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Physical Science is a course that covers basic physics concepts, and introduces concepts of chemistry. Our focus is to build background knowledge and skills that will transfer to other science course, other classes, and outside of school.
Unit 1: Science Foundations
Building skills needed to learn and practice science.
Students can:
Measure using the metric system
Graph data and interpret graphs
Design experiments and identify variables
Analyze Data
Use Mathematical Models
Unit 2: Kinematics
Study of motion
Students Can
Distinguish between speed, velocity and acceleration
Calculate speed, velocity and acceleration using the kinematics equations
Interpret and analyze motion graphs
Unit 3: Forces
Study how forces affect objects and their motion
Students can:
Explain Newton's First Law (Inertia) and how it applies to objects at rest and in motion.
Identify and explain examples of Newton's Second Law (F=ma) in real-world situations.
Demonstrate and explain Newton's Third Law (Action-Reaction) using examples from everyday life.
Apply Newton’s laws to predict the motion of objects when forces are applied.
Unit 4: Momentum and Collisions
Study how interactions between objects affect their motion, through the use of momentum transfers in a system.
Students can:
Relate momentum and changes in momentum to Newton’s laws.
Calculate the total momentum of a system using p=mv
Apply the law of conservation of momentum when describing the motion of colliding objects.
Solve for the impulse, force, and time in a collision.
Unit 5: Energy
Study the concept of energy, its different forms, how it transfers between objects/types, and its impact on a system. This concept applies to all branches of science, and is covered to different extents at every level.
Students can:
Discuss examples of different forms of energy.
Distinguish potential and kinetic energy and apply formulas to solve problems.
Discuss examples of energy transformations and explore the energy involved in carrying out daily activities.
Explain what it means when energy is conserved and use energy conservation to solve problems.
Apply an equation to determine the amount of work done by a force.
Determine the amount of power required to do work.
Unit 6: Thermal Energy
Study thermal energy, heat and temperatures as a way to introduce the microscopic aspects of energy.
Students can:
Describe how thermal energy transfers for different materials.
Describe the difference between temperature, heat, and thermal energy
Describe the relationship between heat, mass and temperature.
Use equations to switch between temperature scales (Celsius, Fahrenheit, Kelvin)
Use specific heat and equations to determine how much heat is lost or absorbed when temperature changes in a substance.
Identify substances/material by experimentally determining specific heat.
Unit 7: Chemistry
Study the atom and its structure, and learn to read the periodic table.
Students can:
Describe the structure of an atom from information on the periodic table.
Draw Bohr Models for an element to show the structure of the atom, specifically the electron energies through Period 3.
Determine whether an element is a metal or nonmetal based on position on the periodic table.
Unit 8: Electricity
Study electric circuits, electricity production, electric fields and magnetic fields. Relate how each of these can influence the other concepts.
Students can:
Mathematically relate voltage, current and resistance based on components of a circuit.
Students can use series and parallel circuits to activate components of a circuit.
Students can use electromagnetic induction to describe energy transfer in electrical systems.
Unit 9: Light, Sound and Waves
Study general wave behaviors, and specific behaviors of light and sound.
Students can:
Identify the type of wave, and its measurable features.
Use mathematical models to relate wave speed, frequency, and wavelength
Explain the behaviors of waves when interacting with a material using the principles of reflection, refraction, diffraction and interference
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