PHYS.PS1: Matter and Its Interactions

PHYS.PS1.1: Develop models to illustrate the changes in the composition of the nucleus of an atom and the energy released during the processes of fission, fusion, and radioactive decay.

Nuclear Decay

PHYS.PS1.3: Investigate and evaluate the expression for calculating the percentage of a remaining atom (N(t)=N0e-?t) using simulated models, calculations, and/or graphical representations. Define the half-life (t1/2) and decay constant ?. Perform an investigation on probability and calculate half-life from acquired data (does not require use of actual radioactive samples).

Half-life

PHYS.PS2: Motion and Stability: Forces and Interactions

PHYS.PS2.1: Investigate and evaluate the graphical and mathematical relationship (using either manual graphing or computers) of one-dimensional kinematic parameters (distance, displacement, speed, velocity, acceleration) with respect to an object's position, direction of motion, and time.

Distance-Time Graphs - Metric
Distance-Time and Velocity-Time Graphs
Distance-Time and Velocity-Time Graphs - Metric
Fan Cart Physics
Free-Fall Laboratory

PHYS.PS2.2: Algebraically solve problems involving constant velocity and constant acceleration in one-dimension.

Atwood Machine
Free-Fall Laboratory

PHYS.PS2.3: Algebraically solve problems involving arc length, angular velocity, and angular acceleration. Relate quantities to tangential magnitudes of translational motion.

Gravity Pitch
Moment of Inertia
Torque and Moment of Inertia

PHYS.PS2.4: Use free-body diagrams to illustrate the contact and non-contact forces acting on an object. Use the diagrams in combination with graphical or component-based vector analysis and with Newton's first and second laws to predict the position of the object on which the forces act in a constant net force scenario.

Atwood Machine
Coulomb Force (Static)
Determining a Spring Constant
Fan Cart Physics
Free-Fall Laboratory
Inclined Plane - Simple Machine
Pith Ball Lab

PHYS.PS2.5: Gather evidence to defend the claim of Newton's first law of motion by explaining the effect that balanced forces have upon objects that are stationary or are moving at constant velocity.

Atwood Machine
Inclined Plane - Simple Machine
Pulley Lab

PHYS.PS2.7: Plan, conduct, and analyze the results of a controlled investigation to explore the validity of Newton's second law of motion in a system subject to a net unbalanced force, Fnet = ma or Fnet = ?p/?t.

Atwood Machine
Fan Cart Physics

PHYS.PS2.8: Use examples of forces between pairs of objects involving gravitation, electrostatic, friction, and normal forces to explain Newton's third law.

Coulomb Force (Static)
Inclined Plane - Simple Machine
Pith Ball Lab

PHYS.PS2.9: Use Newton’s law of universal gravitation, F = G(m?m?/r²), to calculate the gravitational forces, mass, or distance separating two objects with mass, given the information about the other quantities.

Gravitational Force
Pith Ball Lab

PHYS.PS2.10: Describe and mathematically determine the electrostatic interaction between electrically charged particles using Coulomb’s law, F? = k?(q?q?/r²). Compare and contrast Coulomb’s law and gravitational force, notably with respect to distance.

Coulomb Force (Static)
Pith Ball Lab

PHYS.PS2.12: Use experimental evidence to demonstrate that air resistance is a velocity dependent drag force that leads to terminal velocity.

Free-Fall Laboratory

PHYS.PS2.13: Develop a model to predict the range of a two-dimensional projectile based upon its starting height, initial velocity, and angle at which it was launched.

Feed the Monkey (Projectile Motion)
Golf Range
Trebuchet

PHYS.PS2.14: Plan and conduct an investigation to provide evidence that a constant force perpendicular to an object's motion is required for uniform circular motion (F = mv²/r).

Uniform Circular Motion

PHYS.PS3: Energy

PHYS.PS3.1: Identify and calculate different types of energy and their transformations (thermal, kinetic, potential, including magnetic and electrical potential energies) from one form to another in a system.

