Unit Title

Approximate Unit Length

Standards Addressed in the Unit

Essential Questions for the Unit

Enduring Understandings or Learning Targets for the Unit

Semester 1

Kinematics

4 weeks

NGSS Standards:

HS-ESS2-1

HS-ESS1-4

How are graphical and mathematical models created from experimental data?

How can mathematics be used to represent relationships between variables?

How does physics explain constancy and change in the universe?

How can we measure and predict motion?

I can….

Describe an object’s motion based on a position-time graph.
Describe an object’s motion based on a velocity-time graph.
Describe an object’s motion based on an acceleration-time graph.
Define speed and give examples of units for speed.
Define velocity and give examples of units for velocity.
Distinguish between speed and velocity.
Represent velocity graphically using a position/time graph.
Describe how to tell whether a velocity is changing (visually, graphically, motion map, mathematically).
Define acceleration and give examples of units for acceleration.
Represent velocity and acceleration using motion maps.
Define and describe positive and negative acceleration.
Distinguish between velocity and acceleration.
Describe the path of a projectile.
Describe the factors that affect the time that a projectile is in the air.
Explain how the horizontal velocity of a projectile affect the range.
Understand that the horizontal velocity (vx) and the vertical velocity (vy) of a projectile are independent of one another.
Calculate the slope of a graph.
Use kinematics equations to calculate instantaneous and average speed.
Use formula to calculate acceleration.
Use formula to determine the motion of an object in free fall.

Forces

6 weeks

NGSS Standards:

HS-PS2-1

HS-PS2-4

HS-ESS2-1

How do forces cause and affect motion?

What scenarios can be explained by our knowledge of forces?

To what extent does physics explain cause and effect?

I can…

Label appropriate forces acting on an object. Use free body diagram (FBD) to find the net force.
Identify and describe a force pair.
Calculate the amount by which the forces acting on an object are unbalanced, resulting in the net force.
Describe the effect of unbalanced forces acting on an object (Speed up, slow down, change direction).
Describe how inertia and mass are related.
Explain the difference between mass and weight.
Use Newton’s first law to explain why a force is needed to change an object’s motion.
Apply Newton’s first law to real life situations.
Understand Newton's 2nd Law: Force and Acceleration are directly related and Mass and Acceleration are inversely related and apply it to real life situations.
Use Newton's 2nd Law to qualitatively describe the relationship between m and a, F and a, m and F. (For example, if you double the mass, the acceleration will change by a factor of?)
Solve problems involving force, mass and acceleration using Newton's 2nd Law.
Use Newton’s third law to explain how the same force has different effects on different objects.
Apply Newton’s 3rd law to real life situations

Momentum

3 weeks

NGSS Standards:

HS-PS2-2

HS-PS2-3

How do two objects experiencing a collision have different outcomes based on impulse and momentum?

What is impulse and how is it involved in a crash?

I can…

Describe the momentum of each object in the system as the product of its mass and velocity, p = mv, using mathematical representations.
Identify the factors which influence and can change momentum.
Describe the relationship between kinetic energy and momentum.
Describe the relationship between momentum and impulse.
Describe how force and time can change impulse and momentum.
Describe how the area under a force vs time graph represents both change in momentum and impulse.
Solve math problems involving force, time, momentum, and impulse.
Understand that momentum is not created nor destroyed; momentum is conserved.

Energy

5 weeks

NGSS Standards:

HS-PS3-1

HS-PS3-2

HS-PS3-3

How is energy transferred between objects or systems and how is energy related to forces?

How is conservation of matter and energy a key principle in the universe?

How does the movement of energy impact the phenomena we observe?

I can…

Define work, kinetic and potential energy.
Demonstrate that work and energy are measured in Joules.
Identify the factors that influence kinetic and gravitational potential energy.
Determine whether specific actions require work to be done or not.
Describe the relationship between kinetic and potential energy.
Describe the relationship between work and energy.
Use energy diagrams to describe distribution of kinetic and potential energy.
Relate the changes in kinetic and potential energy to distance/time and velocity/time graphs.
Solve math problems involving work and energy by applying the relationships between work, kinetic and potential energy.
Understand that energy is not created nor destroyed; energy is conserved.
Mechanical energy is conserved when work is not present.

Semester 2

Electrostatics

3 weeks

NGSS Standards:

HS-PS2-4

HS-PS2-6

HS-PS3-5

How do electrostatic forces interact with each other?

What happens when static electricity takes place?

What factors influence electrostatic force?

I can…

Describe the parts of an atom as well as where each is found.
Explain why an object is a conductor or an insulator.
Identify materials as conductors or insulators.
Differentiate betweening the meaning of “ground” vs “to ground”.
Explain how the types of charges interact with each other.
Anatomically describe how an object can have a positive or negative electric charge.
Explain why an object can become charged.
Describe the 3 ways to charge an object.
Describe how an object was charged in a given scenario.
Describe the relationship between the distance between 2 charges and the electrical force between them in words and with a graph.
Describe the relationship between the size of 2 charges and the electrical force between them in words and with a graph.
Apply Coulomb’s Law to different charge and distance scenarios.
Describe how an electrically charged object interacts with an electric field.

