SC81 Physics
Curriculum Map
2010/2011
Revised 7/29/2010
Strand 1: Inquiry Process
Concept1: Observation, Questions, Hyp.
CLUSTERED POs
Priority PO
Linking POs
S1 C1 PO 4
Predict the outcome of an
investigation based on
prior evidence, probability,
and/or modeling (not
guessing or inferring).
S1 C1 PO 1
Evaluate scientific
information for relevance to
a given problem. (See R09
S3C1, R10-S3C1, R11
S3C1, and R12-S3C1)
UNWRAPPED POs
Knowledge
Skills
S1 C1 PO 4
Scientific method and
experimental design
S1 C1 PO 4
Students will design, perform and
analyze scientific experiments in
order to develop models to
describe explain and predict
natural phenomena
S1 C2 PO 4
Scientific method and
experimental design
S1 C2 PO 4
Students will design, perform and
analyze scientific experiments in
order to develop models to
describe explain and predict
natural phenomena
S1 C3 PO 5
Scientific method and
experimental design
S1 C3 PO 5
Students will design, perform and
analyze scientific experiments in
order to develop models to
describe explain and predict
natural phenomena
S1 C1 PO 2
Develop questions from
observations that transition
into testable hypotheses.
S1 C1 PO 3
Formulate a testable
hypothesis.
S 1 C 2 PO 4
Conduct a scientific
investigation that is based
on a research design.
S 1 C 2 PO 1
Demonstrate safe behavior
and appropriate procedures
in all science inquiry.
S 1 C 2 PO 2
Identify the resources
needed to conduct an
investigation.
S 1 C 2 PO 3
Design an appropriate
protocol (written plan of
action) for testing a
hypothesis:
S 1 C 2 PO 5
Keep a record of
observations, notes,
sketches, questions, &
ideas using tools such as
written &/or computer logs.
S 1 C 3 PO 5
Design models (conceptual
or physical) of the following
to represent "real world"
scenarios.
S 1 C 3 PO 1
Interpret data that show a
variety of possible
relationships between
variables.
S 1 C 3 PO 2Evaluate
whether investigational data
support or do not support
the proposed hypothesis.
S 1 C 3 PO 3
Critique reports of scientific
studies (e.g., published
papers, student reports).
S 1 C 3 PO 4
Evaluate the design of an
investigation to identify
possible sources of
procedural error
S 1 C 3 PO 6
Use descriptive statistics to
analyze data.
S 1 C 3 PO 7
Propose further
investigations based on the
findings of a conducted
investigation.
S 1 C 4 PO 2
Produce graphs that
communicate data. (See
MHS-S2C1-02)
S 1 C 4 PO 1
For a specific investigation,
choose an appropriate
method for communicating
the results.
S 1 C 4 PO 3
Communicate results clearly
and logically.
S 1 C 4 PO 4
Support conclusions with
logical scientific arguments.
S1 C4 PO 2
Scientific method and
experimental design
S1 C4 PO 2
Students will design, perform and
analyze scientific experiments in
order to develop models to
describe explain and predict
natural phenomena
Strands 2 and 3: History and Nature of
Science, Science and Technology
CLUSTERED POs
Priority PO
Linking POs
S 2 C 1 PO 3
Analyze how specific
changes in science have
affected society.
S 2 C 1 PO 1
Describe how human
curiosity and needs have
influenced science,
impacting the quality of life
worldwide.
UNWRAPPED POs
Knowledge
Skills
S 2 C 1 PO 3
Aristotle, Galileo,
Newton
S 2 C 1 PO 3
Compare and contrast models of
motion as they evolved through
history.
S 3 C 2 PO2
S 3 C 2 PO2
Present and support conslusions
based on scientific experiments.
S 2 C 1 PO2
Describe how diverse
people and/or cultures, past
and present, have made
important contributions to
scientific innovations.
S 2 C 1 PO4
Analyze how specific
cultural and/or societal
issues promote or hinder
scientific advancements.
S 2 C 2 PO1
Specify the requirements of
a valid, scientific
explanation (theory).
S 2 C 2 PO2
Explain the process by
which accepted ideas are
challenged or extended by
scientific innovation.
S 2 C 2 PO3
Distinguish between pure
and applied science.
S 2 C 2 PO4
Describe how scientists
continue to investigate and
critically analyze aspects of
theories.
