This document outlines the units and learning objectives for a physical science course. The course covers scientific method, lab safety, tools of science, motion, waves and sound, electromagnetic radiation, electricity and magnetism, thermal energy, atomic structure, nuclear energy, chemical bonding, chemical reactions, and biological/organic chemistry. Key concepts include Newton's laws of motion, properties of light and sound waves, electricity and magnetism, atomic models, nuclear decay, chemical bonding and reactions, acids and bases. Students will learn to apply these concepts to solve basic physics and chemistry problems.

1. Physical Science
UNIT: 1 Introduction to science
Topics: Scientific method, the nature of science, Lab Safety, the tools of science
LEARNING OBJECTIVES: (Students will be able to):
1. Outline the steps of the scientific method, 4. Explain how science helps to prevent bias 7. Incorporate science into other
knowing the importance of variables, hypothesis, and dishonesty subjects
data, laws, etc.
2. Make observations to develop a hypothesis 5. Understand why safety precaution in 8. Properly read, use and construct
science are important graphs to convey information.
3. Understand and explain scientific ethics 6. Properly use the metric system and the SI. 9.
Competency 1: Students will understand and apply concepts of the scientific method, introductory mathematical modeling, the use of scientific
equipment, and scientific reporting in solving basic physics and chemistry problems.
UNIT 2: Motion
Topics: Newton's Law of motion
LEARNING OBJECTIVES: (Students will be able to):
1. State Newton’s laws of motion. 2. Perform calculations involving speed, time, 3. Define momentum and calculate
distance, acceleration, momentum and force. momentum based on variables.
4. Explain how friction (including air 5. Create and interpret distance-time graphs. 6. Explain conservation of momentum.
resistance) is a force that resists motion
7. Analyze the motion that takes place in a 8. Explain the effects of gravity on projectiles 9. Compare straight line and circular
car crash, evaluating the merits of wearing a including weightlessness. Define gravity as an motion.
seat belt. acceleration.
Competency 2: Students will be able to explain, apply concepts, and solve problems related to the motion of objects and underlying forces.
UNIT 3: waves and sound
Topics: Traverse waves, compressional waves, characteristics of sound
LEARNING OBJECTIVES: (Students will be able to):
1. understand that waves carry energy 2. Sketch a transverse wave and 3. Sketch a compressional wave and identify its parts,
identify its parts.
4. Learn the speed of a wave is 5. Identify the speed of sound. 6. Discuss the relationship between frequency and
constant in a medium. wavelength.
7. Find one variable if given the other 8. Describe the transmission of sound 9. Recognize the relationship between intensity, loudness,
two in the wave velocity equation. through a medium. pitch, and frequency.
10. Identify the Doppler effect and 11. Identify red-shift and blue-shift
12. Distinguish between music and noise.
explain its cause and uses.
13. Describe the concepts of timbre 14. Identify acoustical resonance. 15. Explain constructive and destructive interference of
and musical quality. waves.
UNIT 4: electromagnetic radiation
Topics: Light, color, reflection and refraction
LEARNING OBJECTIVES: (Students will be able to):
1. Describe the arrangement of the 2. Describe the speed of light 3. Understand the uses of technology to examine the universe
electromagnetic spectrum
4. list at least one use for each type of 5. Describe the wave nature versus 6. define opaque, translucent, and transparent.
electromagnetic wave. the particle nature of light. Including
the photon
7. Explain colors, and how humans Describe the concepts of refraction 9. Explain how it works and identify examples of plane,
see color. and diffraction, as well as applying convex and concave mirrors and lenses.
those concepts
Competency 3: Students will be able to explain, apply concepts, and solve problems related to the properties of light and sound waves.
UNIT 5: electricity and magnetism
Topics: Static / current electricity, conductors/ insulators, Ohm’s law, circuits, magnets, generators/ motors, applications of electricity.
LEARNING OBJECTIVES: (Students will be able to):
1. Define static electricity and 2. Distinguish between conductors 3. Define and recognize the presence of a charge.
describe the effects of static and insulators.
electricity.
4. Describe how static electricity is 5. Describe the parts of Ohm’s Law 6. Given two known values, calculate the unknown using
different than current electricity. (volts, amps, and resistance). Ohm’s law.
7. Sketch a series and parallel circuit 8. Recognize the function of circuit 9. Explain and calculate the power using the watt equation.
and list their applications. breakers and fuses. And Calculate kilowatt-hours based on usage of electricity.

