Pitt County Schools
306012 Physics
Instructional Guide
COMPETENCY GOAL 1: The learner will develop abilities necessary to do and understand scientific inquiry.
SCOS OBJECTIVES
ESSENTIAL TASKS,
STRATEGIES, PROJECTS,
CONNECTIONS
ESSENTIAL QUESTIONS, BENCHMARKS, AND
SKILLS
1.01 Identify questions and problems that
can be answered through scientific
investigations.
What kinds of questions to physicists seek to
answer?
Lab: Swingy Thingys
Students predict which
factors will affect freq of
swing, build model (using
washers and string) & test
hypothesis
1.02 Design and conduct scientific
investigations to answer questions about
the physical world.
How would you explain a hypothesis?

How do scientists test hypotheses?


What system of measurement do scientists
use?
How are formal lab reports written?





1.03 Formulate and revise scientific
explanations and models using logic and
evidence.
How would you distinguish between an
observation and an inference? Can you
provide several examples of each?



Create testable
hypotheses.
Identify variables.
Use a control or
comparison group
when appropriate.
Select and use
appropriate
measurement tools.
Collect and record data.
Organize data into
charts and graphs.
Analyze and interpret
data.
Communicate findings.
Explain observations.
Make inferences and
predictions.
Explain the relationship
RECOMMENDED
RESOURCES
between evidence and
explanation.
1.04 Apply safety procedures in the
laboratory and in field studies.
Can you explain why it is important to work
safely in a laboratory?


1.05 Analyze reports of scientific
investigations of physical phenomena
from an informed scientifically literate
viewpoint.
How does one identify independent,
dependent and controlled variables in
laboratory activities?
What would you include in an explanation to
your partner concerning the steps involved in
the development of a scientific theory?



Recognize and avoid
potential hazards.
Safely manipulate
materials and
equipment needed for
scientific
investigations.
Adequacy of
experimental controls.
Replication of findings.
Alternative
interpretations of the
data.
How would you describe and apply the
different parameters of a controlled scientific
experiment including replication of findings
and adequate sample size?
COMPETENCY GOAL 2: The learner will build an understanding of linear motion.
SCOS OBJECTIVES
2.01 Analyze velocity as a rate of change
of position:
 Average velocity.
 Instantaneous velocity.
ESSENTIAL QUESTIONS, BENCHMARKS, AND
SKILLS
Can the position of an object moving at a
constant velocity be measured as a function of
time?
 What is the difference between average
and instantaneous velocity?
What is a frame of reference?
What is the meaning of position?
ESSENTIAL TASKS,
STRATEGIES, PROJECTS,
CONNECTIONS
Labs:
Experiment that requires
students to measure
distance an object travels
and the time it takes the
object to move. Calculate
average speed of the object
or draw position vs. time
graphs to get the average
speed.
RECOMMENDED
RESOURCES
TEXTBOOK:
Chapter 2
Can the position of an object moving at a
constant velocity be measured as a function of
time?
What is the difference between average and
instantaneous velocity?
What are the relationships between average
velocity, constant velocity, and instantaneous
velocity?
2.02 Compare and contrast as scalar and
vector quantities:
 Speed and velocity.
 Distance and displacement.
How do you distinguish between a scalar and
vector quantity?
 What is the difference between speed and
velocity?
Demo: Dist vs. Displ. &
Speed vs. Vel. for walking
in front of room
2.03 Analyze acceleration as rate of
change in velocity.
Can you collect and analyze data from objects
that are accelerating at a constant rate?
 Can you use a graphing calculator to get
slopes of lines tangent to the curve?
Demo.: Demonstration 2 p.
48 in Holt Physics ATE
What is the meaning of acceleration?
What condition must be true for an object to
be in free-fall?
What do the signs on velocity and
acceleration components indicate about the
object’s motion?
2.04 Using graphical and mathematical
tools, design and conduct investigations of
linear motion and the relationships
among:
 Position.
Are you able to plot the motion of an object
or a position vs time graph?
 What is displacement?
