SCI.PS: Physical Science

SCI.PS1: Students use science and engineering practices, crosscutting concepts, and an understanding of matter and its interactions to make sense of phenomena and solve problems.

SCI.PS1.A: Structures and Properties of Matter

SCI.PS1.A.m: The fact that matter is composed of atoms and molecules can be used to explain the properties of substances, diversity of materials, states of matter, phase changes, and conservation of matter.

Phases of Water

SCI.PS1.B: Chemical Reactions

SCI.PS1.B.m: Reacting substances rearrange to form different molecules, but the number of atoms is conserved. Some reactions release energy and others absorb energy.

Chemical Changes
Chemical Equations

SCI.PS2: Students use science and engineering practices, crosscutting concepts, and an understanding of forces, interactions, motion and stability to make sense of phenomena and solve problems.

SCI.PS2.A: Forces and Motion

SCI.PS2.A.m.i: Motion and changes in motion can be qualitatively described using concepts of speed, velocity, and acceleration (including speeding up, slowing down, and/or changing direction).

Distance-Time Graphs
Free Fall Tower
Free-Fall Laboratory
Measuring Motion

SCI.PS2.A.m.ii: The role of the mass of an object must be qualitatively accounted for in any change of motion due to the application of a force (Newton’s first and second law).

Fan Cart Physics
Force and Fan Carts

SCI.PS2.A.m.iii: For any pair of interacting objects, the force exerted by the first object on the second object is equal in strength to the force that the second object exerts on the first, but in the opposite direction (Newton’s third law).

Force and Fan Carts

SCI.PS3: Students use science and engineering practices, crosscutting concepts, and an understanding of energy to make sense of phenomena and solve problems.

SCI.PS3.A: Definitions of Energy

SCI.PS3.A.m: Kinetic energy can be distinguished from the various forms of potential energy.

Energy Conversions
Energy of a Pendulum
Inclined Plane - Sliding Objects
Roller Coaster Physics
Sled Wars

SCI.PS3.B: Conservation of Energy and Energy Transfer

SCI.PS3.B.m: Energy changes to and from each type can be tracked through physical or chemical interactions. The relationship between the temperature and the total energy of a system depends on the types, states, and amounts of matter.

Chemical Changes
Energy Conversion in a System
Phase Changes
Phases of Water

SCI.PS3.D: Energy in Chemical Processes and Everyday Life

SCI.PS3.D.m: Sunlight is captured by plants and used in a chemical reaction to produce sugar molecules for storing this energy. This stored energy can be released by respiration or combustion, which can be reversed by burning those molecules to release energy.

Cell Energy Cycle
Energy Conversions
Photosynthesis Lab

SCI.PS4: Students use science and engineering practices, crosscutting concepts, and an understanding of waves and their applications in technologies for information transfer to make sense of phenomena and solve problems.

SCI.PS4.A: Wave Properties

SCI.PS4.A.m: A simple wave model has a repeating pattern with a specific wavelength, frequency, and amplitude, and mechanical waves need a medium through which they are transmitted. This model can explain many phenomena including sound and light. Waves can transmit energy.

Heat Absorption
Longitudinal Waves
Radiation
Ripple Tank