HS-PS1-8 | Nuclear Processes
Develop models to illustrate the changes in the composition of the nucleus of the atom and the energy released during the processes of fission, fusion, and radioactive decay.
Clarification statement: Emphasis is on simple qualitative models, such as pictures or diagrams, and on the scale of energy released in nuclear processes relative to other kinds of transformations.
Assessment boundary: Assessment does not include quantitative calculation of energy released. Assessment is limited to alpha, beta, positron, and gamma radioactive decays.
Note: This is a performance expectation for both HS Physics and HS Chemistry. For physics, there is a focus on "scale of energy released". For chemistry, there is a focus on "qualitative focus, understanding the conservation of mass and charge" (as per the NYSED high school course maps).
Assessment
What assessment of HS-PS1-8 might look like on a NY state exam.
Chemistry
Physics
| Exam | Cluster | Question |
|---|---|---|
| June 2026 | Emission Spectra and Nuclear Fusion | Question 23 |
| Emission Spectra and Nuclear Fusion | Question 24 |
Performance Level Descriptions
PLDs communicate the knowledge and skills expected of students to demonstrate proficiency in each Learning Standard. NYS assessments classify student performance into one of five levels.
Vocabulary
Terms that come from this standard or from the released exam questions that assess it, listed by subject. Chemistry terms are from the Chemistry Glossary; Physics terms are from the Physics Glossary.
Chemistry
- absorption (of energy)
- alpha decay
- atom
- beta decay
- charge
- component (of a system)
- conservation of charge
- conservation of mass
- energy
- evidence
- fission
- fusion
- gamma decay
- matter
- neutron
- nuclear energy
- nuclear process
- nucleus
- positron
- positron decay
- proton
- qualitative
- quantitative
- radioactive decay
- scale of energy
- system
- transformation
- unstable nucleus
- alpha particle – Aug 2026, June 2026
- decay series – Aug 2026
- electrical energy – Aug 2026
- electron – June 2026
- element – Aug 2026, June 2026
- gas – Aug 2026
- isotope – June 2026
- isotopic notation – Aug 2026
- mass number – Aug 2026
- mixture – June 2026
- mole – Aug 2026
- nuclear decay – Aug 2026, June 2026
- particle – June 2026
- product – Aug 2026
- reaction – Aug 2026
- substance – June 2026
- nuclear equation – implied by "models to illustrate the changes in the composition of the nucleus"
- transmutation – implied by "changes in the composition of the nucleus of the atom"
Physics
- alpha decay
- beta decay
- charge
- component of a system
- composition of the nucleus
- energy
- energy released
- evidence
- fission
- fusion
- gamma decay
- mass
- neutron
- nuclear process
- nucleus of the atom
- positron decay
- proton
- qualitative
- qualitative model
- quantitative
- radioactive decay
- scale (of a model)
- system
- unstable nuclei
- chemical reaction – June 2026
- claim – June 2026
- combustion reaction – June 2026
- deuterium – June 2026
- difference in mass – June 2026
- formation of atoms – June 2026
- helium – June 2026
- helium nucleus – June 2026
- hydrogen – June 2026
- mass is converted to energy – June 2026
- nuclear fusion – June 2026
- star – June 2026
- support (a claim) – June 2026
- universe – June 2026
- isotope – June 2026 Emission Spectra and Nuclear Fusion writes deuterium as 21H and calls it "a form of hydrogen".
- mass–energy equivalence (E = mc2) – June 2026 Emission Spectra and Nuclear Fusion asks students to "support the claim that mass is converted to energy" in a fusion model. Note that HS-PS1-8 "does not include quantitative calculation of energy released".
Resources
Examples and discussion of resources for the learning, teaching, and assessment of HS-PS1-8.
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NGSS Dimensions
Performance expectation HS-PS1-8 was developed using the following elements from the NRC document A Framework for K-12 Science Education:
- Developing and Using Models
- Develop a model based on evidence to illustrate the relationships between systems or between components of a system.
- PS1.C: Nuclear Processes
- Nuclear processes, including fusion, fission, and radioactive decays of unstable nuclei, involve release or absorption of energy. The total number of neutrons plus protons does not change in any nuclear process.
- Energy and Matter
- In nuclear processes, atoms are not conserved, but the total number of protons plus neutrons is conserved.