 Use the mathematical definitions of
Labs:
Quick Lab: Time Interval
of Free Fall, p. 62 in Holt
Physics
Free-fall experiment using
motion detector and a box
or piece of wood.
Press Box Gravity Lab,
Physics Resource
Notebook
Labs:
What’s My Average
Velocity?
Graphs in Motion
Rangers (motion




Average velocity.
Instantaneous velocity
Acceleration.
Time.
velocity and acceleration, as well as
kinematics equations for constant
acceleration to solve problems.
 Describe motion in terms of position vs.
time, velocity vs. time, acceleration vs.
time.
sensors) w/
calculators
How can you collect and analyze data from
objects that are accelerating at a constant rate?
How can motion be described in terms of
position vs. time, velocity vs. time,
acceleration vs. time graphs?
How can you use a graphing calculator or
manually get the tangent to the curve and find
its slope?
What is the physical meaning of the area
under the curve on a velocity vs. time graph?
on an acceleration vs. time graph?
What is the physical meaning of the tangent
to the curve on a position vs. time graph?
How can the mathematical definitions of
velocity and acceleration, as well as
kinematics equations for constant acceleration
be used to solve problems or analyze data?
COMPETENCY GOAL 3: The learner will build an understanding of two dimensional motion including circular
motion.
SCOS OBJECTIVES
3.01 Analyze and evaluate projectile
motion in a defined frame of reference.
ESSENTIAL QUESTIONS, BENCHMARKS, AND
SKILLS
Can you show that the velocity with which an
object is initially projected can be separated
ESSENTIAL TASKS,
STRATEGIES, PROJECTS,
CONNECTIONS
Labs:
For vector arithmetic
RECOMMENDED
RESOURCES
TEXTBOOK:
Chapter 3
into two components?
 Can you distinguish between projectile and
circular motion?
 Parabolic path of projectiles
 Apply the kinematics equations to analyze
projectile motion.
 Centripetal force and acceleration
 Newton’s law of gravitation
 Torque
Lab: Find your
displacement as you go
from Physics classroom to
another classroom. (This
lab uses a scale drawing of
the school.) The NC
Highway map may be
substituted for a scale
drawing of the school
map.)
Static Equilibrium Lab
Force Table Lab
Vector Addition On the
Internet (See Resource
Notebook)
For projectile motion:
Demo.: Two-dimensional
motion p. 100 Holt Physics
ATE
3.02 Design and conduct investigations of
two-dimensional motion of objects.
Can you assess the two dimensional motion of Lab: Paper River (Relative
objects by using their component vectors?
Motion)
(See Resource Notebook)
What quantities do you need to measure to
investigate projectile motion? How will you
Lab: Projectile motion
measure them?
(using a toy rubber dart
gun attached to an inclined
How will you use the constant acceleration
plane)
equations to analyze the data or make
predictions about the projectile’s motion?
Lab: Velocity of a
projectile (Holt Physics pp.
What is relative motion? How may it be
120-121
analyzed?
Twodimensional
motion and
vectors.
3.03 Analyze and evaluate independence
of the vector components of projectile
motion.
Can you assess the independence of the
horizontal and vertical vector components of
projectile motion?
What two types of motion can projectile
motion be resolved into?
How can you apply the constant acceleration
equations to the horizontal and vertical
components of the projectile’s initial
velocity?
Demo: Using a springloaded “ball launcher” to
project one ball while
dropping a second.
Lab: Softball Toss
Students record elapsed
time and range for thrown
ball to determine horiz.
velocity, initial vertical
velocity and initial overall
velocity
Which component of the projectile’s initial
velocity is related to the projectile’s range?
Which component of the projectile’s initial
velocity is related to the projectile’s
maximum height and time in the air?
Is there any difference between analyzing the
motion of a projectile that is launched from
the ground at an angle and a projectile that is
launched horizontally from a cliff? If so,
what are the differences?
3.04 Evaluate, measure, and analyze
circular motion.
Can you analyze and evaluate uniform
circular motion?
Demo: spinning a water
bucket in a circle
 Definition and examples of projectiles.
 Parabolic path of projectiles
 Motion is broken up into horizontal
(constant) and vertical (acceleration)
motion.