2. 11. Describe the properties of
10. Explain Coulomb's law for forces 12. Define magnetic field.
magnets.
13. Explain how magnetism causes 14. Describe how generators and
current in a wire. motors work.
15. Define the differences between AC and DC electricity.
And Explain how current in a wire
causes magnetism.
16. Describe the properties of the 17. characteristics & apps. of
American power grid. Including: superconductors and semiconductors
Explain the use of a transformer.
transformers and hi-tension power
transmission lines.
Competency 4: Students will be able to explain, apply concepts, and solve problems related to the relationships between electricity and magnetism,
and their roles in technology.
Midterm (physics)
UNIT 6: Thermal Energy and Thermal dynamics
Topics: thermal energy, heat transfer, change of phase
LEARNING OBJECTIVES: (Students will be able to):
1. Understand the relationship 4. Define and calculate Calories 7. Explain similarities and differences of: Radiation,
between atomic movement and Conduction, Convection
temperature.
2. Understand and explain the 1st and 5. Explain thermal expansion of 8. Describe and identify the five states of matter.
2nd and 3rd laws of thermodynamics matter
3. Define and recognize what 6. Describe how changes in energy 9. Use the kinetic theory of matter to explain solids liquids
determines the thermal energy of result in state changes. and gases.
matter
10. Understand the concept Absolute
Zero
Competency 5: Students will be able to explain, apply concepts, and solve problems related to changes in matter and energy in a system.
Midterm (physics)
UNIT 7: Atoms, Atomic Models, and the Periodic Table
Topics: Atoms, Atomic models and the Periodic Table
LEARNING OBJECTIVES: (Students will be able to):
1. Describe the present model of the 2. Describe the structure of the 3. Use the table to classify an element as a metal, nonmetal
atom periodic table or metalloid.
4. Find information about an atom 5. Identify and describe the properties 6. Distinguish the differences between metals, nonmetals,
from the periodic table. of typical metals, alkali and alkaline and metalloids.
earth metals, iron triad, halogens,
noble gases.
7. Compute atomic mass and mass 8. Understand average atomic mass 9. Describe the an isotope
number of an atom. of an element.
10. Describe an ion. 11. Describe quarks. 12. Describe how electrons are arranged in an atom.
13. Show how atoms can be
interpreted by spectroscopy
Competency 6: Students will be able to explain, apply concepts, and solve problems related to atomic models.
Competency 7: Students will be able to use the periodic table to explain, apply concepts, and solve problems related to atomic and molecular
properties.
UNIT 8: Nuclear energy and radioactivity
Topics: Radioactive decay, Fusion, fission, radioactive dating,
LEARNING OBJECTIVES: (Students will be able to):
1. Discuss the history of radioactivity 2. Discuss the strong force, weak 3. Contrast a stable and radioactive nucleus
force, gravitational, and
electromagnetic forces
4. Distinguish between alpha, beta, 5. Describe the concept of a half-life. 6. Describe how radioactivity can be detected.
and gamma radiation.
7. Discuss uses of radiation, 8. Energy mass relationship, 9. Nuclear Fission
including carbon-14 dating. Einstein's formula
10. Distinguish between nuclear 11. Nuclear Reactors 12. Discuss how fusion occurs in the sun.
fission and fusion.
13. Nuclear Energy comes from 14. Nuclear Fusion 15. Describe the process of a fission chain reaction.
Nuclear Mass

3. 16. Understand the scientific
evidence of the Big Bang
Competency 8: Students will be able to explain and apply concepts of the relationship between mass, atomic energy, and the evolution of the
universe.
UNIT 9: Chemical Bonding
Topics: Ionic bonding, covalent bonding, polar covalent bonding, compounding naming, oxidation numbers,
LEARNING OBJECTIVES: (Students will be able to):
1. State why chemical bonding 4. Distinguish the difference
occurs. between polar and non-polar covalent
bonds.
2. Describe ionic and covalent 5. show the ability to create balanced
bonding. compounds using oxidation numbers.
3. Identify the types of substances 6. Properly name basic compounds
created by the different bonds. based on naming rules.
UNIT 10: Chemical reactions
Topics: Physical and chemical properties and changes, chemical equations, conservation of mass, types of chemical reactions, exothermic,
endothermic, catalysts,
LEARNING OBJECTIVES: (Students will be able to):
1. Identify physical and chemical 4. Identify reactants and products in 7. Identify reactions as endothermic or exothermic.
properties a chemical reaction/ equation.
2. Identify physical and chemical 5. Explain how a chemical reaction 8. Describe methods to control chemical reactions- catalyst,
changes. follows the law of conservation of inhibitor, heat, cool, etc.
mass.
3. Demonstrate how to write simple 6. Describe the four types of
balanced chemical equations. chemical reactions using generalized
formulas.
Competency 9: Students will be able to explain, apply concepts, and solve problems related to molecular bonding and chemical reactions.
UNIT 11: Biological/ Organic Chemistry
Topics: Acids and bases, biological molecules, hydrocarbons
LEARNING OBJECTIVES: (Students will be able to):
1. Define acids, bases, and their 4. Understand the difference 7. Explain how carbon based compounds play a role in our
properties between hydrocarbons and lives
carbohydrates.
2. Describe and explain the concept 5. describe why carbon is such a
of pH versatile atom
3. Recognize neutralization and that 6. describe the basic types of carbon
it forms a salt based compounds
Competency 10: Students will be able to explain, apply concepts, and solve problems related to acids, bases, and carbon-based chemistry.