Class overview

Eighth grade physical science courses provide an overview of the physical world and help students understand concepts such as matter, energy, and forces. Some topics that may be covered include:

• Unit 1: Structure of Matter

  • Atoms, Elements, Compounds, Mixtures, States of Matter, Physical and Chemical Properties and Changes, Law of  Conservation of Matter, Chemical Reactions, The Periodic Table 

• Unit 2: Energy 

  • Potential and Kinetic Energy, Forms of Energy, Energy Transformations, Heat Transfers 

• Unit 3: Force and Motion 

  • Balanced and Unbalanced Forces, Gravity, Motion Graphs, Speed, Velocity, Acceleration, Newton Laws

• Unit 4: Waves

  • Type of Waves, Light vs Sound Waves, Wave behaviors, Convex and Concave Lenses, Wave Speed

• Unit 5: Gravity, Electricity, & Magnetism

  • Static Electricity, Circuits, Magnets, Conductors, Insulators, Electromagnets, Generators, Motors