S 3 C 2 PO2
Recognize the importance
of basing arguments on a
thorough understanding of
the core concepts and
principles of science and
technology.
S 3 C 2 PO3
Support a position on a
science or technology issue.
Strand 5: Physical Science
Concept 2: Motion and Forces
Topic: Motion
Physics (SC 81) CURRICULUM MAP 1st sem
CLUSTERED PO’s
Priority PO
Linking PO’s
S5 C2 PO 2
Analyze the
relationships among
position,
velocity, acceleration,
and time:
 numerically
 graphically
 mathematically
UNWRAPPED PO CLUSTER
Knowledge
Skills
(Content to
(Ability to do what?)
learn?)
S5 C2 PO 2
position
distance
displacement
time
velocity
acceleration
S5 C2 PO 1
Determine the rate of
change of a quantity
(e.g., rate of erosion, rate
of reaction, rate of
growth, velocity).
S5 C2 PO 2
1. Describe the motion of an object
from position vs. time graph.
2. Determine the velocity from a
position vs. time graph.
3. Describe the motion of an object
from velocity vs. time graph.
4. Determine the acceleration from a
velocity vs. time graph.
5. Describe the motion of an object
from acceleration vs. time graph.
S5 C2 PO 1
1. Determine the rate of change in
position.
2. Determine the rate of change in
velocity.
Strand 5: Physical Science
Concept 2: Motion and Forces
Topic: Two-Dimensional Motion
Physics (SC 81) CURRICULUM MAP 1st sem
CLUSTERED PO’s
Priority PO
S5 C2 PO 6
Analyze the twodimensional motion of
objects by using vectors
and their components.
Linking PO’s
S5 C2 PO 7
Give an example that
shows the independence
of the horizontal and
vertical components of
projectile motion.
UNWRAPPED PO CLUSTER
Knowledge
Skills
(Content to
(Ability to do what?)
learn?)
S5 C2 PO 7
components
vector
magnitude
direction
sin cos tan
projectile
trajectory
S5 C2 PO 7
1. Differentiate between horizontal and
vertical motion.
2. Separate, and list in tables,
horizontal and vertical velocities,
accelerations, and displacements.
3. Give an example showing the
independence of the horizontal and
vertical components of a projectile.
4. Give an example of two projectiles
that have different horizontal
motions, and the same vertical
motions.
5. Describe why horizontal and vertical
components of projectile motion are
independent.
Strand 5: Physical Science
Concept 2: Motion and Forces
Topic: Forces
Physics (SC81) CURRICULUM MAP 1st sem
CLUSTERED PO’s
Priority PO
Linking PO’s
S5 C2 PO 4
Using Newton’s 2nd
Law of Motion, analyze
the relationships among
the net force acting
on a body, the mass of
the body, and the
resulting acceleration:
 numerically
 graphically
 mathematically
 Draw and label force
diagrams
UNWRAPPED PO CLUSTER
Knowledge
Skills
(Content to
(Ability to do what?)
learn?)
S5 C2 PO 4
force
mass
weight
net force
acceleration
force body diagrams
S5 C2 PO 4
1. Draw and label force body
diagrams for objects.
2. Determine whether there is a net
force acting on an object or not
from a force body diagram.
3. Calculate the acceleration of an
object using Newton’s 2nd Law.
4. Calculate the net force on an
object using Newton’s 2nd Law.
5. Graph the force acting on an
object over time.
S5 C2 PO 3
Explain how Newton’s
1st Law applies to
objects at rest or moving
at constant velocity.
 The simplest state of
motion for an object is
to have a constant
velocity.
 An object at rest is just
a specific example of
an object with constant
velocity.
S5 C2 PO 3
S5 C2 PO 3
1. Describe the motion of an object
with no net force acting on it.
2. Describe the motion of an object
with a net force acting on it.
3. Explain how Newton’s 1st Law
applies to an object at rest or
moving with constant velocity.
S5 C2 PO 5
Use Newton’s 3rd Law to
explain forces as
interactions between
bodies (e.g., a table
pushing up on a vase
that is pushing down on
it; an athlete pushing on
a basketball as the ball
pushes back on her).
S5 C2 PO 5
action/reaction pairs
S5 C2 PO 5
1. Describe the force interactions
between two objects using
Newton’s 3rd Law.
S5 C2 PO 9
Represent the force
conditions required to
maintain static
equilibrium.
S5 C2 PO 9
static
dynamic
equilibrium
S5 C2 PO 9
1. Explain how a net force of zero is
necessary to maintain static
equilibrium.