 Apply the kinematics equations to analyze
projectile motion.
 Centripetal force and acceleration
Lab: Twirl rubber stopper
to determine the centripetal
acceleration
Lab: Balance a meter stick
with masses (CW torque =
CCW torque)
TEXTBOOK:
Chapter 7
 Newton’s law of gravitation
 Torque
Real-life applications (terrestrial and space
motion)
If the speed is constant in uniform circular
motion, how can the object be accelerating?
What is the direction of the acceleration?
How is the direction of the acceleration
related to the velocity of the object?
What must be measured and how must the
experiment be set up to verify the
mathematical relationships for centripetal
force and acceleration?
3.05 Analyze and evaluate the nature of
centripetal forces.
How can centripetal acceleration be
calculated?
What would you do to evaluate the nature of
centripetal forces?
 Concept of force
 Concept of inertia
 Identify the main forces: tension, weight
(gravity), friction (static and kinetic),
spring force, normal force, thrust
 Free-Body Diagrams
 Newton’s three laws and their applications
 Solution of problems by application of the
above concepts.
 Simple pendulum
 Real-life applications
What is required to change the direction of a
velocity vector?
An object is undergoing uniform circular
Demo (or Lab): Loop-deLoop
Hot wheels track in a loop.
Use cars or ball to
determine minimum speed
to successfully navigate
loop.
motion. What is the name given to the net
force?
What provides the net force in uniform
circular motion?
In what direction do the force and
acceleration vectors point when the object is
undergoing uniform circular motion (constant
speed)? constant acceleration?
3.06 Investigate, evaluate and analyze the
relationship among:
 Centripetal force.
 Centripetal acceleration.
 Mass.
 Velocity.
 Radius.
What is the relationship between force and
speed when the radius is constant?
See Demo/Lab from 3.05
What is the relationship between force and
radius when the speed is constant?
How can the mathematical formulas for
centripetal acceleration and centripetal force
be applied in the solution of problems?
COMPETENCY GOAL 4: The learner will develop an understanding of forces and Newton's Laws of Motion.
SCOS OBJECTIVES
ESSENTIAL QUESTIONS, BENCHMARKS, AND
SKILLS
4.01 Determine that an object will
How would you determine that an object
continue in its state of motion unless acted would continue in its state of motion unless
upon by a net outside force (Newton's
acted upon by a net outside force?
First Law of Motion, The Law of Inertia).
What is inertia? What property of matter is
inertia associated with?
What are the “at-rest condition and the
velocity condition” as they relate to inertia?
What are the force diagrams for objects
moving with a constant velocity (very little
friction)?
ESSENTIAL TASKS,
STRATEGIES, PROJECTS,
CONNECTIONS
RECOMMENDED
RESOURCES
Demo.: Coin on a card on a TEXTBOOK:
glass (inertia)
Chapter 4
4.02 Assess, measure and calculate the
conditions required to maintain a body in
a state of static equilibrium.
Can you define the concept of inertia?
 What are the “at-rest condition and the
velocity condition” as they relate to
inertia?
Demo: “Why Not A
Horizontal Rope?”
Demo: Learning The
Ropes
What is a force? (Interaction between two
objects)
Is a force a scalar or a vector quantity?
Lab: Static Equilibrium
(mass hanging from 3
cords)
What is the description of the following
forces: tension, weight (gravity), friction
(static and kinetic), spring force, normal
force, thrust?
How can I represent forces on a force
diagram?
What must be true about an object’s motion
for it to be in static equilibrium? What must
be true about the net force acting on an object
for it to be in equilibrium?
4.03 Assess, measure, and calculate the
relationship among the force acting on a
body, the mass of the body, and the nature
of the acceleration produced (Newton's
Second Law of Motion).
What would you do to explain Newton’s 2nd
Law of Motion?
How can the relationship between force and
acceleration be determined experimentally?
Lab: Newton’s Second
Law
Lab: The Elevator Ride
(Resource Book)
How can the net force on an object be
calculated?
What is the relationship between force and
acceleration when mass is constant? between
mass and acceleration when force is constant?
