I can:
- Generate new questions that can be investigated in the laboratory or field.
- Evaluate the uncertainties or validity of scientific conclusions using an understanding of sources of measurement error
- Understand the challenges of controlling variables, accuracy of data analysis, logic of argument, logic of experimental design, and/or the dependence on underlying assumptions.
- Conduct scientific investigations using appropriate tools and techniques (e.g., selecting an instrument that measures the desired quantity length, volume, weight, time interval, temperature with the appropriate level of precision).
- Identify patterns in data and relate them to theoretical models.
- Describe a reason for a given conclusion using evidence from an investigation.
- Critique whether or not specific questions can be answered through scientific investigations.
- Identify and critique arguments about personal or societal issues based on scientific evidence.
- Develop an understanding of a scientific concept by accessing information from multiple sources.
- Evaluate the scientific accuracy and significance of the information.
- Evaluate scientific explanations in a peer review process or discussion format.
- Evaluate the future career and occupational prospects of science fields.
- Calculate the average speed of an object using the change of position and elapsed time.
- Represent the velocities for linear and circular motion using motion diagrams.
- Create line graphs using measured values of position and elapsed time.
- Describe and analyze the motion that a position-time graph represents, given the graph.
- Describe and classify various motions in a plane as one dimensional, two dimensional, circular, or periodic.
- Distinguish between rotation and revolution and describe and contrast the two speeds of an object like the Earth.
- Distinguish between the variables of distance, displacement, speed, velocity, and acceleration.
- Use the change of speed and elapsed time to calculate the average acceleration for linear motion.
- Describe and analyze the motion that a velocity-time graph represents, given the graph.
- State that uniform circular motion involves acceleration without a change in speed.
- Identify the force(s) acting between objects in “direct contact” or at a distance.
- Identify the magnitude and direction of everyday forces.
- Calculate the net force acting on an object.
- Identify the action and reaction force from examples of forces in everyday situations.
- Predict the change in motion of an object acted on by several forces.
- Identify forces acting on objects moving with constant velocity.
- Solve problems involving force, mass, and acceleration in linear motion.
- Identify the force(s) acting on objects moving with uniform circular motion.
- Apply conservation of momentum to solve simple collision problems.
- Explain earth-moon interactions (orbital motion) in terms of forces.
- Predict how the gravitational force between objects changes when the distance between them changes.
- Account for and represent energy into and out of systems using energy transfer diagrams.
- Explain instances of energy transfer by waves and objects in everyday activities
- Explain why work has a more precise scientific meaning than the meaning of work in everyday language.
- Calculate the amount of work done on an object that is moved from one position to another.
- Using the formula for work, derive a formula for change in potential energy of an object lifted a distance h.
- Account for and represent energy transfer and transformation in complex processes.
- Name devices that transform specific types of energy into other types - Explain how energy is conserved in common systems
- Explain why all the stored energy in gasoline does not transform to mechanical energy of a vehicle.
- Identify the form of energy in given situations
- Describe the transformation between potential and kinetic energy in simple mechanical systems - Explain why all mechanical systems require an external energy source to maintain their motion.
- Rank the amount of kinetic energy from highest to lowest of everyday examples of moving objects.
- Calculate the changes in kinetic and potential energy in simple mechanical systems using the formulas for kinetic energy and potential energy.
- Calculate the impact speed of an object dropped from a specific height or the maximum height reached by an object, given the initial vertical velocity.
- Describe how heat is conducted in a solid.
- Describe melting on a molecular level.
- Describe the energy transformations when electrical energy is produced and transferred to homes and businesses.
- Identify common household devices that transform electrical energy to other forms of energy, and describe the type of energy transformation.
- Given diagrams of many different possible connections of electric circuit elements, identify complete circuits, open circuits, and short circuits and explain the reasons for the classification.
- Discriminate between voltage, resistance, and current as they apply to an electric circuit.
-Account for and represent energy into and out of systems using energy transfer diagrams.
- Explain instances of energy transfer by waves and objects in everyday activities.
- Describe specific mechanical waves.
- Identify everyday examples of transverse and compression (longitudinal) waves.
- Compare and contrast transverse and compression (longitudinal) waves in terms of wavelength, amplitude, and frequency.
- Demonstrate that frequency and wavelength of a wave are inversely proportional in a given medium.
- Identify everyday examples of energy transfer by waves and their sources.
- Explain why an object (e.g., fishing bobber) does not move forward as a wave passes under it.
- Provide evidence to support the claim that sound is energy transferred by a wave, not energy transferred by particles.
- Explain how waves propagate from vibrating sources and why the intensity decreases with the square of the distance from a point source.
- Explain why everyone in a classroom can hear one person speaking, but why an amplification system is often used in the rear of a large concert auditorium.
- Describe how two wave pulses propagated from opposite ends of a demonstration spring interact as they meet.
- List and analyze everyday examples that demonstrate the interference characteristics of waves.
Identify the different regions on the electromagnetic spectrum and compare them in terms of wavelength, frequency, and energy.
- Explain why radio waves can travel through space, but sound waves cannot.
- Explain why there is a delay between the time we send a radio message to astronauts on the moon and when they receive it.
- Explain why we see a distant event before we hear it.
- Draw ray diagrams to indicate how light reflects off objects or refracts into transparent media.
- Predict the path of reflected light from flat, curved, or rough surfaces.
- Identify the principle involved when you see a transparent object .
- Explain how various materials reflect, absorb, or transmit light in different ways.
- Explain why the image of the Sun appears reddish at sunrise and sunset.
- Describe evidence that supports the dual wave - particle nature of light.