1: obtain, evaluate, and communicate information about the relationship between distance, displacement, speed, velocity and acceleration as functions of time for one-dimensional motion

1.a: Calculate average velocity, instantaneous velocity, and acceleration in a given frame of reference.

Air Track
Distance-Time Graphs - Metric
Distance-Time and Velocity-Time Graphs - Metric
Fan Cart Physics
Force and Fan Carts
Golf Range
Measuring Motion
Roller Coaster Physics

1.b: Analyze and interpret data to explain the relationships between, position, velocity, and acceleration using position-time graphs and velocity-time graphs.

1.b.b1: Calculate the slope of a position-time graph and velocity-time graph in order to describe motion of an object.

Distance-Time Graphs - Metric
Distance-Time and Velocity-Time Graphs - Metric
Fan Cart Physics
Free-Fall Laboratory
Inclined Plane - Rolling Objects
Inclined Plane - Simple Machine
Inclined Plane - Sliding Objects
Roller Coaster Physics

1.b.b2: Use positive and negative signs to describe the vector nature of physical quantities.

Adding Vectors
Vectors

1.b.b3: Compare and contrast scalar and vector quantities and give examples of each.

Adding Vectors
Vectors

1.b.b4: Honors/Accelerated Extension: Calculate the areas of velocity-time and acceleration-time graphs to describe the displacement and velocity of an object.

Distance-Time Graphs - Metric
Distance-Time and Velocity-Time Graphs - Metric
Fan Cart Physics
Free-Fall Laboratory
Inclined Plane - Rolling Objects
Inclined Plane - Simple Machine
Inclined Plane - Sliding Objects
Roller Coaster Physics

1.c: Apply appropriate equations for uniformly accelerated motion to solve problems.

1.c.c1: Plan and carry out an investigation of one-dimensional (horizontal and vertical) motion to calculate average and instantaneous speed, velocity and acceleration.

Air Track
Distance-Time Graphs - Metric
Distance-Time and Velocity-Time Graphs - Metric
Fan Cart Physics
Golf Range
Measuring Motion
Roller Coaster Physics

1.c.c2: Investigate and explain that free fall acceleration is independent of mass.

Free-Fall Laboratory

2: obtain, evaluate, and communicate information about the relationship between distance, displacement, speed, velocity and acceleration as functions of time for two-dimensional motion

2.a: Use vector diagrams to show magnitude and direction and to show the addition of parallel and perpendicular vectors.

2.a.a1: Use mathematical methods for vector addition to solve problems for vectors that are on the same line and perpendicular to each other.

Adding Vectors
Vectors

2.b: Analyze and interpret data of two-dimensional motion with constant acceleration.

2.b.b1: Resolve position, velocity, or acceleration vectors into components. (x and y, horizontal and vertical)

Vectors

2.b.b2: Calculate range and time in the air for a horizontally launched projectile. (no air resistance)

Feed the Monkey (Projectile Motion)
Golf Range
Gravity Pitch

2.b.b3: Determine the acceleration and velocity at the top of the parabolic path of a projectile.

Feed the Monkey (Projectile Motion)
Golf Range
Trebuchet

2.b.b4: Explain the independence of vertical and horizontal motion of a projectile along the trajectory. (conceptually explain launch angle, velocity and acceleration at all points)

Feed the Monkey (Projectile Motion)
Golf Range
Trebuchet

2.b.b5: Plan and execute an experiment to investigate the projectile motion of an object by collecting and analyzing data using kinematic equations.

Fan Cart Physics
Feed the Monkey (Projectile Motion)
Force and Fan Carts
Golf Range
Trebuchet

2.b.b6: Predict mathematically and describe how changes to initial conditions (height and horizontal velocity) affect the time of flight and range for horizontal projectiles.

Feed the Monkey (Projectile Motion)
Golf Range
Gravity Pitch

3: obtain, evaluate, and communicate information about how forces affect the motion of objects

3.a: Construct an explanation based on evidence using Newton?s Laws of how forces affect the acceleration of a body.

Crumple Zones

3.a.a1: Explain and predict the motion of a body in absence of a net force and when forces are applied using Newton?s 1st Law (principle of inertia).

Crumple Zones
Fan Cart Physics
Force and Fan Carts

3.a.a3: Calculate the acceleration for an object using Newton?s 2nd Law, including situations where multiple forces act together.

Crumple Zones
Feed the Monkey (Projectile Motion)
Inclined Plane - Simple Machine
Roller Coaster Physics

3.a.a4: Identify the pair of equal and opposite forces between two interacting bodies and relate their magnitudes and directions using Newton?s 3rd Law.

