SCI.PS: Physical Science

SCI.PS1: Students use science and engineering practices, crosscutting concepts, and an understanding of matter and its interactions to make sense of phenomena and solve problems.

SCI.PS1.A: Structures and Properties of Matter

SCI.PS1.A.h: The sub-atomic structural model and interactions between electric charges at the atomic scale can be used to explain the structure and interactions of matter, including chemical reactions and nuclear processes. Repeating patterns of the periodic table reflect patterns of outer electrons. A stable molecule has less energy than the same set of atoms separated; one must provide at least this energy to take the molecule apart.

Electron Configuration

SCI.PS1.B: Chemical Reactions

SCI.PS1.B.h: Chemical processes are understood in terms of collisions of molecules, rearrangement of atoms, and changes in energy as determined by properties of elements involved.

Collision Theory

SCI.PS1.C: Nuclear Processes

SCI.PS1.C.h: Nuclear processes, including fusion, fission, and radioactive decays of unstable nuclei, involve release or absorption of energy.

Nuclear Decay

SCI.PS2: Students use science and engineering practices, crosscutting concepts, and an understanding of forces, interactions, motion and stability to make sense of phenomena and solve problems.

SCI.PS2.A: Forces and Motion

SCI.PS2.A.h.i: Motion and changes in motion can be quantitatively described using concepts of speed, velocity, and acceleration (including speeding up, slowing down, and/or changing direction).

Distance-Time Graphs
Free-Fall Laboratory
Golf Range
Shoot the Monkey

SCI.PS2.A.h.ii: Newton’s second law of motion (F=ma) and the conservation of momentum can be used to predict changes in the motion of macroscopic objects.

Atwood Machine

SCI.PS3: Students use science and engineering practices, crosscutting concepts, and an understanding of energy to make sense of phenomena and solve problems.

SCI.PS3.B: Conservation of Energy and Energy Transfer

SCI.PS3.B.h: The total energy within a system is conserved. Energy transfer within and between systems can be described and predicted in terms of energy associated with the motion or configuration of particles (objects).

2D Collisions
Air Track
Energy Conversion in a System

SCI.PS3.D: Energy in Chemical Processes and Everyday Life

SCI.PS3.D.h: Photosynthesis is the primary biological means of capturing radiation from the sun; energy cannot be destroyed, but it can be converted to less useful forms.

Cell Energy Cycle
Energy Conversion in a System
Photosynthesis Lab

SCI.PS4: Students use science and engineering practices, crosscutting concepts, and an understanding of waves and their applications in technologies for information transfer to make sense of phenomena and solve problems.

SCI.PS4.A: Wave Properties

SCI.PS4.A.h: The wavelength and frequency of a wave are related to one another by the speed of the wave, which depends on the type of wave and the medium through which it is passing. Waves can be used to transmit information and energy.

Ripple Tank