2. Illustrate with a force body diagram
the forces needed to maintain
static equilibrium.
S5 C2 PO 10
Describe the nature and
magnitude of frictional
forces.
- Friction is a force that
opposes motion.
S5 C2 PO 10
friction
S5 C2 PO 10
1. Describe the direction of frictional
force acting on an object in motion.
2. Describe the direction of frictional
force when an object has a net
force acting on it.
3. Determine the magnitude of
frictional force acting on an object
at rest or at constant velocity.
S5 C2 PO 8
Analyze the general
relationships among
force, acceleration, and
motion for an object
undergoing uniform
circular motion.
S5 C2 PO 8
circular motion
centripetal force
centripetal acceleration
S5 C2 PO 11
Using the Law of
Universal Gravitation,
predict how the
gravitational force will
change when the
distance between two
masses changes or the
mass of one of them
changes.
S5 C2 PO 11
mass
force
distance
inverse-square law
S5 C2 PO 8
1. Describe the direction of
centripetal force and centripetal
acceleration for an object in
circular motion.
2. Calculate the magnitude of
centripetal force and centripetal
acceleration for an object in
circular motion.
S5 C2 PO 11
1. Predict how the force will change
between two masses when the
distance between them increases
or decreases.
Predict how the force will change
between two masses when the mass
of one or both of them increases or
decreases.
Strand 5: Physical Science
Concept 3: Conservation of Energy and Increase in Disorder
Topic: Energy
Physics (SC 81) CURRICULUM MAP 2nd sem
CLUSTERED PO’s
Priority PO
Linking PO’s
S5 C3 PO 2
Describe various ways in
which energy is
transferred from one
system to another (e.g.,
mechanical contact,
thermal conduction,
electromagnetic
radiation.)
 Work is done by an
external force
 Work changes the
energy of a system
UNWRAPPED PO CLUSTER
Knowledge
Skills
(Content to
(Ability to do what?)
learn?)
S5 C3 PO 2
work
energy transfer
S5 C3 PO 2
1. Describe methods of transferring
energy from one system to
another.
2. Describe how work changes the
energy of a system.
S5 C3 PO 1
Describe the following
ways in which energy
is stored in a system:
 mechanical
 electrical
 chemical
 nuclear
S5 C3 PO 1
mechanical
electrical
chemical
nuclear
system
S5 C3 PO 1
1. Describe different ways that
energy can be stored in a system.
2. Describe the nature of mechanical,
electrical, chemical, and nuclear
energy.
S5 C3 PO 3
Recognize that energy is
conserved in a closed
system.
- Illustrate conservation of
energy using conceptual
graphical representations.
S5 C3 PO 3
pie charts
energy bar graphs
S5 C3 PO 3
1. Create energy pie charts
illustrating the conservation of
energy for a closed system.
2. Create energy bar graphs
illustrating the conservation of
energy for a closed system.
S5 C3 PO 4
Calculate quantitative
relationships associated
with the conservation of
energy.
- Use conservation of energy
to solve quantitative
problems.
S5 C3 PO 4
potential energy
kinetic energy
elastic energy
Internal energy
S5 C3 PO 4
1. Calculate the amount of potential,
kinetic, and elastic energy an
object has.
2. Calculate quantitative relationships
in a closed system using the
conservation of energy.
Strand 5: Physical Science
Concept 2: Motion and Forces
Topic: Momentum
Physics (SC 81) CURRICULUM MAP 2nd sem
CLUSTERED PO’s
Priority PO
Linking PO’s
S5 C2 PO 13
Analyze the impulse
required to produce a
change in momentum.
- An impulse is a force
applied over a time.
- Momentum is moving
inertia.
- Force vs. time graphs
S5 C2 PO 14
Quantify interactions
between objects to
show that the total
momentum is conserved
in both collision and recoil
situations.
- Connect conservation of
momentum to Newton’s 3rd
Law
- Calculate initial and final
velocities using conservation
of momentum.
UNWRAPPED PO CLUSTER
Knowledge
Skills
(Content to
(Ability to do what?)
learn?)
S5 C2 PO 13
Impulse
Momentum
S5 C2 PO 13
1. Graph the Force acting on an object
over a time interval.
2. Determine the Impulse acting on an
object from graph of Force vs. time.
3. Determine momentum of object
before and after a force acts on it,
then find the change in momentum.
