S8P: Physical Science

S8P1: Obtain, evaluate, and communicate information about the structure and properties of matter.

S8P1.b: Develop and use models to describe the movement of particles in solids, liquids, gases, and plasma states when thermal energy is added or removed.

Phase Changes
Temperature and Particle Motion

S8P1.c: Plan and carry out investigations to compare and contrast chemical (i.e., reactivity, combustibility) and physical (i.e., density, melting point, boiling point) properties of matter.

Density Experiment: Slice and Dice
Density Laboratory
Melting Points
Mineral Identification
Phase Changes

S8P1.d: Construct an argument based on observational evidence to support the claim that when a change in a substance occurs, it can be classified as either chemical or physical.

Chemical Changes
Density Experiment: Slice and Dice

S8P1.e: Develop models (e.g., atomic-level models, including drawings, and computer representations) by analyzing patterns within the periodic table that illustrate the structure, composition, and characteristics of atoms (protons, neutrons, and electrons) and simple molecules.

Element Builder

S8P1.f: Construct an explanation based on evidence to describe conservation of matter in a chemical reaction including the resulting differences between products and reactants.

Chemical Changes
Chemical Equations

S8P2: Obtain, evaluate, and communicate information about the law of conservation of energy to develop arguments that energy can transform from one form to another within a system.

S8P2.a: Analyze and interpret data to create graphical displays that illustrate the relationships of kinetic energy to mass and speed, and potential energy to mass and height of an object.

Air Track
Energy Conversion in a System
Energy of a Pendulum
Inclined Plane - Sliding Objects
Potential Energy on Shelves
Sled Wars

S8P2.b: Plan and carry out an investigation to explain the transformation between kinetic and potential energy within a system (e.g., roller coasters, pendulums, rubber bands, etc.).

Energy Conversion in a System
Energy of a Pendulum
Inclined Plane - Sliding Objects
Roller Coaster Physics
Sled Wars
Trebuchet

S8P2.c: Construct an argument to support a claim about the type of energy transformations within a system [e.g., lighting a match (light to heat), turning on a light (electrical to light)].

Energy Conversion in a System
Energy of a Pendulum
Sled Wars

S8P2.d: Plan and carry out investigations on the effects of heat transfer on molecular motion as it relates to the collision of atoms (conduction), through space (radiation), or in currents in a liquid or a gas (convection).

Conduction and Convection
Heat Absorption
Heat Transfer by Conduction
Herschel Experiment - Metric
Radiation

S8P3: Obtain, evaluate, and communicate information about cause and effect relationships between force, mass, and the motion of objects.

S8P3.a: Analyze and interpret data to identify patterns in the relationships between speed and distance, and velocity and acceleration.

Distance-Time Graphs - Metric
Free Fall Tower
Free-Fall Laboratory

S8P3.b: Construct an explanation using Newton’s Laws of Motion to describe the effects of balanced and unbalanced forces on the motion of an object.

Crumple Zones
Fan Cart Physics
Free-Fall Laboratory

S8P3.c: Construct an argument from evidence to support the claim that the amount of force needed to accelerate an object is proportional to its mass (inertia).

Fan Cart Physics

S8P4: Obtain, evaluate, and communicate information to support the claim that electromagnetic (light) waves behave differently than mechanical (sound) waves.

S8P4.a: Ask questions to develop explanations about the similarities and differences between electromagnetic and mechanical waves.

Longitudinal Waves
Ripple Tank

S8P4.b: Construct an explanation using data to illustrate the relationship between the electromagnetic spectrum and energy.

Heat Absorption
Radiation

S8P4.d: Develop and use a model to compare and contrast how light and sound waves are reflected, refracted, absorbed, diffracted or transmitted through various materials.

Basic Prism
Color Absorption
Heat Absorption
Refraction

S8P4.e: Analyze and interpret data to predict patterns in the relationship between density of media and wave behavior (i.e., speed).

Longitudinal Waves
Refraction
Ripple Tank

S8P4.f: Develop and use a model (e.g., simulations, graphs, illustrations) to predict and describe the relationships between wave properties (e.g., frequency, amplitude, and wavelength) and energy.

Hearing: Frequency and Volume
Ripple Tank
Waves

S8P4.g: Develop and use models to demonstrate the effects that lenses have on light (i.e., formation an image) and their possible technological applications.

Basic Prism
Ray Tracing (Lenses)

S8P5: Obtain, evaluate, and communicate information about gravity, electricity, and magnetism as major forces acting in nature.

S8P5.a: Construct an argument using evidence to support the claim that fields (i.e., magnetic fields, gravitational fields, and electric fields) exist between objects exerting forces on each other even when the objects are not in contact.

Charge Launcher
Magnetic Induction
Tides - Metric

S8P5.c: Plan and carry out investigations to identify the factors (e.g., distance between objects, magnetic force produced by an electromagnet with varying number of wire turns, varying number or size of dry cells, and varying size of iron core) that affect the strength of electric and magnetic forces.

Charge Launcher
Electromagnetic Induction
Magnetic Induction