Georgia Performance Standards for Physics and Physical Science

The following is a reproduction of the portion of the GPS standards from the Georgia Department of Education which applies to Physics and Physical science. The standards apply to public schools in Georgia. These sections are provided with active links to HyperPhysics for information on the content words in the standards.

Physical Science

The Physical Science curriculum is designed to continue student investigations of the physical sciences that began in grades K-8 and provide students the necessary skills to have a richer knowledge base in physical science. This course is designed as a survey course of chemistry and physics. This curriculum includes the more abstract concepts such as the conceptualization of the structure of atoms, motion and forces, and the conservation of energy and matter, the action/reaction principle, and wave behavior. Students investigate physical science concepts through experience in laboratories and field work using the processes of inquiry.

Co-Requisite Content

• SPS1. Students will investigate our current understanding of the atom.
  • a. Examine the structure of the atom in terms of proton, electron, and neutron locations. atomic mass and atomic number. atoms with different numbers of neutrons (isotopes). explain the relationship of the proton number to the elements identity.
  • b. Compare and contrast ionic and covalent bonds in terms of electron movement.

• SPS2. Students will explore the nature of matter, its classifications, and its system for naming types of matter.
  • a. Calculate density when given a means to determine a substances mass and volume.
  • b. Predict formulas for stable binary ionic compounds based on balance of charges.
  • c. Use IUPAC nomenclature for transition between chemical names and chemical formulas of binary ionic compounds (containing representative elements).

Physics

The Physics curriculum is designed to continue student investigations of the physical sciences that began in grades K-8 and provide students the necessary skills to be proficient in physics. This curriculum includes more abstract concepts such as interactions of matter and energy, velocity, acceleration, force, energy, momentum, and charge. Students investigate physics concepts through experience in laboratories and field work using the processes of inquiry.

Co-Requisite Content

• SP1. Students will analyze the relationships between force, mass, gravity, and the motion of objects.
  • a. Calculate average velocity, instantaneous velocity, and acceleration in a given frame of reference.
  • b. Compare and contrast scalar and vector quantities.
  • c. Compare graphically and algebraically the relationships among position, velocity, acceleration, and time.
  • d. Measure and calculate the magnitude of frictional forces and Newtons three Laws of Motion.
  • e. Measure and calculate the magnitude of gravitational forces.
  • f. Measure and calculate two-dimensional motion (projectile and circular) by using component vectors.
  • g. Measure and calculate centripetal force.
  • h. Determine the conditions required to maintain a body in a state of static equilibrium.

• SP2. Students will evaluate the significance of energy in understanding the structure of matter and the universe.
  • a. Relate the energy produced through fission and fusion by stars as a driving force in the universe.
  • b. Explain how the instability of radioactive isotopes results in spontaneous nuclear reactions.

• SP3. Students will evaluate the forms and transformations of energy.
  • a. Analyze, evaluate, and apply the principle of conservation of energy and measure the components of work-energy theorem by
    • describing total energy in a closed system.
    • identifying different types of potential energy.
    • calculating kinetic energy given mass and velocity.
    • relating transformations between potential and kinetic energy.
  • b. Explain the relationship between matter and energy.
  • c. Measure and calculate the vector nature of momentum.
  • d. Compare and contrast elastic and inelastic collisions.
  • e. Demonstrate the factors required to produce a change in momentum.
  • f. Analyze the relationship between temperature, internal energy, and work done in a physical system.
  • g. Analyze and measure power.

• SP4. Students will analyze the properties and applications of waves.
  • a. Explain the processes that results in the production and energy transfer of electromagnetic waves.
  • b. Experimentally determine the behavior of waves in various media in terms of reflection, refraction, and diffraction of waves.
  • c. Explain the relationship between the phenomena of interference and the principle of superposition.
  • d. Demonstrate the transfer of energy through different mediums by mechanical waves.
  • e. Determine the location and nature of images formed by the reflection or refraction of light.

• SP5. Students will evaluate relationships between electrical and magnetic forces.
  • a. Describe the transformation of mechanical energy into electrical energy and the transmission of electrical energy.
  • b. Determine the relationship among potential difference, current, and resistance in a direct current circuit.
  • c. Determine equivalent resistances in series and parallel circuits.
  • d. Determine the relationship between moving electric charges and magnetic fields.

• SP6. The student will describe the corrections to Newtonian physics given by quantum mechanics and relativity when matter is very small, moving fast compared to the speed of light, or very large.
  • a. Explain matter as a particle and as a wave.
  • b. Describe the Uncertainty Principle.
  • c. Explain the differences in time, space, and mass measurements by two observers when one is in a frame of reference moving at constant velocity parallel to one of the coordinate axes of the other observers frame of reference if the constant velocity is greater than one tenth the speed of light.
  • d. Describe the gravitational field surrounding a large mass and its effect on a ray of light.