Physics, Earth-Space Science, & Engineering
Preparation for the General Science Exam, Subtest-1 (215)
Dr. Norman Herr
The California State University Northridge Math & Science Teacher Initiative (CSUN-MSTI)
Embedded Files
Slides & Links
Slides & Links
Click here to access all slides*
About 1/3 of the test is devoted to NGSS Science and Engineering Practices (SEP), Cross-Cutting Concepts (CCC) and Engineering Design & Applications. Please click on the links below and watch the associated videos for each of the 8 SEPs, the 7 CCCs and Engineering Design. These are woven into the content of all workshop sessions and provide the lens through which we study the physical sciences, the life sciences, and the earth & space sciences.
Cross-Cutting Concepts (CCC)
Videos
Videos
Discovering Physical Laws Using Dimensional Analysis [13:21]
Straight Line Approach in Dimensional Analysis (removing fractions over fractions) [6:52]
Standards - Physics
Standards - Physics
2.1 Understand structure and properties of matter.
2.1 Understand structure and properties of matter.
a. Analyze the basic substructure of an atom (i.e., protons, neutrons, and electrons).
b. Differentiate between atoms and their isotopes, ions, molecules, elements, and compounds.
c. Apply knowledge of the development and organization of the periodic table and predict the properties of elements on the basis of their positions in the periodic table.
d. Demonstrate knowledge of nuclear forces that hold nuclei together and are responsible for nuclear processes (e.g., fission, fusion) and radioactivity (e.g., alpha, beta, and gamma decay).
e. Demonstrate knowledge of the characteristics of the different states of matter.
f. Apply knowledge of physical changes of matter and physical properties of matter.
g. Demonstrate knowledge of the physical and chemical characteristics, including pH, of acids, bases, and neutral solutions.
h. Apply knowledge of the physical and chemical properties of water.
2.2 Understand chemical reactions and biochemistry.
2.2 Understand chemical reactions and biochemistry.
a. Recognize that chemical reactions can be understood in terms of the collisions between ions, atoms, or molecules and the rearrangement of particles.
b. Apply knowledge of the principles of conservation of matter to chemical reactions, including balancing chemical equations.
c. Describe the effect of temperature, pressure, and concentration on chemical equilibrium (Le Chatelier's principle) and reaction rate.
d. Analyze chemical bonding with respect to an element's position in the periodic table.
e. Demonstrate knowledge of the central role of carbon in the chemistry of living systems.
2.3 Understand motion and stability: forces and interactions.
2.3 Understand motion and stability: forces and interactions.
a. Apply knowledge of Newton's laws of motion and law of universal gravitation and recognize the relationship between these laws and the laws of conservation of energy and momentum.
b. Demonstrate knowledge of the definition of pressure and how pressure relates to fluid flow and buoyancy, including describing everyday phenomena (e.g., the functioning of heart valves, atmospheric pressure).
c. Identify the separate forces that act on a system (e.g., gravity, tension/compression, normal force, friction), describe the net force on the system, and describe the effect on the stability of the system.
d. Analyze displacement, motion, and forces using models (e.g., vector, graphic representation, equations).
e. Identify fundamental forces, including gravity, nuclear forces, and electromagnetic forces (magnetic and electric), and recognize their roles in nature, such as the role of gravity in maintaining the structure of the universe.
2.4 Understand waves and their applications in technologies for information transfer.
2.4 Understand waves and their applications in technologies for information transfer.
a. Compare the characteristics of mechanical and electromagnetic waves (e.g., transverse/longitudinal, travel through various media, relative speed).
b. Demonstrate knowledge of the relationship between wave frequency, wavelength, and amplitude and energy.
c. Demonstrate knowledge of resonance and of the reflection, refraction, and transmission of waves.
d. Apply knowledge of electromagnetic radiation, including analyzing evidence that supports the wave and particle models that explain the properties of electromagnetic radiation.
e. Evaluate evidence that indicates that certain wavelengths of electromagnetic radiation may affect living cells.
f. Demonstrate knowledge of how lenses are used in simple optical systems, including the camera, telescope, microscope, and eye.
g. Compare and contrast the transmission, reflection, and absorption of light in matter.
h. Demonstrate knowledge of how energy and information are transferred by waves without mass transfer, including recognizing technology that employ this phenomenon.
2.5 Understand energy.
2.5 Understand energy.
a. Demonstrate knowledge of kinetic and potential energy.
b. Demonstrate knowledge of the ways in which energy manifests itself at the macroscopic level (e.g., motion, sound, light, thermal energy).
c. Demonstrate knowledge of the principle of conservation of energy, including analyzing energy transfers.
d. Demonstrate knowledge of how the transfer of energy as heat is related to changes in temperature and interpret the direction of heat flow in a system.
e. Apply knowledge of heat transfer by conduction, convection, and radiation, including analyzing examples of each mode of heat transfer.
f. Analyze how chemical energy in fuel is transformed to heat.
g. Demonstrate knowledge of the energy changes that accompany changes in states of matter.
