milk; internal fertilization

• Poikilothermic: Internal temperature varies with environment (cold-blooded).

• Homeothermic: Constant internal body temperature (warm-blooded).
5.2.2 Kingdom Plantae

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• Major characteristics:
✓ Eukaryotic, multicellular.
✓ Cell wall made of cellulose.
✓ Contain chlorophyll (photosynthetic pigments); autotrophic (make own food).
✓ Non-motile; store food as starch.
✓ Reproduce sexually and asexually.
• Four divisions of kingdom plantae (Exam Focus – distinguish each):
1. Bryophytes (mosses, liverworts, hornworts)
▪ Non-vascular (lack xylem and phloem).
▪ No true roots, stems, or leaves.
▪ Live in moist places; reproduce by spores.
▪ Importance: Minimize erosion, water/nutrient cycling.
2. Pteridophytes (ferns)
▪ Vascular plants (have xylem and phloem).
▪ Seedless; reproduce by spores on underside of leaves (fronds).
▪ Have rhizome (underground stem).
3. Gymnosperms (conifers)
▪ Vascular, naked seeds (not enclosed in fruit).
▪ Have cones; needle-like or scale-like leaves.
▪ Examples: Juniper, pine, yew.
4. Angiosperms (flowering plants)
▪ Vascular; seeds enclosed in fruit; flowers as reproductive organs.
▪ Two subclasses: Monocotyledons (one seed leaf) and Dicotyledons (two
seed leaves).
▪ Largest group of land plants; sources of food, medicine, wood.
• Vascular plants: Possess xylem (water/minerals) and phloem (sugars/proteins).
5.2.3 Kingdom Protista
• Major characteristics:
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✓ Eukaryotic; mostly unicellular (some simple multicellular).
✓ Reproduce sexually or asexually.
✓ Can be autotrophic (plant-like – protophyta) or heterotrophic (animal-like –
protozoans).
• Examples:
✓ Plasmodium (causes malaria)
✓ Amoeba, Paramecium, Euglena, trypanosomes
• Protozoans: No cell wall; ingest solid food (animal-like).
• Protophyta: Have cell walls; chloroplasts; make food by photosynthesis (plant-like).
5.2.4 Kingdom Monera
• Major characteristics:
✓ Prokaryotic (no true nucleus, no membrane-bound organelles).
✓ Unicellular.
✓ Cell wall made of peptidoglycan.
✓ Reproduce asexually by binary fission.
• Examples:
✓ Bacteria: Various shapes (spherical, rod-shaped, spiral); some have flagella; lack
chlorophyll; found everywhere.
✓ Blue-green algae (cyanobacteria): Photosynthetic, contain chlorophyll +
phycobilin (blue pigment); first organisms to produce oxygen as byproduct of
photosynthesis.
Prokaryote vs Eukaryote: Prokaryotes lack nucleus and membrane-bound organelles; eukaryotes
have a true nucleus and organelles.
5.2.5 Kingdom Fungi
• Major characteristics:
✓ Eukaryotic; can be multicellular (mushrooms, molds) or unicellular (yeast).
✓ Cell wall made of chitin.
✓ Heterotrophic (saprophytes – decomposers, or parasites).
✓ Non-motile; body consists of thread-like hyphae.

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✓ Store carbon as glycogen (not starch).
✓ Reproduce by spores (sexually or asexually).

