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Course Description
Physical Science is a laboratory course dealing with the process of scientific investigation of objects and phenomena in our physical universe. This course introduces the interrelated nature of matter and energy and the physical laws that govern their behavior as well as their mathematical relationships. The organized nature of matter and energy and our understandings of physical laws that have produced an advanced technology and its effect on society will be emphasized.
Critical Components
To satisfy the state requirement, a physical science course should deal significantly with:
I. Science as a Way of Explaining Observed Reality
II. Science as a Quantitative Language
III. Science as a Part of Our Culture
IV. Physical Science as Humankind's Accumulation of Knowledge About the Interrelationship
of Matter and Energy. This Knowledge is Organized into the Following Themes:
Organization, Interaction (Continuity), Change, Diversity, and Limitation Science as a Way of Explaining Observed Reality
I. Science as a Way of Explaining Observed Reality
A. Goal:
Students will explain what it is to know something scientifically and be able to contrast scientific knowledge with other kinds of knowledge.
Objectives:
Students will:1. Define observation.
2. Explain the role of verification in science.
3. Distinguish between fact and opinion.
4. Distinguish between observation and inference.
5. Identify assumptions when given a statement or conclusion.
B. Goal:
Students will define science as a human enterprise and understand that all scientific knowledge is tentative and subject to critical review and revision.
Objectives:
Students will:1. Explain that scientific knowledge is based upon human interpretation of observable facts.
2. Cite examples of change in our understanding of scientific phenomena.
3. Develop criteria for evaluating the validity of scientific knowledge.
4. Pose alternative interpretations of observation of scientific phenomena.
5. Pose alternative hypotheses to account for observations.
C. Goal:
Students will demonstrate the ability to use the skills associated with scientific investigation.
Objectives:
Students will:1. Make and record observations of scientific phenomena and events.
2. Make inferences based on verifiable (repeatable) Data
3. Make predictions based on repeated observations.
4. Measure in metric (SI) units.
5. Report verbally and in writing observations of recorded data made in the field and in the classroom laboratory.
6. Report, verbally and in writing, analyses and conclusions of recorded field and laboratory data.
7. Formulate questions and hypotheses verbally and in written form.
8. Design and implement data gathering procedures for testing hypotheses.
9. Cite examples of how the ability to understand the physical world is dependent on the instruments used to extend the senses.
II. Science as a Quantitative Language
A. Goal:
Students will understand that basic physical laws can be expressed as mathematical relationships.
Objectives:
Students will:1. Be able to state physical laws as general mathematical equations.
2. Be able to use the concepts of proportionality, and direct and inverse relationships.
3. Use and make graphs that express relationships between physical quantities, including nonlinear functions.
B. Goal:
Students will be able to use basic SI and exponents.
Objectives:
Students will:1. Recognize that the metric system is based on powers of ten.
2. Illustrate the concepts of micro- and macro-scales as applied to time, matter, and energy.
III. Science as a Part of Our Culture
A. Goal:
Students will demonstrate the knowledge that we are profoundly influenced by science as a significant part of our culture.
Objectives:
Students will:
1. Recognize that science has aesthetic as well as practical value.
2. Demonstrate an understanding of how scientific and technological knowledge and advancements influence economic development.
3. Understand that governmental policies affect the direction and progress of science; and that the activities of scientists affect governmental policies.
4. Realize that the rapid accumulation of scientific and technical knowledge can create serious problems when s6ciety accepts new developments without taking time to anticipate the consequences.
5. Have an awareness of the effect of science on art and literature.
6. Be able to discuss how progress in science and technology can influence the social and ethical aspects of human culture.
IV. Physical Science as Humankind's Accumulation of Knowledge About the Interrelationship of Matter and Energy. This Knowledge is Organized into the Following Themes: Organization, Interaction (Continuity), Change, Diversity, and Limitation.
A. Goal:
Students will demonstrate a knowledge that matter and energy are organized throughout nature.
Objectives:
Students will demonstrate a knowledge that:1. Matter exists as units which may be classified into hierarchies of organizational units of homogeneous and heterogeneous substances.
