Standard 5.7 Physics

All students will gain an understanding of natural laws as they apply to motion, forces, and energy transformations.

Big Idea: The flow of energy drives processes of change in all biological, chemical, physical and geological systems. The conservation of energy is a law that can be used to analyze and build understandings of diverse physical and biological systems.

5.7 A. Motion and Forces

Essential Questions

Enduring Understandings

- How would the universe be different if one or more of the laws of motion were suspended?

-The same basic rules govern the motion of all bodies, from planets and stars to birds and billiard balls.

Areas of Focus/Cumulative Progress Indicators

Comments and Examples

By the end of Grade 4:

1.         Recognize that changes in the speed or direction of a moving object are caused by force and that the greater the force, the greater the change in motion will be.

2.         Recognize that some forces can act at a distance.

·        gravity

·        magnetism

·        static electricity

Instructional/Assessment Focus:
• The earth’s gravity pulls any object toward it without touching it.
• A magnet pulls on all things made of iron and either pushes or pulls on other magnets without touching them,
• Material that has been electrically charged pulls on all other materials and may either push or pull other charged materials without touching them.

Suggested Instructional/Assessment Strategies:
1. Using a charged rod, move small pieces of paper without touching them.
2. Explain why two bar magnets move toward or away from each.

Sample Assessment Item:
1. An object is placed on a table. A magnet is slowly moved toward it and the object moves away from the magnet. The object is most likely —
* A. another magnet
B. a piece of glass
C. a copper coin
D. an iron nail

5.7 B. Energy Transformations

Essential Questions

Enduring Understandings

- How do we know that things have energy?

- Energy takes many forms.
- These forms can be grouped into types of energy that are associated with the motion of mass (kinetic energy), and types of energy associated with the position of mass and with energy fields (potential energy).

Areas of Focus/Cumulative Progress Indicators

Comments and Examples

By the end of Grade 4:

1.         Identify sources of heat and demonstrate that heat can be transferred from one object to another.

Instructional/Assessment Focus:
• When warmer things are paced with cooler ones, the warmer ones lose heat and the cooler ones gain it until they are all the same temperature.
• A warmer object can warm a cooler one by contact or at a distance.
• Some materials conduct heat much better than others. Poor conductors can reduce heat loss.

Suggested Instructional/Assessment Strategies:
• Identify, as basic forms of energy: light, heat, sound, electrical and energy of motion.
• Observe that sunlight can be used to heat the inside of homes and other buildings by allowing sunlight to pass through windows.

Sample Assessment Items:
1. People wear hats when outside in the winter. How do hats help people stay warm?
* A. Hats stop heat energy from leaving their heads.
B. Hats stop electrical energy from leaving their heads.
C. Hats stop cold from entering their bodies through their heads.
D. Hats slow down electrical energy from entering their bodies through their heads.

2.         Identify sources of light and demonstrate that light can be reflected from some surfaces and pass through others.

3.         Use devices that show electricity producing heat, light, sound, and magnetic effects.

4.         Show that differences in sound (loud or soft, high or low) can be produced by varying the way objects vibrate.