4.04 Analyze and mathematically describe Can you show mathematically, Newton’s 3rd
forces as interactions between bodies
Law of Motion?
(Newton's Third Law of Motion).
Lab: Skateboard Fun
(Resource Book)
What are the interaction pairs of forces for a
given situation?
How can a situation be analyzed in light of
Newton’s Third Law of Motion?
4.05 Assess the independence of the
vector components of forces.
4.06 Investigate, measure, and analyze the
nature and magnitude of frictional forces.
What frame of reference is best for resolving
force vectors into components when an object
is on level ground? on an inclined plane?
How can Newton’s Laws of Motion be
applied to the analysis of situations involving
one or more forces acting on an object at
various angles?
How would you describe the nature of
centripetal forces?
Compare and contrast static and kinetic
friction.
4.07 Assess and calculate the nature and
magnitude of gravitational forces
(Newton's Law of Universal Gravitation).
Can you measure and calculate the nature and
magnitude of Newton’s Law of Universal
Gravitation?
Demo: Finding minimum
angle at which a block will
begin sliding on an
inclined plane.
Lab: Coin Friction Lab
Lab: Falling With Air
Resistance
Lab: The Block Race
Friction Inquiry Lab
Lab: Static vs. Sliding
Friction
(The above labs can be
found in the Resource
Notebook)
Demo: Apparent
Weightlessness (Resource
Notebook)
What is the nature of the gravitational force as Lab: Mass vs. Weight
proposed by Newton?
(from Support Document)
What is weight? How is it related to the force
of gravity?
How can the force of gravity be calculated?
COMPETENCY GOAL 5: The learner will build an understanding of impulse and momentum.
TEXTBOOK:
Chapter 7
SCOS OBJECTIVES
5.01 Assess the vector nature of
momentum and its relation to the mass
and velocity of an object.
ESSENTIAL QUESTIONS, BENCHMARKS, AND
SKILLS
Can you explain the vector nature of
momentum and its relation to the mass and
velocity of an object?
ESSENTIAL TASKS,
STRATEGIES, PROJECTS,
CONNECTIONS
Demo: Air tracks and
carts
RECOMMENDED
RESOURCES
Textbook:
Chapter 6
Physics
classroom web
site:
What type of quantity is momentum? How
can you verify this answer?
www.physicsclassr
oom.com
5.02 Compare and contrast impulse and
momentum.
How would you compare and contrast
impulse and momentum?
Demo.: Impulse is Equal to
Change in Momentum
What is impulse? How is it different from
momentum?
How is it related to momentum?
5.03 Analyze the factors required to
produce a change in momentum.
What are the factors required to produce a
change in momentum?
What is the difference between impulse and
force?
Ranking Tasks:
http://cwx.prenhall.com/bookbin
d/pubbooks/giancoli3/chapter9/d
estinations2/deluxe-content.html
How can impulse be determined from a force
vs. time graph?
How is the velocity of an object related to its
mass given that the impulse is constant?
How can the relationship Ft  p  mv be
used to analyze situation where an object is
given an impulse.
5.04 Analyze one-dimensional
interactions between objects and
recognize that the total momentum is
conserved in both collision and recoil
How would you demonstrate total momentum
being conserved in both collision and recoil
situations?
Lab: Conservation of
Momentum
Lab: Collisions on the
Internet
situations.
How can the conservation of momentum be
verified provided that there are no outside
forces acting on the system?
(http://www.explorescience.com
/#mechanics)
5.05 Assess real world applications of the
impulse and momentum, including but not
limited to, sports and transportation.
What are some real world applications of
impulse and momentum?
Demo.: Air Track and
Carts
 Concept of momentum
 Conservation of momentum
 Apply conservation to recoil and collisions
 Concept of impulse
 Impulse-momentum theorem
Real-life applications (air bags)
Can you explain how the following work in
terms of momentum and impulse? padded
dashboards, car front-ends that deliberately
crumple in a collision, air bags, bending one’s
legs when landing, etc.
COMPETENCY GOAL 6: The learner will develop an understanding of energy as the ability to cause change.
SCOS OBJECTIVES
6.01 Investigate and analyze energy
storage and transfer mechanisms:
 Gravitational potential energy.