2. Matter may be described in terms of particles and energy.
3. The organization of the particles within atoms and molecules determines the special properties of matter.
4. Matter occurs in different physical states.
5. Properties of a material depend on the properties and organization of the parts of the material.
6. Most observable substances exist as mixtures of different forms and kinds of matter.
7. All forms of matter have some properties in common.
8. The shape of crystalline materials is characteristic of the matter of which it is composed.
9. The phase in which matter exists depends on the structure of the matter and the energy of the individual particles.
10. Gases, liquids and most solids appear continuous, but the nature of interactions of matter indicates that all matter consists of smaller, discrete particles.
B. Goal:
Students will demonstrate a knowledge that there is an interaction between matter, energy, and time.
Objectives:
Students will demonstrate a knowledge that:1. Force is the result of the interaction of matter. Force is only detected by the effects it has on matter.
2. Many forces may be acting on an object at the same time. These forces combine to produce only one effect.
3. Forces result from direct contact of or through interaction of matter through a distance. Forces have magnitude and direction.
4. All matter attracts all other matter.
5. The amount of matter in any given unit can be determined by measuring the force of attraction between that unit and the earth.
6. Force is necessary to change the speed or direction of a moving object.
7. Some forces have the ability to repel as well as to attract. Others have only the ability to attract.
8. A given mass can only gain or lose momentum by interacting with other masses.
C. Goal:
Students will demonstrate a knowledge that there is a constancy of matter and energy through time.
Objectives:
Students will demonstrate a knowledge that:1. Matter and energy can neither be created nor destroyed, only interconverted.
2. In ordinary chemical reactions, matter and energy are conserved.
3. There are general properties used to describe all matter and special properties used to identify kinds of matter.
4. Identical kinds of matter are found throughout time and space.
5. Heat energy tends to move from an area of higher temperature to an area of lower temperature.
6. In a simple phase change, there is no change in the kind or amount of matter.
7. Momentum. which depends on mass and velocity, is conserved in any physical interaction of matter.
8. In an ordinary chemical reaction, the number and kind of atoms involved remains the same.
D. Goal:
Students will demonstrate a knowledge that matter and energy are dynamic and can be changed and conserved.
Objectives:
Students will demonstrate a knowledge that:1. Whenever a force acts on an object to change its position or motion, energy is exchanged.
2. When the forces applied to matter are changed, some of the properties of the matter may be changed.
3. Changes in the motion of particles within a body of matter are indicated by temperature change.
4. The temperature of matter can change if energy is exchanged.
5. In a change of state, energy is gained or lost by matter without a corresponding change in temperature.
6. Changes in matter which do not result in a different composition of the matter are called physical changes.
7. Changes in matter that result in a different composition of the matter are called chemical changes.
8. Energy is always changed during a chemical change.
9. Aggregates of matter are usually electrically neutral. Imbalances may be caused by applying electrical forces.
10. Different wavelengths of radiant energy cause different effects on the same form of matter.
E. Goal:
Students will demonstrate a knowledge that there is a great diversity of matter and energy in nature.
Objectives:
Students will demonstrate a knowledge that:
1. Matter is described in terms of its properties, which can be detected with the senses.
2. By comparing properties of matter, similarities and differences can be demonstrated.
3. Matter may be classified by exhibited properties under a given set of conditions.
4. Some of the properties of matter can be changed by the addition or subtraction of energy.
5. Most matter may be classified into solid, liquid or gases.
6. Energy appears in many different forms which can be conducted from one to another.
7. Elements are the simplest forms of matter. Elements can be combined into more complex forms of matter which can again be broken down into the same basic elements.
8. The effects caused by radiant energy are dependent upon wave length.
9. All matter has electrical properties. The distribution of charges and the ability to conduct charge are important special properties of matter.
F. Goal:
Students will demonstrate a knowledge that matter and energy behave according to basic laws of nature.
Objectives:
Students will demonstrate a knowledge that:1. Motions of matter on earth are affected by the force of gravity.
2. Special properties of matter are limited by conditions to which matter is subjected.
3. The phase of matter is determined by the temperature and pressure of its environment.
4. In a given environment, a material can have only one stable phase.
5. Matter loses heat energy to the environment until both reach the same temperature.
6. Motion of matter behaves according to Newton's three laws.
7. In ordinary chemical reactions, matter and energy are conserved.
[../../../../../../../footer.htm]8. Thermonuclear reactions are not ordinary chemical reactions.