Crumple Zones
Gravitational Force

3.b: Develop and use a model of a Free Body Diagram to represent the forces acting on an object (both equilibrium and non-equilibrium).

3.b.b1: Construct a free body diagram and identify applicable forces for an object on an inclined plane.

Atwood Machine
Inclined Plane - Simple Machine

3.c: Use mathematical representations to calculate magnitudes and vector components for typical forces including gravitational force, normal force, friction forces, tension forces, and spring forces.

3.c.c1: Calculate the weight of various masses.

Beam to Moon (Ratios and Proportions) - Metric

3.c.c5: Honors/Accelerated Extension: Calculate acceleration and magnitude of forces for an object on an inclined plane.

Inclined Plane - Rolling Objects
Inclined Plane - Simple Machine
Inclined Plane - Sliding Objects

3.c.c6: Honors/Accelerated Extension: Perform calculations for spring forces using Hooke?s Law.

Determining a Spring Constant
Period of Mass on a Spring

4: obtain, evalulate, and communicate information to identify the force or force component responsible for causing an object to move along a circular path

4.a: Plan and carry out an investigation to gather evidence to identify the force or force component responsible for causing an object to move along a circular path.

Moment of Inertia
Uniform Circular Motion

4.b: Calculate the magnitude of a centripetal acceleration.

Uniform Circular Motion

4.c: Develop and use a model to describe the mathematical relationship between mass, distance, and force as expressed by Newton?s Universal Law of Gravitation. (Optional Extension: Identify and describe a system of torque-producing forces acting in equilibrium.)

Gravitational Force

5: obtain, evaluate, and communicate information about the importance of law of conservation of energy in predicting the behavior of physical systems

5.b: Use mathematics and computational thinking to analyze, evaluate, and apply the principle of conservation of energy and the Work-Kinetic Energy Theorem for closed systems.

Crumple Zones

5.b.b1: Calculate the kinetic energy and gravitational potential energy of an object.

Energy of a Pendulum
Inclined Plane - Rolling Objects
Inclined Plane - Sliding Objects
Potential Energy on Shelves
Roller Coaster Physics

5.b.b2: Calculate the amount of work performed by a force on an object.

Inclined Plane - Simple Machine

5.b.b4: Honors/Accelerated Extension: Analyze a force-position graph to determine the amount of work done on an object by a linear force.

Inclined Plane - Simple Machine

6: obtain, evaluate, and communicate information about the importance of Law of Conservation of Linear Momentum in predicting the behavior of physical systems

6.a: Describe situations in which momentum is and is not conserved

2D Collisions
Air Track

6.b: Construct an argument supported by evidence of the use of the principle of conservation of momentum to describe a physical system.

6.b.b3: Describe and perform calculations involving one dimensional momentum.

2D Collisions
Air Track

6.b.b5: Honors/Accelerated Extension: Experimentally and mathematically compare and contrast inelastic and elastic collisions.

2D Collisions
Air Track

7: obtain, evaluate, and communicate information about electrical force interactions

7.a: Develop and use mathematical models and generate diagrams to compare and contrast the electric and gravitational forces between two objects.

Charge Launcher
Coulomb Force (Static)
Gravitational Force
Pith Ball Lab

7.c: Predict changes in electric potential energy for a system of two like and unlike charges.

Charge Launcher
Pith Ball Lab

8: obtain, evaluate, and communicate information about electrical circuits

8.a: Explain current flow as the result of potential difference.

8.a.a1: Explain the flow of electrons in terms of alternating and direct current.

Advanced Circuits
Circuit Builder
Circuits

8.b: Plan and carry out an investigation of voltage, current, resistance, and power for a single resistor circuit.

8.b.b1: Calculate the cost of using electrical energy (kW-hr) in electrical appliances.

Household Energy Usage

8.c: Compare and contrast series and parallel circuits.

8.c.c1: Illustrate circuit diagrams using appropriate symbols for resistors, battery, light bulbs, and switch.

Advanced Circuits
Circuit Builder
Circuits

8.c.c2: Plan and carry out an investigation to analyze simple series and parallel DC circuits.

Advanced Circuits
Circuits

8.c.c3: Apply Ohm?s Law to analyze steady-state DC circuits in series and parallel to determine the voltage across, current through, total resistance of and power dissipated/added by each element in the circuit.

Advanced Circuits
Circuits

8.c.c4: Explain the nature of household circuits and the use of fuses and circuit breakers within them.