 Elastic potential energy.
 Thermal energy.
 Kinetic energy.
ESSENTIAL QUESTIONS, BENCHMARKS, AND
SKILLS
What is the difference between gravitational
and elastic potential energy?
Can you analyze the energy of motion and
kinetic energy?
What is energy?
How is energy transferred and stored in
systems that involve gravitational potential
energy, gravitational potential energy, thermal
energy, and kinetic energy?
ESSENTIAL TASKS,
STRATEGIES, PROJECTS,
CONNECTIONS
RECOMMENDED
RESOURCES
Lab: Hooke’s law
TEXTBOOK:
experiment (with springs or Chapter 5
rubber bands)
(Work and
Energy)
Chapter 11
(Thermodynamic
s)
Chapter 25
(Nuclear Energy)
How is the kinetic energy related to the
object’s mass? object’s velocity?
What must be established before potential
energy is measured?
How is the elastic potential energy related to
the elastic constant and the deformation of the
spring?
What is Hooke’s Law and how is it related to
the potential energy of a spring?
6.02 Analyze, evaluate, and apply the
principle of conservation of energy.
What is the principle of conservation of
mechanical energy?
How can the principle of conservation of
energy be used to determine the
characteristics (speed, distance, etc.) of a
system when mechanical energy is conserved
and when mechanical energy is not
conserved?
6.03 Analyze, evaluate, and measure the
transfer of energy by a force.
 Work.
 Power.
What is work? Under what conditions is
work done?
What do the signs on the work mean? What
does zero work mean?
What physical quantity does the area under
the curve on a force vs. distance graph
determine?
How can work be determined from a force vs.
displacement graph?
What is power? What type of unit are
kilowatt-hours?
Lab: Hot Wheels Energy
Students measure PE of car
at top of track, KE at
bottom and W done by
friction.
Demo: Bloody nose
pendulums
Demo: Bow and arrow
(work to KE to PE)
6.04 Design and conduct investigations
of:
 Mechanical energy.
 Power.
How would you demonstrate the transfer of
mechanical energy through work?
Lab: Your Power
(Students calculate their
power as they climb stairs.)
 Concept of work with constant force
parallel to the displacement and forces at
an angle to the displacement.
 Work done by varying forces using graph
of force vs. displacement.
 Kinetic energy
 Potential energy (gravitational and spring)
 Work-energy theorem
 Conservation of mechanical energy and of
energy
 Power
 Simple machines (six basic)
 Mechanical advantage, efficiency
 Definitions of heat, thermal energy
 Heat units
 Phase changes
 Specific heat, latent heat
 Temperature vs. heat graph
 Calorimetry
 First Law of Thermodynamics
 Second Law of Thermodynamics
 Heat engines
 Entropy
What is mechanical energy?
What is power? What does it measure?
COMPETENCY GOAL 7: The learner will develop an understanding of wave motion and the wave nature of
sound and light.
SCOS OBJECTIVES
ESSENTIAL QUESTIONS, BENCHMARKS, AND
SKILLS
ESSENTIAL TASKS,
STRATEGIES, PROJECTS,
CONNECTIONS
RECOMMENDED
RESOURCES
7.01 Analyze, investigate, and evaluate
the relationship among the characteristics
of waves:
 Wavelength.
 Frequency.
 Period.
 Amplitude.
Can you analyze the relationship among the
following characteristics of waves:
 Wavelength
 Frequency
 Period
 Amplitude
Demo.: Slinky
demonstration
Demo.: Ripple Tank
Lab: Speed of sound using
open water pipes
How can the amplitude, frequency,
wavelength, period of a wave be measured?
Draw a diagram of a wave and identify the
parts of wave for both a transverse and
longitudinal wave.
To what part of a wave is the wave’s energy
related?
What is the difference between a mechanical
wave and an electromagnetic wave?
How is a wave’s period and frequency
related?
How can the wave equation and the periodfrequency equation be applied in the solution
of problems?
How are human perceptions of sound (pitch,
loudness, and timbre) related to the sound
wave’s characteristics?
7.02 Describe the behavior of waves in
various media.