• Examples:
✓ Yeast: Single-celled; converts carbohydrates to alcohol + CO₂ (used in baking and
alcohol production).
✓ Mould: Grows on decayed food; Penicillium produces penicillin antibiotic.
✓ Mushroom: Fruiting body produced above ground; edible and wild species.
Unit 6: Earth in Space
6.1 Shape and Dimensions of The Earth
• Ancient ideas (local assumptions): Earth as flat disc (Greeks, Babylonians, Egyptians),
flat square (Chinese), or disc with ice wall (Flat Earth Society).
• Evidence for spherical Earth (Exam Focus – list & explain):
✓ Lunar eclipse: Earth’s shadow on the moon is always circular.
✓ Star patterns change as you move north-south.
✓ Ships disappear hull first over the horizon.
✓ Circumnavigation: Traveling in a straight line returns to starting point.
✓ Curved horizon seen from ships, planes, high cliffs.
✓ Different sunrise/sunset times in east vs west.
✓ Space photographs from rockets/satellites show curved edge.
• True shape: Oblate spheroid – flattened at the poles, bulges at the equator.
• Dimensions of Earth (Exam Focus – memorise numbers):
✓ Equatorial diameter: 12,756 km
✓ Polar diameter: 12,714 km
✓ Equatorial circumference: 40,075 km
✓ Polar circumference: 40,008 km
✓ Mass: 5.974 × 10²⁴ kg
✓ Average distance from Sun: 1 AU (Astronomical Unit) = 1.496 × 10⁸ km

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Why it matters: The equatorial bulge is caused by Earth’s rotation.

6.2 Parts of the Earth (Body and Atmosphere)

External Structure (Atmosphere)
• Atmosphere: Thin layer of gases held by gravity; composition: 78% nitrogen, 21%
oxygen, 0.03% CO₂, 0.97% other gases + water vapor, dust.
• Layers of the atmosphere (from lowest to highest – Exam Focus):
1. Troposphere: Lowest layer (we live in); contains 75% of air, most water vapor,
weather (clouds, rain, snow). Temperature decreases with altitude,7-10 Km above
the earth surface.
2. Stratosphere: Contains ozone layer; absorbs UV radiation → temperature
increases with altitude. Protects from skin cancer, about 50 Km above the earth
surface.
3. Mesosphere: Temperature decreases with altitude; coldest part (~-90°C at
mesopause) 50-80 Km above our planet.
4. Thermosphere: Temperature increases due to absorption of UV and X-ray
radiation.
5. Exosphere: Highest layer (700–10,000 km); extremely low density.
• Boundaries: Tropopause (between troposphere & stratosphere), Stratopause, Mesopause,
Thermopause.
Internal Structure (Inner zone)
• Three major zones by chemical composition (Exam Focus):
1. Crust: Outermost, coldest, thinnest layer; solid rock (basalt – oceanic; granite –
continental). Life exists here.
2. Mantle: Thickest layer; composed of oxygen, silicon, magnesium; solid but
behaves like viscous liquid due to high temperatures. Upper portion
(asthenosphere) is partially liquid.
3. Core: Very hot, dense center; iron-nickel alloy.
▪ Outer core: Liquid (temperatures melt the alloy).

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▪ Inner core: Solid (even hotter, but high pressure keeps it solid).
• Lithosphere: Solid outer part – crust + brittle upper mantle.
6.3 Motions of the Earth
A. Rotation
• Rotation: Movement of Earth on its axis.
• Time: 23 hours, 56 minutes, 4 seconds (one day ≈ 24 hours).
• Effects of rotation (Exam Focus – list):
✓ Day and night cycle.
✓ One-hour difference for every 15° of longitude.
✓ Deflection of winds and ocean currents (Coriolis effect): right in Northern
Hemisphere, left in Southern Hemisphere.
✓ Tides (daily rise and fall).
B. Revolution
• Revolution: Movement of Earth around the Sun.
• Time: 365.24 days (one year).
• Orbit: Elliptical.
✓ Perihelion: Closest to Sun (Jan 3).
✓ Aphelion: Farthest from Sun (July 4).
• Cause of seasons: Earth’s axis tilt of 23.5°, not distance from Sun.
• Key astronomical events (Exam Focus):
✓ Summer Solstice (June 21): Northern Hemisphere longest day, shortest night.
✓ Winter Solstice (Dec 22): Northern Hemisphere shortest day, longest night.
✓ Equinox (March 20 & Sept 22): Sun directly above equator; day and night nearly
equal (“equal night”).
Comparison table – Rotation vs Revolution:

