1: Earth and Space Sciences

1.A: Explain how technology can be used to gather evidence and increase our understanding of the universe.

1.A.1: Explain how scientists obtain information about the universe by using technology to detect electromagnetic radiation that is emitted, reflected or absorbed by stars and other objects.

Star Spectra

1.A.3: Explain how information about the universe is inferred by understanding that stars and other objects in space emit, reflect or absorb electromagnetic radiation, which we then detect.

Star Spectra

1.A.4: Explain how astronomers infer that the whole universe is expanding by understanding how light seen from distant galaxies has longer apparent wavelengths than comparable light sources close to Earth.

Doppler Shift
Doppler Shift Advanced

2: Life Sciences

2.A: Explain how processes at the cellular level affect the functions and characteristics of an organism.

2.A.1: Recognize that information stored in DNA provides the instructions for assembling protein molecules used by the cells that determine the characteristics of the organism.

RNA and Protein Synthesis

2.A.3: Explain that the Sun is essentially the primary source of energy for life. Plants capture energy by absorbing light and using it to form strong (covalent) chemical bonds between the atoms of carbon-containing (organic) molecules.

Cell Energy Cycle

2.C: Explain how the molecular basis of life and the principles of genetics determine inheritance.

2.C.5: Examine the inheritance of traits through one or more genes and how a single gene can influence more than one trait.

Hardy-Weinberg Equilibrium

2.D: Relate how biotic and abiotic global changes have occurred in the past and will continue to do so in the future.

2.D.10: Explain additional components of the evolution theory, including genetic drift, immigration, emigration and mutation.

Evolution: Mutation and Selection
Evolution: Natural and Artificial Selection

2.E: Explain the interconnectedness of the components of a natural system.

2.E.8: Based on the structure and stability of ecosystems and their nonliving components, predict the biotic and abiotic changes in such systems when disturbed (e.g. introduction of non-native species, climatic change, etc.).

Coral Reefs 1 - Abiotic Factors
Coral Reefs 2 - Biotic Factors

2.E.9: Explain why and how living systems require a continuous input of energy to maintain their chemical and physical organization. Explain that with death and the cessation of energy input, living systems rapidly disintegrate toward more disorganized states.

Food Chain

2.G: Summarize the historical development of scientific theories and ideas within the study of life sciences.

2.G.12: Describe advances in life sciences that have important, long-lasting effects on science and society (e.g., biotechnology).

DNA Fingerprint Analysis

3: Physical Sciences

3.A: Explain how variations in the arrangement and motion of atoms and molecules form the basis of a variety of biological, chemical and physical phenomena.

3.A.2: Describe how a physical, chemical or ecological system in equilibrium may return to the same state of equilibrium if the disturbances it experiences are small. Large disturbances may cause it to escape that equilibrium and eventually settle into some other state of equilibrium.

Equilibrium and Concentration
Equilibrium and Pressure

3.B: Recognize that some atomic nuclei are unstable and will spontaneously break down.

3.B.10: Explain the characteristics of isotopes. The nucleus of radioactive isotopes is unstable and spontaneously decays emitting particles and/or wavelike radiation. It cannot be predicted exactly when, if ever, an unstable nucleus will decay, but a large group of identical nuclei decay at a predictable rate.

Nuclear Decay

3.B.11: Use the predictability of decay rates and the concept of half-life to explain how radioactive substances can be used in estimating the age of materials.

Half-life

3.C: Describe how atoms and molecules can gain or lose energy only in discrete amounts.

3.C.12: Describe how different atomic energy levels are associated with the electron configurations of atoms and electron configurations (and/or conformations) of molecules.

Electron Configuration

3.C.13: Explain how atoms and molecules can gain or lose energy in particular discrete amounts (quanta or packets); therefore they can only absorb or emit light at the wavelengths corresponding to these amounts.

Photoelectric Effect

3.D: Apply principles of forces and motion to mathematically analyze, describe and predict the net effects on objects or systems.

3.D.5: Use and apply the laws of motion to analyze, describe and predict the effects of forces on the motions of objects mathematically.

Atwood Machine
Fan Cart Physics

3.D.8: Describe how the observed wavelength of a wave depends upon the relative motion of the source and the observer (Doppler effect). If either is moving towards the other, the observed wavelength is shorter; if either is moving away, the observed wavelength is longer (e.g., weather radar, bat echoes, police radar).

Doppler Shift
Doppler Shift Advanced

3.D.9: Describe how gravitational forces act between all masses and always create a force of attraction. Recognize that the strength of the force is proportional to the masses and weakens rapidly with increasing distance between them.

Coulomb Force (Static)
Determining a Spring Constant
Gravitational Force
Pith Ball Lab