How would you describe the behavior of
waves in various media?
Explain how mechanical waves are produced
by objects vibrating in a medium.
How does the speed of sound change as the
Demo: Vibrating tuning
fork in water
TEXTBOOK:
Chapters 14-16
Physics
classroom web
site:
www.physicsclas
sroom.com
medium’s temperature changes?
How can the speed of light be calculated if the
material’s index of refraction is known?
7.03 Analyze the behavior of waves at
boundaries between media:
 Reflection, including the Law of
Reflection.
 Refraction, including Snell's Law.
Can you distinguish between reflection,
refraction, and diffraction?
How do wave fronts reflect and refract
through the boundary between two media?
What happens to the wave speed?
Lab: Reflection
Lab: Refraction
Demo: Total Internal
Reflection (using a
flashlight and a stream of
water or a Plexiglass rod)
Do reflection and refraction occur
independently of each other?
How can the law of reflection and Snell’s law
be used to analyze a given situation?
Describe the behavior of a light wave that
originates in a high index of refraction
medium as its angle of incidence increases?
7.04 Analyze the relationship between the
phenomena of interference and the
principle of superposition.
What is critical angle and total internal
reflection?
Can you analyze the relationship between
interference and superposition?
Demo: Interference on
Ripple Tank; Standing
Waves on String.
Compare and contrast constructive
interference and destructive interference.
7.05 Analyze the frequency and
wavelength of sound produced by a
moving source (the Doppler Effect).
How would you describe the Doppler Effect?




Longitudinal and transverse waves
Mechanical and electromagnetic waves
Wave characteristics
Wave equation relating velocity,
frequency, and wavelength
Demo: Doppler Effect
(using tuning fork on
string)
Lab: Doppler Effect
 Interaction of waves at boundaries of
different media (Reflection, Refraction,
Diffusion, Interference)
 Snell’s Law
 Cases of lenses and mirrors
 Principle of Superposition
 Doppler effect
 Real-life applications
How does the perceived frequency and the
wavelength change when the sound source is
moving toward or away from an observer?
Can the Doppler Effect be generalized to all
waves?
COMPETENCY GOAL 8: The learner will build an understanding of static electricity and direct current
electrical circuits.
SCOS OBJECTIVES
8.01 Analyze the nature of electrical
charges.
 Investigate the electrical charging
of objects due to transfer of
charge.
 Investigate the conservation of
electric charge.
 Analyze the relationship among
force, charge and distance
summarized in Coulomb's law.
ESSENTIAL QUESTIONS, BENCHMARKS, AND
SKILLS
What is the nature of electrical charges?
Is electrical charge conserved? What does
this answer imply about the use of electrical
devices?
ESSENTIAL TASKS,
STRATEGIES, PROJECTS,
CONNECTIONS
Demonstrate static
electricity phenomena with
Van de Graff generator
How is the electrical force related to the
charges themselves? the distance between the
charges?
Textbook:
Chapters 17-20
Physlets:
Demo.: Electric Field
Detector (Resource Book)
How can matter become charged?
How can an object be charged by friction,
induction, and conduction?
RECOMMENDED
RESOURCES
Demo.: “What’s The Big
Attraction Here?”
(Resource Book)
Lab: Sticky Tape Lab
(Support Document)
http://webphysics.d
avidson.edu
How can the electrical force be calculated?
What is an electric field?
8.02 Analyze and measure the relationship What is potential difference?
among potential difference, current, and
resistance in a direct current circuit.
What is the relationship among potential
difference, current, and resistance in a direct
current circuit?
What is an electrical circuit?
8.03 Analyze and measure the relationship How would you analyze and measure the
among current, voltage, and resistance in
relationship among current, voltage, and
circuits.
resistance in series and parallel circuits?
 Series.
 Parallel.
Can you measure the nature of power in an
 Series-parallel combinations.
electrical circuit?
8.04 Analyze and measure the nature of
power in an electrical circuit.
Can you measure the nature of power in an
electrical circuit?
What is electrical power?
How can it be measured or calculated?
Lab: Verifying Ohm’s
Law
Lab: Series and Parallel
Circuits
Lab: Electrical Power