Advanced Circuits
Circuit Builder
Circuits

9: obtain, evaluate, and communicate information about electrical and magnetic force interactions

9.a: Plan and carry out investigations to clarify the relationship between electric currents and magnetic fields.

9.a.a1: Honors/Accelerated Extension: Determine the direction of the magnetic field around a current- carrying straight wire using a right-hand rule.

Electromagnetic Induction
Magnetic Induction

9.c: Explore experimentally how magnetic induction creates an electric current.

Electromagnetic Induction

9.d: Construct working models of electric motors and generators to show the interplay of electric and magnetic forces.

9.d.d2: Honors/Accelerated Extension: Determine the direction of the magnetic force for current-carrying wires and moving charges in magnetic fields using a right-hand rule.

Electromagnetic Induction
Magnetic Induction

10: obtain, evaluate, and communicate information about the properties and applications of mechanical waves and sound

10.a: Develop and use mathematical models to explain mechanical and electromagnetic waves as a propagating disturbance that transfers energy.

10.a.a1: Mathematically describe how the velocity, frequency, and wavelength of a propagating wave are related.

Ripple Tank
Waves

10.b: Construct an explanation that analyzes the production and characteristics of sound waves.

10.b.b1: Explain Doppler Effect, standing waves, wavelength, the relationship between amplitude and the energy of the wave, and the relationship between frequency and pitch.

Doppler Shift
Doppler Shift Advanced
Hearing: Frequency and Volume
Sound Beats and Sine Waves

10.b.b2: Honors/Accelerated Extension: Calculate the shift in frequency due to the Doppler effect.

Doppler Shift Advanced

10.c: Honors/Accelerated Extension: Plan and carry out investigations examining resonance on a string and resonance in closed and open pipes.

Longitudinal Waves

11: obtain, evaluate, and communicate information about the properties and applications of electromagnetic waves

11.a: Plan and carry out investigations to characterize the properties and behavior of electromagnetic waves.

11.a.a1: Explain the properties of waves including, but not limited to, amplitude (intensity), frequency, wavelength, and the relationship between frequency or wavelength and the energy of the wave.

Big Bang Theory - Hubble's Law
Star Spectra

11.a.a2: Investigate and solve problems involving refraction of light in relation to the speed of light in media, index of refraction, and angles of incidence and refraction (Snell?s Law).

Refraction

11.b: Develop and use models to describe and calculate characteristics related to the interference and diffraction of waves (single and double slits).

11.b.b1: Explain Doppler Effect, standing waves, wavelength, the relationship between amplitude and the energy of the wave, and the relationship between frequency and pitch.

Doppler Shift
Doppler Shift Advanced
Hearing: Frequency and Volume
Sound Beats and Sine Waves

11.b.b2: Construct an argument for the wave nature of light based on observations of diffraction patterns.

Ripple Tank

11.c: Plan and carry out investigations to describe common features of light in terms of color, polarization, spectral composition.

11.c.c1: Demonstrate the dispersion of white light into a color spectrum and the addition of primary and secondary colors to form white light.

Additive Colors
Basic Prism
Color Absorption
Subtractive Colors

12: plan and carry out investigations, using lenses and mirrors, to identify the behavior of light

12.a: Construct optical ray diagrams for lenses, curved mirrors, and plane mirrors and predict the properties (reduced/enlarged, real/virtual, upright/ inverted) of the image.

Ray Tracing (Lenses)
Ray Tracing (Mirrors)

12.b: Perform calculations related to focal length, image distance, object distance and image magnification for thin lenses, curved mirrors, and plane mirrors.

Ray Tracing (Lenses)
Ray Tracing (Mirrors)

13: obtain, evaluate and communicate information about nuclear changes of matter and related technological applications

13.a: Develop and use models to explain, compare, and contrast nuclear processes including radioactive decay, fission, and fusion.

Nuclear Decay

13.b: Construct an argument to compare and contrast mechanisms and characteristics of radioactive decay.

13.b.b1: Explain alpha, beta, and gamma decays and their effects.

Nuclear Decay

13.b.b2: Optional Extension : balance nuclear equations involving alpha and beta decay.

Nuclear Decay

13.c: Develop and use mathematical and graphical models to calculate the amount of substance present after a given amount of time based on its half-life and relate this to the law of conservation of mass and energy. (Calculation should be limited to integer multiples of half-life.)

13.c.c1: Honors/Accelerated Extension: Use mathematics and computational thinking to apply the exponential decay equation.

Half-life