Circuits

5 weeks

NGSS Standards:

HS-PS2-6

What is electricity?

Within a home, why are circuits found to be in both series and parallel combinations?

What is Ohm’s Law and why is it important?

How do you utilize a multimeter to measure current and voltage?

Why are short circuits dangerous?

I can…

Describe what factors affect the brightness of a light bulb.
Demonstrate how to use an ammeter to measure current in a circuit.
Demonstrate how to use a voltmeter to measure the voltage in a circuit.
Apply Ohm’s Law to describe the relationships between current, voltage and resistance using words and graphs.
Use Ohm’s Law to calculate current, voltage or resistance in a simple circuit.
Create and interpret a circuit diagram for a simple circuit.
Distinguish between open and closed circuits.
Explain how to create a short circuit.
Calculate total resistance, voltage, current, and power in a simple circuit.
Create and interpret a circuit diagram for a series circuit
Identify and describe the properties of series a circuit
Calculate total resistance, voltage and current in a series circuit
Apply the rules for voltage, current and resistance in a series circuit.
Create and interpret a circuit diagram for a Parallel circuit
Identify and describe the properties of a Parallel circuit
Calculate total resistance, voltage and current in a Parallel circuit
Apply the rules for voltage, current and resistance in a Parallel circuit.

Magnetism

3 weeks

NGSS Standards:

HS-PS2-5

HS-PS3-3

HS-PS4-2

How are magnetic materials and non-magnetic materials different?

Why is it important to study the magnetic fields and their directions?

What is electromagnetism?

Which factors influence magnetic force?

What is the difference between a generator and a motor?

I can…

Explain what a magnetic field is and how it is created.
Describe the properties of interacting magnetic poles.
Describe the location of the Earth’s magnetic poles and how they interact with a compass needle.
Describe the direction of a magnetic field.
Define the characteristics of an electromagnet.
Describe the 3 factors that change the strength of an electromagnet and how to optimize an electromagnet.
Compare/contrast a permanent magnet with an electromagnet.
Identify how direction of current influences the magnetic field of an object.
Describe the structure, function and use of electric motors.
Describe the structure, function and use of a generator.
Compare and contrast motors and generator.
Apply conservervation of energy to motors and generators.

Simple Harmonic Motion / Waves / Sound

5 weeks

NGSS Standards:

HS-PS3-1

HS-PS3-3

HS-PS4-1

What is simple harmonic motion and how does it relate to oscillating motions?

What are the primary factors that influence the period of a pendulum?

How are harmonics on a wave created?

Why does the sound change when an ambulance passes you on the street?

What happens when two waves collide?

I can…

Describe the motion of an oscillator.
Determine the effect of changing the amplitude, mass, string length the gravitational force on the period for a pendulum.
Interpret diagrams for describing force and velocity of an oscillator.
Label the parts of a wave (crest, trough, amplitude, and wavelength).
Distinguish between a transverse wave and a longitudinal wave.
Define a standing wave.
Identify the harmonic on a standing wave.
Distinguish between nodes and antinodes on a standing wave.
Apply constructive and destructive interference to different wave scenarios.
Describe what travels when a wave moves outward from a vibrating source.
Identify the relationship between frequency and period of a wave.
Describe the relationship among frequency, wavelength and velocity of a wave.
Perform calculations involving velocity, period, frequency, and wavelength.
Describe how sound is produced, and what type of a wave it is.
Explain how a sound wave requires a medium to travel through.
Describe why the speed of sound is different through different mediums.
Describe the relationship between volume and amplitude of a sound wave.
Explain how echoes are produced and prevented.
Describe the relationship between frequency, wavelength and velocity of a sound wave.
Identify and distinguish between absorption, diffraction, and reflection.
Describe how beats are formed by interference when 2 different frequencies are heard and calculate the resultant frequency.
Identify the relationship between frequency and pitch.
Describe the change in pitch from a moving sound source (Doppler effect).

Light and Color

3 weeks

NGSS Standards:

HS-PS4-5

What is the electromagnetic spectrum?

How do wavelength and frequency relate to the different groups of the electromagnetic spectrum?

Within the visible spectrum, why do we see the colors of objects we do?

What happens to colors of light if they are mixed?

I can…

Define color and explain how it is produced.
Identify which colors have more or less energy.
Explain how light is produced and how it relates to the structure of an atom.
Calculate speed, wavelength, and/or frequency of light.
Perform calculations involving velocity, frequency, and wavelength.
Describe how a television produces full color pictures with only red, blue, and green light.
Understand and apply the difference between color subtraction and color addition.
Explain why white and black are not colors in the sense that red and green are.
Describe portions of the electromagnetic spectrum and how they are related.
Differentiate wavelength, energy, and frequency for the different electromagnetic spectrum groups.

Science Course Descriptions & Curriculum Maps

Physics

Physics Honors

Chemistry

Chemistry Honors

Biology

Advanced Placement Biology

Dual Credit Biology 105 Biological Concepts (ACHS)

Anatomy & Physiology

Environmental Earth Science

Advanced Placement Environmental Science

Advanced Placement Chemistry

Dual Credit General Chemistry 105 (ACHS)

Advanced Placement Physics 1

Advanced Placement Physics C: Mechanics