Energy Conversion in a System
Energy Conversions
Energy of a Pendulum
Heat Absorption
Inclined Plane - Rolling Objects
Inclined Plane - Sliding Objects
Reaction Energy
Roller Coaster Physics
Sled Wars
Trebuchet

PHYS.PS3.2: Investigate conduction, convection, and radiation as a mechanism for the transfer of thermal energy.

Calorimetry Lab
Heat Transfer by Conduction
Herschel Experiment - Metric
Radiation

PHYS.PS3.3: Use the principle of energy conservation and mathematical representations to quantify the change in energy of one component of a system when the energy that flows in and out of the system and the change in energy of the other components is known.

Calorimetry Lab
Energy Conversion in a System
Energy of a Pendulum
Inclined Plane - Sliding Objects
Reaction Energy
Roller Coaster Physics
Sled Wars
Trebuchet

PHYS.PS3.4: Assess the validity of the law of conservation of linear momentum (p=mv) by planning and constructing a controlled scientific investigation involving two objects moving in one-dimension.

Air Track

PHYS.PS3.5: Construct an argument based on qualitative and quantitative evidence that relates the change in temperature of a substance to its mass and heat energy added or removed from a system.

Calorimetry Lab

PHYS.PS3.6: Define power and solve problems involving the rate of energy production or consumption (P = ?E/?t). Explain and predict changes in power consumption based on changes in energy demand or elapsed time. Investigate power consumption and power production systems in common use.

Household Energy Usage

PHYS.PS3.8: Communicate scientific ideas to describe how forces at a distance are explained by fields (gravitational, electric, and magnetic) permeating space. Explain how energy is contained within the field and how the energy changes when the objects generating and interacting with the field change their relative positions.

Electromagnetic Induction
Magnetic Induction
Magnetism

PHYS.PS3.9: Describe, compare, and diagrammatically represent both electric and magnetic fields. Qualitatively predict the motion of a charged particle in each type of field, but avoid situations where the two types of fields are combined in the same region of space. Restrict magnetic fields to those that are parallel or perpendicular to the path of a charged particle.

Charge Launcher
Electromagnetic Induction
Magnetic Induction
Magnetism

PHYS.PS3.10: Develop a model (sketch, CAD drawing, etc.) of a resistor circuit or capacitor circuit and use it to illustrate the behavior of electrons, electrical charge, and energy transfer.

Circuit Builder

PHYS.PS3.11: Investigate Ohm’s law (I=V/R) by conducting an experiment to determine the relationships between current and voltage, current and resistance, and voltage and resistance.

Advanced Circuits
Circuits

PHYS.PS3.12: Apply the law of conservation of energy and charge to assess the validity of Kirchhoff’s loop and junction rules when algebraically solving problems involving multi-loop circuits.

Advanced Circuits

PHYS.PS3.14: Recognize and communicate information about energy efficiency and/or inefficiency of machines used in everyday life.

Household Energy Usage
Inclined Plane - Rolling Objects
Inclined Plane - Sliding Objects
Pulley Lab

PHYS.PS4: Waves and Their Applications in Technologies for Information Transfer

PHYS.PS4.1: Know wave parameters (i.e., velocity, period, amplitude, frequency, angular frequency) as well as how these quantities are defined in the cases of longitudinal and transverse waves.

Longitudinal Waves
Ripple Tank
Waves

PHYS.PS4.2: Describe parameters of a medium that affect the propagation of a sound wave through it.

Waves

PHYS.PS4.3: Understand that the reflection, refraction, and transmission of waves at an interface between two media can be modeled on the basis of characteristics of specific wave parameters and parameters of the medium.

Basic Prism
Refraction
Ripple Tank

PHYS.PS4.6: Plan and conduct controlled scientific investigations to construct explanations of light's behavior (reflection, refraction, transmission, interference) including the use of ray diagrams.

Laser Reflection
Ray Tracing (Lenses)
Ray Tracing (Mirrors)
Refraction

PHYS.PS4.7: Evaluate the claims, evidence, and reasoning behind the idea that electromagnetic radiation can be described either by a wave model or a particle model.

Photoelectric Effect