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Rotation Revolution

Earth on its axis Earth around Sun

24 hours 365.25 days

Causes day/night Causes seasons

Axis is imaginary line Orbit is elliptical path

Unit 7: Motion, Force, Energy and Energy Resources

7.1 Definition and Types of Motion
• Motion: Continuous change of position with respect to a reference point and time.
• Types of motion (by path – Exam Focus – define & give examples):

Type Definition Examples

Rectilinear Car on straight road, falling ball, boy walking

Motion in a straight line
motion straight

Curvilinear Car on circular track, moon around Earth,

Motion along a curved path
motion basketball into basket

Rotary motion Object spins on its own axis Spinning top, Earth’s rotation, watch hands

Oscillatory To-and-fro, back-and-forth, up-and-down Pendulum, swinging swing, boat tossing on

motion repeating motion waves

Note: Circular motion is a special case of curvilinear motion.

7.2 Definition of Force and Gravitational Force
• Force: A push or pull upon an object resulting from its interaction with another object.
An external agent that can change the state of rest or motion of a body.

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• Gravitational force: The force of attraction among all masses in the universe; especially
the attraction of Earth’s mass for bodies near its surface.
✓ Weight = gravitational force on an object.
✓ Gravity always pulls toward the center of Earth.
• Sir Isaac Newton: Discovered gravity (legend of falling apple).
• Types of forces by contact:
✓ Contact forces: Exerted when two objects touch (e.g., friction, spring force).
✓ Non-contact forces: Act at a distance (e.g., gravity, magnetic, electrical).
7.3 Effects of Force (Exam Focus – list each with example)
When force is exerted on an object, it can:
1. Move a stationary object (e.g., kick a stationary ball).
2. Change the speed of a moving object (pedal to increase speed; brake to decrease).
3. Stop or slow down a moving object (car brakes).
4. Change the direction of a moving object (football kicked at an angle).
5. Change the shape of an object (squeeze flour dough).
7.4 Measuring Forces
• Instrument: Newton meter (force meter) also called spring balance.
• Parts:
✓ Hook: Curved part to hang the object.
✓ Spring: Stretches in proportion to force.
✓ Graduated scale: Marked divisions (units of measurement).
✓ Pointer: Moves along scale to indicate force.
• Unit of force: Newton (N).
• How to measure:
1. Check meter reads zero.
2. Attach hook to object.
3. Hold ring and pull.
4. Read force from scale.
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7.5 Definition of Energy
• Energy: The property of matter; comes in many forms (heat, sound, light, motion). It can
be transferred from one form to another.
• Matter: Anything that has mass and occupies space.
• Example: A raindrop (matter) has potential, kinetic, and thermal energy.
7.6 Forms and Conversion of Energy
Forms of energy (Exam Focus – list & describe):

Form Description

Chemical energy Energy stored in chemical substances

Elastic energy Energy in a stretched or squashed object

Electrical energy Energy carried by electricity

Gravitational potential Energy of an object lifted above ground

Heat energy Energy spreading from a hot object

Kinetic energy Energy of a moving object

Light energy Energy spreading from a bright object

Sound energy Energy from a vibrating source

• Energy conversion (transduction): Changing energy from one form to another.

• Conservation of energy: Energy cannot be created or destroyed; it can be transferred,
stored, or dissipated.
• Transducer: A device that converts energy from one form to another.

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Original Energy Transducer Energy transformed

Chemical Battery Electrical

Mechanical Generator Electrical

Electrical Motor Mechanical

Sound Microphone Electrical

• Key example: Falling object converts gravitational potential energy → kinetic energy.

