Critical Content/Concept Web
Unit Topic:
Mechanics: Forces and Motion
Conceptual Lens:
Grade:
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Factors that affect motion
Unit Overview
10-12th
Motion
Displacement, velocity, acceleration
vectors
Kinematic equations
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Forces
Newton’s 1st law (inertia)
Newton’s 2nd law (F=ma)
Newton’s 3rd law
(action/reaction)
This unit introduces students to concepts of
physics using basic units and problem
solving activities. The unit starts by
exploring ways to describe motion, the laws
of motion (kinematic equations). It then
explores the cause of motion, forces,
through Newton’s laws to include the
concept of momentum. This unit is very
fundamental to the course and should be
taught with sufficient time and care.
Unit Topic:
Mechanics
1st Semester
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3/6/2016
Momentum
Collisions
Conservation
Impulse
Impulse-momentum theorem
Grade: 10-12th
Subject: Physics
Unit: Mechanics
Lens: Factors that govern motion
Enduring
Understandings
1. Displacement, velocity, and
acceleration describe motion
(without discussing its cause).
Guiding Questions
a) How are scalar and vector quantities
different?
b) What can the slope of a line represent?
State Science Standards
Standard
Content Knowledge and Skill
648.03 Understand constancy,
change, and measurement
650.04 Understand concepts of
motion and forces
2. Motion is explained by
Newton’s 3 laws:
 Inertia
 F = ma
 Forces occur in pairs
3. There are universal forces
that affect motion. There are
also frictional forces to
consider in real-life problem
solving.
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a) How do we measure inertia?
b) What happens if there is no net force?
c) Why don’t action/reaction forces cancel
out?
d) What are Newton’s 3 laws and what do they
tell us?
a) What are the universal forces that affect
motion?
b) What formula describes gravitational forces
and how do you use it?
c) What caused friction? What causes air
resistance?
d) What are the two types of friction?
648.03 Understand constancy,
change, and measurement
650.04 Understand concepts of
motion and forces
b. Recognize that change occurs
in and among systems and change
can be measured
a. Know that gravitational force
and electrical force are universal
forces
b. Recognize that change occurs
in and among systems and change
can be measured
b. Know that objects change their
motion only when a net force is
applied.
b. Understand the contributions of
notable scientists.
657.01 Understand the
significance of major scientific
milestones
648.14c Know that equilibrium is a physical state in which forces and
changes occur in opposite and offsetting directions
648.03 Understand constancy,
b. Recognize that change occurs
change, and measurement
in and among systems and change
can be measured
650.04 Understand concepts of
motion and forces
a. Know that gravitational force
and electrical force are universal
forces
Grade: 10-12th
Subject: Physics
Unit: Mechanics
Lens: Factors that govern motion
Enduring
Understandings
Guiding Questions
1. As long as there is no external a) What does the conservation of momentum
force, momentum is
mean?
conserved.
b) How is momentum changed and what
equation describes it?
c) How does momentum relate to collisions?
d) What is angular momentum and how is it
conserved?
3/6/2016
State Science Standards
Standard
648.03 Understand constancy,
change, and measurement
Content Knowledge and Skill
a. Identify constancy in some
concepts in science that do not
change with time such as the
speed of light.
b. Recognize that change occurs
in and among systems and change
can be measured
Critical Content/Concept Web
Unit Topic:
Energy
Conceptual Lens: Force and energy in systems
Grade:
Unit Overview
10-12th
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Work and Energy
Work
Potential
Kinetic
Conservation
Work-energy theorem
Power
This unit introduces
Unit Topic:
Energy
3rd Quarter
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3/6/2016
Thermal Energy
Temperature
Internal energy
Heat flow
Specific heat
Grade: 10-12th
Subject: Physics
Unit: Energy
Lens: Force and energy in systems
Enduring
Understandings
Guiding Questions
1. Temperature is related to the
motion of molecules and
heat is the transfer of energy
due to temperature
differences.
a) Which has more internal energy: a can of soda at
room temperature or a lake on a cold winter day?
b) What is the difference between temperature and
heat?
c) What is the difference between heat and internal
energy?
d) What is thermal equilibrium and how does it
affect heat flow?
2. Energy is always conserved
in an isolated system.
a) What does the conservation of energy mean?
b) What forms of energy are there?
c) What’s the relationship between kinetic energy,
potential energy, and work?
d) What can change the mechanical energy of a body
and what equation describes it?
e) How are work and power different?
State Science Standards
Standard
Content Knowledge and Skill
648.14c Know that
equilibrium is a physical
state in which forces and
changes occur in opposite
and offsetting directions
650.02 Understand the
structure and function of
matter and molecules and
their interactions.
