Course title

Pre-requisite

Course description

Physical Science Course Syllabus

In this course; students will gain a general understanding of the physical sciences; including Chemistry; Physics; Geology; Meteorology; and Astronomy. These areas will be explored to gain and understanding of the principals that govern the physical universe that surrounds us. In Chemistry; students will study the general chemical concepts; which include the periodic table; chemical formulas and chemical theories and laws. In Physics students will study motion; force; vector dynamics and many other physical theories and laws. Geology; Meteorology and Astronomy comprise the Earth Sciences and will be used to tie in the principals of Chemistry and Physics to the universe as a whole.

Physical Science is a lab science course that introduces students to the foundations of the physical sciences as well as encourages them to pursue more in depth studies in chemistry and physics.

One semester will focus on the principals of Physics and one semester will focus on the the principals of Chemistry.

Students will be graded on class assignments; quizzes; content tests; laboratory exercises and formal laboratory reports. Cumulative end of semester tests will comprise of 20% of the students final grade.

Chemistry Curriculum

Laboratory Procedures and Measurement
Perform measurements using appropriate scientific tools
Demonstrate safe and ethical procedures

Matter
Describe substances based on their physical properties
Describe substances based on their chemical properties
Describe the fusion process that takes place in stars
Describe the formation of elements

Atoms; Element; Molecules and Compounds
Describe the components of an atom

Periodic Table and its Organization
Predict properties of elements and compounds using trends of the periodic table

Physical Properties of Matter: Density and Phase Change
Describe substances based on their physical properties
Explain how molecular motion is related to temperature and phase change
Describe various ways that energy and mater interact
Design models that represent "real world" scenarios of phase change

Chemical Reactions
Describe various ways in which energy is transferred from one system to another
Identify the indicators of chemical change
Represent a chemical reaction by using a balanced equation
Distinguish among the types of bonds

Chemical Composition
Apply the law of conservation of matter to changes of matter in a system

Thermal Energy
Recognize that energy is conserved in a closed system
Describe various ways in which energy is transferred from one system to another
Explain how molecular motion is related to temperature and phase change

Electromagnetic Forces
Describe various ways in which energy is transferred from one system to another
Distinguish among the different types of bonds
Describe various ways in which matter and energy interact

Chemistry Laboratory Curriculum

Measurement Lab
Length; Area; Volume; Mass; Temperature Lab
Demonstrate proper laboratory techniques and safety using meter sticks; balances; graduated cylinders; thermometers; and various laboratory glassware and apparatus.

Periodic Table Lab
Construct a Periodic Table based on various information

Physical Properties Labs
Density Lab
Determine the density of multiple solid objects using laboratory techniques and record information using the metric system. Results will graphed and contain a written analysis.

Determine the density of multiple liquids using laboratory techniques and record information using the metric system. Results will graphed and contain a written analysis.

Phase Change Lab
Ice/Dry Ice Lab
Observe phase change of solids; liquids and gases. Compare and contrast the rate of change of two visually similar substances.

Chemical Change Lab
Precipitation Lab I
Based on chemical solubility rules students will predict what products will be formed; then test their hypothesis.

Chemical Composition Lab
Precipitation Lab II
Predict the mass of the products of a precipitation reaction; then test this prediction by preforming the reaction and obtaining a precipitant

Thermal Energy Lab
Calorimetry Lab
Construct a calorimeter and perform tests on various substances

Electromagnetic Forces Lab
Static Electricity Balloon Lab
Transfer electrons to a balloon to demonstrate the properties of electromagnetic forces then perform tests to explain this phenomena

Physics Curriculum

Mechanics: the basics of Motion
Analyze the relationships among position; velocity; acceleration; and time:

Newton’s First Law: Inertia
Explain how Newton’s 1st Law applies to objects at rest or moving at constant velocity.

Newton’s Second Law: Force and Acceleration
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:

Newton’s Third Law: Actions and Reactions
Newton’s 3rd Law to explain forces as interactions between bodies

Momentum
Analyze the relationships among position; velocity; acceleration; and time:

Energy
Describe the following ways in which energy is stored in a system:
Describe various ways in which energy is transferred from one system to another (e.g.; mechanical contact; thermal conduction; electromagnetic radiation.)

Rotational Motion
Analyze the general relationships among force; acceleration; and motion for an object undergoing uniform circular motion.

Gravity
Use mathematical representations of Newton’s Law of Gravitation and Coulomb’s Law to describe and predict the gravitational and electrostatic forces between objects.

Projectile Motion
Give an example that shows the independence of the horizontal and vertical components of projectile motion.

Heat
Distinguish between heat and temperature.

Sound
Describe the following characteristics of waves: wavelength; frequency; period; amplitude

Electricity and Magnetism
Describe the relationship among electric potential; current; and resistance in an ohmic system.
Quantify the relationships among electric potential; current; and resistance in an ohmic system.

Light
Explain the relationship between the wavelength of light absorbed or released by an atom or molecule and the transfer of a discrete amount of energy.

Physics Laboratory Curriculum

Friction Lab
Find the coefficient of static and kinetic friction between a wood surface and a lab table

Rocket Lab
Construct a plastic bottle rocket to observe; record and analyze force; velocity and acceleration

Simple Machines
Construct and test the mechanical advantage of incline planes; levers and pulleys

Roller coaster
Students will construct a marble roller coaster based on physics principals

Rune Goldberg
Construct a Rune Goldberg device

Bridge
Construct a white paper bridge

Tower
Construct a plastic straw tower

Trebuchet
Construct and test a trebuchet

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Requested competency code

Date submitted

Approved

Approved competency code

• LINT
• Integrated science

Approved date

Online / Virtual