2.6 Understand electricity and magnetism.
2.6 Understand electricity and magnetism.
a. Demonstrate knowledge of electrostatic and magnetostatic phenomena, including evaluating examples of each type of phenomenon.
b. Predict charges or poles on the basis of attraction/repulsion observations.
c. Relate electric currents to magnetic fields and describe the application of these relationships, such as in electromagnets, electric current generators, motors, and transformers.
d. Demonstrate knowledge of how energy is stored and can change in electric and magnetic fields.
e. Interpret simple series and parallel circuits.
f. Demonstrate knowledge of the definitions of power, voltage differences, current, and resistance and calculate their values in simple circuits.
Standards - Earth & Space Science
Standards - Earth & Space Science
a. Demonstrate knowledge of the evidence for the Big Bang model (e.g., light spectra, motion of distant galaxies, spectra of primordial radiation).
b. Demonstrate knowledge of how astronomical instruments are used to collect data and how astronomical units are used to describe distances.
c. Demonstrate knowledge of the factors that contribute to a star's color, size, and luminosity and how a star's light spectrum and brightness can be used to identify compositional elements, movements, and distance from Earth.
d. Demonstrate knowledge of nuclear fusion in stars, including the relationship between a star's mass and stage of its lifetime and the elements produced.
e. Demonstrate knowledge of the formation and structure of the solar system, its place in the Milky Way galaxy, and the characteristics of various objects in the solar system.
f. Recognize how evidence from the study of lunar rocks, asteroids, and meteorites provides information about Earth's formation and history.
g. Compare and contrast uniformitarianism and catastrophism.
h. Demonstrate knowledge of the regular and predictable patterns of movements of stars, planets, and the moon and their effects on Earth's systems (e.g., seasons, eclipses, tides).
i. Apply knowledge of how Kepler's laws are used to predict the motion of orbiting objects.
a. Recognize various forms of evidence (e.g., seismic waves, iron meteorites, magnetic field data) that led to the current model of Earth's structure (i.e., hot but solid inner core, a liquid outer core, a solid mantle and crust).
b. Demonstrate knowledge of the dynamic processes of erosion, deposition, and transport, including evidence for connections between these processes and the formation of Earth's materials.
c. Demonstrate knowledge of relative and absolute dating techniques, including how half lives are used in radiometric dating and of how evidence from rock strata is used to establish the geologic timescale.
d. Recognize the factors that can alter the flow of energy into and out of Earth's systems (e.g., tectonic events, ocean circulation, volcanic activity, vegetation).
e. Relate the abundance of liquid water on Earth's surface and water's physical and chemical properties to the dynamic processes shaping the planet's materials and surface.
f. Demonstrate knowledge of surficial processes that form geographic features of Earth's surface (e.g., mechanical, chemical, and biological weathering).
a. Demonstrate knowledge of the evidence for plate tectonics (e.g., the ages of crustal rocks, distribution of fossils and rocks, continental shapes) and relate plate movements to continental and ocean-floor features.
b. Demonstrate knowledge of the thermal processes driving plate movement and relate density and buoyancy to plate tectonics.
c. Demonstrate knowledge of the differences between types of plate boundaries, causes of volcanoes, earthquakes, and how Earth's resources relate to tectonic processes.
d. Demonstrate knowledge of the factors contributing to the extent of damage caused by an earthquake (e.g., epicenter, focal mechanism, distance, geologic substrate).
a. Demonstrate knowledge of the water cycle and the interrelationships of surface and subsurface reservoirs.
b. Demonstrate knowledge of the causes of daily, seasonal, and climatic changes and analyze the uneven heating of Earth by the sun.
c. Analyze the effects of air movements on weather and interpret weather maps to predict weather patterns.
d. Demonstrate knowledge of the energy transfer processes of convection, conduction, and radiation in relation to the atmosphere/ocean and Earth's interior structure.
e. Demonstrate knowledge of the mechanisms and the significance of the greenhouse effect on Earth, including the roles of the oceans and biosphere in absorbing greenhouse gases.
f. Demonstrate knowledge of human activities and their impact on global climate change.
a. Demonstrate knowledge of renewable and nonrenewable energy resources (e.g., fossil fuels, nuclear fuels, solar, biomass).
b. Demonstrate knowledge of Earth's materials as resources (e.g., rocks, minerals, soils, water) that have a global distribution affected by past and current geological processes.
c. Analyze extraction and recycling processes in relation to energy, cost, and demand.
d. Demonstrate knowledge of sustainable uses of resources with respect to utility, cost, and demand.
e. Demonstrate knowledge of the effects of natural hazards (e.g., earthquakes, landslides, floods) on natural and human-made habitats.
f. Demonstrate knowledge of how the availability of natural resources and the existence of natural hazards and other geologic events have influenced the development of human society.
Traditional Geoscience
Traditional Geoscience
(8) Lithosphere | (copy)
(9) Hydrosphere | (copy)
(10)Atmosphere | (copy)
(11) Astronomy | (copy)
Page updated
Google Sites
Report abuse