The Importance of "Classification" in Science

“Classification” may be the most important theme in science for the beginning science student. Classification is how science makes sense of the very wide and complex variety of subjects of study. Awareness and understanding of scientific “classification” allows students to tackle a narrower range of information and to stay focused in classwork. The logic of classification takes a lot of the mystery out of science studies. Let’s see how it works using important examples.

SCIENCE

Science itself is classified into 6 major “branches” of study

Biology – Chemistry – Physics – Geology – Meteorology - Astronomy

BIOLOGY

Biologists classify over two million species of organisms into just 5 major Kingdoms!

Plants – Animals – Fungi – Protists - Monera

CHEMISTRY

Chemists classify all of the matter in the Universe into 3 basic groups!

Elements/Atoms – Compounds/Molecules – Mixtures/Ingredients

PHYSICS

Isaac Newton classified all observable motions into 3 simple “states”!

Rest – Constant Velocity - Accelerations

GEOLOGY

Geologists classify tectonic plate interactions into just 3 groups!

Divergent – Convergent - Transform

METEOROLOGY

Meteorologists classify all of the precipitation on Earth into 6 types!

Rain – Freezing Rain – Snow – Sleet – Hail – Graupel

ASTRONOMY

Astronomers classify all of the celestial bodies in the Universe into just 7 types!

Stars – Planets – Moons – Asteroids – Comets – Meteors – Galaxies