648.03 Understand
constancy, change, and
measurement
650.05 Understand that the
total energy in the universe
is constant
3/6/2016
a. Identify constancy in some
concepts in science that do not
change with time such as the
speed of light.
b. Recognize that change occurs
in and among systems and change
can be measured
a. Understand that energy can
be transferred but it can
neither be destroyed nor
created
b. Know that energy can be
classified as potential energy,
kinetic energy, or energy
contained by a field.
Critical Content/Concept Web
Unit Topic:
Electricity and Magnetism
Conceptual Lens:
Grade:
Force and Energy in Systems
Unit Overview
10-12th
Electrostatics
Conservation of Charge
Coulomb’s law
Conductor, insulator,
Methods of charge transfer
Charge polarization
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Unit Topic:
Electricity and
Magnetism
Electric Fields (C)
Electric fields and field lines
Electric PE and Electric Potential
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Model of Magnetism (C)
Poles
Moving charges produce
magnetic fields and can be
deflected in a magnetic field
Electromagnets
Motors
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Circuits
Ohm’s law
Series and Parallel
circuits
Reducing circuits
Power
Electromagnetic Induction(C)
 Faraday’s law
 Generators
This unit is full of important concepts and
applications for our electricity driven
society. Some of the concepts are hard for
students to master and sufficient time should
be spent to establish the basics. Use as
many demonstrations and hands-on
activities as possible to make the concepts
more concrete.
4th Quarter
Grade: 10-12th
Subject: Physics
Unit: Electricity and Magnetism
Lens: force and energy in systems
Enduring Understandings
1. Electric Charges create strong
electric forces
2. The transfer of electrons and
conservation of charge are the basis
for objects becoming charged
3. Electric fields store energy
4. Electric current is charge movement
in direct and alternating circuits;
components in a circuit may be
arranged in series or parallel.
5. Ohm’s law: the current in a circuit
is directly proportional to the
potential difference and to the
resistance.
3/6/2016
Guiding Questions
a) How are electric forces
created?
b) What affects their strength?
c) How do electric forces
compare to gravitational
forces?
a) What is the conservation of
charge?
b) How is charge transferred?
c) Why are some substances
good conductors/insulators?
a) What is an electric field?
b) What is Electric PE and
Electric Potential?
c) What is a capacitor and how
does it work?
a) What is a circuit?
b) What is the difference between
AC and DC?
c) Explain series and parallel
circuits.
d) What does the power company
sell you and where do the
electrons come from?
a) What is Ohm’s law and when
does it apply?
b) How does a light switch on
almost instantly if the speed of
electron flow is much slower?
State Science Standards
Standard
Content Knowledge and Skill
650.01Understand the structure of
atoms
a. Know the function and location of
protons, neutrons, and electrons
650.04 Understand concepts of
motion and force
a. Know that gravitational force and
electrical force are universal forces
650.01Understand the structure of
atoms
d. Know the basic electrical
properties of matter
650.02 Understand the structure and
function of matter and molecules
and their interactions
650.05 Understand that the total
energy in the Universe is constant
a. Know hoe atoms interact with one
another by transferring or sharing
electrons
b. Know that energy can be classified
as either potential, kinetic or energy
contained by a field.
a. Identify examples of technologies
used in scientific fields
656.04 Understand the different
uses of technology in science and
how they affect our standard of
living
650.05 Understand that the total
energy in the Universe is constant
d. Know that energy is transferred by
various types of waves and by
electrons flowing through matter.
648.03 Understand constancy,
change, and measurement
b. Recognize that change occurs in and
among systems and change can be
measured
Grade: 10-12th
Subject: Physics
Unit: Electricity and Magnetism
Lens: force and energy in systems
Enduring Understandings
Guiding Questions
State Science Standards
Standard
6. Changing electric fields produce
magnetic fields and changing
magnetic fields produce electric
fields
3/6/2016
a) How does an electromagnet
work?
b) How does a motor work?
c) How does a generator work?
d) How does a transformer work?
e) Why do we use AC in our
homes and not DC?
f) How do E&M waves
propagate and how do they
convey information (like TV
and radio signals)
650.04 Understand concepts of motion
and force
655.01 Understand the relationship
between science and technology and
develop the abilities of technological
design and application
Content Knowledge and Skill
c. Understand that moving
electrical charges produce
magnetic forces and moving
magnets produce electrical
forces
a. Know the ways that science
advances technology and
technology advances science
656.03 Understand the importance of
natural resources and the need to
manage and conserve them.
c. Understand the role and effect
of management of natural
resources
657.01 Understand the significance of
major scientific milestones
a. Understand the social and
economic impact of historical
scientific events
b. Understand the contributions
of notable scientist
656.04 Understand the different uses of
technology in science and how they
affect our standard of living
a. Identify examples of
technologies used in scientific
fields