4. Compare and contrast the Impulse
on an object and its change in
momentum.
S5 C2 PO 14
elastic
in-elastic
S5 C2 PO 14
1. Quantify total momentum before and
after for elastic and in-elastic
collisions between two objects.
2. Describe how Newton’s 3rd law
(action/reaction) relates to
conservation of momentum.
3. Calculate the initial or final velocity of
an object in a collsision using
conservation of momentum.
Strand 5: Physical Science
Concept 5: Interactions of Energy and Matter
Topic: Waves
Physics (SC 81) CURRICULUM MAP 2nd sem
CLUSTERED PO’s
Priority PO
Linking PO’s
S5 C5 PO 3
Quantify the
relationships among the
frequency, wavelength,
and the speed of light.
S5 C5 PO 2
Describe the following
characteristics of
waves:
 wavelength
 frequency
 period
 amplitude
- Connect wave properties to
both light and
sound
UNWRAPPED PO CLUSTER
Knowledge
Skills
(Content to
(Ability to do what?)
learn?)
S5 C5 PO 3
wave
wavelength
frequency
velocity
period
amplitude
S5 C5 PO 2 and S5 C5 PO 3
1. Describe characteristics of a
wave’s wavelength, frequency,
velocity, period, and amplitude.
2. Measure a wave’s wavelength and
period.
3. Graph wavelength vs. frequency.
4. Determine wave velocity.
5. Compare and contrast light and
sound waves.
Strand 5: Physical Science
Concept 5: Interactions of Energy and Matter
Topic: Geometric Optics
Physics (SC 81) CURRICULUM MAP 2nd sem
CLUSTERED PO’s
Priority PO
S5 C5 PO MPS
Qualitatively and
Quantitatively analyze
optical phenomena.
 Predict the path of light
rays using reflection
and refraction.
 Draw ray diagrams for
lenses and mirrors.
 Algebraically solve for
image distance, object
distance, and
magnification.
 Apply geometric optics
to simple optical
devices. (magnifying
glass, telescopes, eye
glasses…..)
Linking PO’s
UNWRAPPED PO CLUSTER
Knowledge
Skills
(Content to
(Ability to do what?)
learn?)
S5 C5 PO MPS
S5 C5 PO MPS
rays
reflection
refraction
object
image
virtual
magnification
focal point
1. Draw ray diagrams for mirrors and
lenses.
2. Predict direction of ray during
refraction.
3. Solve for image location and
magnification.
4. Describe image formed based on
where object is in relation to the focal
point by mirror or lens.
Strand 5: Physical Science
Concept 2: Motion and Forces
Topic: Electricity
Physics (SC 81) CURRICULUM MAP 2nd sem
CLUSTERED PO’s
UNWRAPPED PO CLUSTER
Knowledge
Skills
(Content to
(Ability to do what?)
learn?)
Priority PO
Linking PO’s
S5 C5 PO 8
Describe the relationship
among electric potential,
current, and resistance
in an ohmic system.
S5 C2 PO 12
Using Coulomb’s Law,
predict how the electrical
force will change when the
distance between two
point charges changes or
the charge of one of them
changes.
- Like charges repel
- Unlike charges attract
S5 C2 PO 12
charge
friction
induction
conduction
S5 C2 PO 12
1. Describe the attraction or repulsion
of charges.
S5 C5 PO 9
Quantify the relationships
among electric potential,
current, and resistance in
an ohmic system.
- Analyze simple circuits to
determine voltage, current
and power of both individual
components of the circuit
and the total circuit
- Understand how
conservation of energy
applies to circuit analysis.
- Understand how power
relates to the brightness of a
light bulb
- Display knowledge of basic
household electrical safety.
S5 C5 PO 9
potential (voltage)
current
resistance
energy
power
series
parallel
fuse
circuit breaker
switch
S5 C5 PO 9
1. Determine the potential, current,
and resistance in a simple ohmic
circuit.
2. Determine the voltage, current,
and power, of both individual
components of a circuit and the
total circuit.
3. Explain how the energy of a
battery, in a simple circuit, is
transferred to individual
components of the circuit.
4. Explain how power relates to bulb
brightness.
5. Explain the use of fuses and circuit
breakers in a household circuit.
2. Describe how the force between
two charges will change when
the distance between them is
halved, doubled, or tripled.
3. Describe how the force between
two charges will change when
one or both of the charges
changes.