7.7 Energy Sources (Renewable and Non-renewable)

• Energy source: Substance or system that can perform work; can be extracted/transformed
for light, heat, or mechanical work.
• Renewable energy sources: Naturally replenished rapidly; nearly inexhaustible; low
carbon emissions.
✓ Examples: Solar, wind, geothermal, hydropower, biomass, ocean (wave/tidal).
• Non-renewable energy sources: Finite; cannot be replenished at consumption speed;
formed over millions of years; higher environmental impact.
✓ Examples: Coal, petroleum (oil), natural gas, nuclear energy, hydrocarbon gas
liquids.
Comparison table (Exam Focus – advantages/disadvantages):

Feature Renewable Non-renewable

Depletion Cannot be depleted over time Depletes over time

Environmental impact Low carbon footprint Higher carbon footprint

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Feature Renewable Non-renewable

Upfront cost High Lower

Examples Sun, wind, water, geothermal Coal, oil, natural gas

7.8 Wise Use and Conservation of Energy

• Energy conservation: The practice of using less energy to lower costs and reduce
environmental impact.
• How to conserve energy:
✓ Reduce wastage and losses.
✓ Improve efficiency (technology upgrades).
✓ Better operation and maintenance.
• The 3 R’s for conservation:
✓ Reduce: Cut trash and energy consumption.
✓ Reuse: Use products more than once; avoid disposable items.
✓ Recycle: Convert used materials into new products (saves energy, landfill space,
and natural resources).
• Practical strategies at home/office:
✓ Switch off lights, fans, appliances when not in use.
✓ Close water taps.
✓ Cover cooking vessels; use only required water; soak pulses.
✓ Use efficient appliances.
✓ Use public transport or car-sharing.
7.9 Resource Depletion and Environmental Degradation
• Resource depletion: Exhaustion of raw materials in a region (using resources faster than
they can be replaced).
✓ Types: Deforestation, mining, aquifer depletion, contamination, overconsumption,
slash-and-burn agriculture.
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• Causes of resource depletion: Waste, farming, overpopulation, mining, erosion,
pollution, deforestation, industrialization.
• Effects of resource depletion: Water/oil shortages, economic loss, health effects, air
pollution, forest loss, global warming, extinction.
• Environmental degradation: Deterioration of the environment through depletion of
resources (air, water, soil, ecosystems, wildlife).
✓ Major factors: Human (urbanization, industrialization, overpopulation,
deforestation) and natural (floods, droughts, fires, rising temperatures).
• Effects of environmental degradation: Impact on human health, poverty, atmospheric
changes, biodiversity loss, scarcity of natural resources.
Solutions: Avoid plastic, reduce waste, stop deforestation, reduce consumption, save electricity,
recycle/reuse, education.
Glossary of Key Terms (Exam Ready)

Term Definition

Taxonomy Science of classifying and naming organisms

Binomial nomenclature Two-part scientific name (genus + species)

Prokaryotic Cell without true nucleus or membrane-bound organelles

Eukaryotic Cell with true nucleus and organelles

Heterotroph Organism that cannot produce its own food

Autotroph Organism that produces its own food (e.g., photosynthesis)

Exoskeleton External skeleton supporting and protecting an animal’s body

Poikilothermic Cold-blooded; body temperature varies with environment

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Term Definition

Homeothermic Warm-blooded; constant body temperature

Oblate spheroid True shape of Earth: flattened at poles, bulging at equator

Rotation Spinning of Earth on its axis (causes day/night)

Revolution Earth’s orbit around the Sun (causes seasons)

Equinox Sun directly above equator; equal day/night

Force Push or pull that can change motion or shape

Gravitational force Attractive force between masses

Newton meter Instrument to measure force (spring balance)

Energy Property of matter; can be converted from one form to another

Transducer Device that converts energy from one form to another

Renewable energy Naturally replenished, inexhaustible, low carbon

Non-renewable energy Finite, depletes, higher environmental impact

Resource depletion Exhaustion of raw materials in a region

Environmental degradation Deterioration of environment via resource depletion

End of notes – full coverage of Units 5, 6, and 7 from the Grade 7 General Science textbook.

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