Integrated Science I Learning Expectations  2007-08

Upon exiting Integrated Science I, students will be able to:

Force and Motion

1. Explain that motion is relative to a frame of reference and apply this concept to solving motion problems.
2. Define and calculate speed, velocity, displacement, and acceleration.
3. Describe Newton’s first law of motion and apply it to explain common situations.
4. Describe Newton’s second law and use it to solve problems involving force, mass, and acceleration.
5. Describe Newton’s third law of motion and apply it to explain common situations.
6. Use Newton’s Law of Universal Gravitation to calculate the force of gravity between objects.
7. Describe how the force of gravity changes with changes in mass and distance between objects.
8. Define friction as a force that opposes motion. Apply friction in solving problems using Newton's laws.
9. Describe gravity in terms of a gravitational field.
10. List and describe the four forces of nature: gravity, weak, strong, and electromagnetic.

Energy and Waves

1. Define energy as the ability to do work or cause change.
2. Differentiate between mechanical and nonmechanical energy.
3. Describe kinetic energy and potential energy as two types of mechanical energy.
4. Explain the relationship between kinetic and potential energy of a falling object and apply this information to solve problems (roller coaster, skier, projectile, etc.).
5. List several types of nonmechanical energy and describe how at the atomic level, they are actually forms of mechanical energy.
6. Describe how energy is lost from a system during transformations.
7. Analyze the energy transformations in a system (simple machine, bouncing ball, chemical reaction, etc.).
8. Define the term "wave" and describe how waves are formed.
9. Name and describe the three different types of waves.
10. Describe the characteristics of a wave including, frequency, wavelength, amplitude, period and wave speed.
11. For transverse and orbital waves, define trough and crest.
12. For longitudinal waves, define compression and rarefaction.
13. Explain that wave speed is a function of the medium through which a wave is traveling.
14. Describe wave interactions including reflection, refraction, diffraction, absorption and interference.
15. Describe the wave particle duality of light.
16. Explain the photoelectric effect using the photon model of light.
17. Explain that light is a part of the electromagnetic spectrum which consists of transverse waves or photons that transmit energy through a vacuum.
18. Describe the relationship between frequency, wavelength, and energy of an electromagnetic wave.
19. Apply knowledge about wave interactions to problems involving light and sound including color and the Doppler effect.

Technology and the Design Process

1. Describe the cyclic relationship between scientific discovery and technology developments.
2. Describe how new invention and discoveries require imagination, creativity, a good knowledge base and often a lot of hard work.
3. Analyze a recent technology (such as computers) and describe how it has caused new problems and led to new fields of study.
4. Identify a new problem or current design in need of improvement.
5. Generate design solutions to solve the problem.
6. Select the best design that meets the criteria.
7. Build and use models and simulations to help select the best design.
8. Build and implement the selected design.
9. Analyze the system and evaluate the effectiveness of the solution, listing advantages and disadvantages.
10. Present either orally or in a written report, the problem, design process, and the final solution including models, calculations, diagrams, and demonstrations.

Matter

1. Describe the parts of an atom.
2. Explain what an isotope is and calculate the number of protons, neutrons, and electrons of an isotope given the element and the isotope’s mass number.
3. Define atomic mass unit and explain how average atomic mass of an element is calculated.
4. Determine the electron configurations for the elements in the first four periods of the periodic table.
5. Based on the configuration of the electrons in the outer energy level, predict the chemical and physical properties of an element.
6. Explain what happens to an atom’s electrons when it is excited by heat or other form of energy.
7. Explain why atoms emit different colors of light when they go from the excited state to the ground state.
8. Explain how we use spectroscopy to determine the identity of a substance.
9. Describe how atoms form ionic and covalent compounds.
10. Write chemical formulas for ionic and covalent compounds.
11. Calculate the formula mass of a compound.
12. Predict molecular structure using the VSEPR theory.
13. Define polarity and explain how polarity and intermolecular forces can be used to predict the state of a compound at room temperature.
14. Describe and predict how pressure, temperature, concentration, catalyst, and inhibitors will affect the rate of a chemical reaction.
15. Distinguish between heat, thermal energy, and temperature in terms of the motion of atoms, molecules, and ions.
16. Describe the three types of heat transfer.
17. Explain that pressure is force divided by area and explain what causes pressure in gases and liquids.

Nuclear Reactions

1. Describe nuclear reactions, including fusion and fission, and the energy they release.
2. Describe alpha, beta, and gamma decay including decay equations.
3. Explain how half-life is used to measure the age of objects.
   

Electricity and Magnetism

1. Define static electricity as a separation of charge.
2. Explain that charges affect the space around them, creating fields that affect other charges.
3. Analyze the forces in an electrical field using Coulomb's law.
4. Explain that magnets also create fields around them that affect other magnets.
5. Describe how moving charges will produce a magnetic field and how a moving magnetic field will induce an electric current.
6. Describe how particles or objects in a field can have potential and kinetic energy. Relate potential energy to voltage and kinetic energy to current in electrical systems.
7. Analyze simple electrical circuits and the energy they transform.
8. Describe how electric and magnetic fields are use in generators and motors.
   

The Universe

1. Explain how scientists measure distances in the universe and be able to define a light-year and a parsec.
2. Create a timeline of the formation of the universe including the following main events:

• Big Bang
• Inflationary Period
• Radiation Period
• Formation of Matter
• Formation of Galaxies
• Formation and Ignition of Stars
• Formation of the Solar System
• Formation of the Earth
• The Future of the Universe

3. Describe the major events that have helped us to form our understanding of the universe including:

• Early Theories
• Copernicus
• The Renaissance – Galileo, Kepler, Brahe
• Einstein – Theory of Special and General Relativity
• Edwin Hubble
• Man in Space
• Age of Space-based Telescopes

4. Explain the role that gravity has played in the formation and maintenance of the stars, planets, and the solar system.