HS-PS3-1 | Energy Conservation
Create a computational model to calculate the change in the energy of one component in a system when the change in energy of the other component(s) and energy flows in and out of the system are known.
Clarification statement: Emphasis is on explaining the meaning of mathematical expressions for energy, work, and power used in the model.
Assessment boundary: Assessment is limited to basic algebraic expressions or computations; to systems of two or three components; and to work, power, thermal energy, kinetic energy, potential energy, electrical energy and/or the energies in gravitational, magnetic, or electric fields.
Note: This is a performance expectation for both HS Physics and HS Chemistry. The Disciplinary Core Ideas to focus on will vary based on whether the standard is being taught in a physics or chemistry class. For physics, the NYSED course map describes the focus as "Conservation of energy, thermal energy, endothermic and exothermic reactions overlap with Chemistry". For chemistry, the NYSED describes a focus of "Conservation of energy, thermal energy, endothermic and exothermic reactions".
Assessment
What assessment of HS-PS3-1 might look like on a NY state exam.
Chemistry
Physics
| Exam | Cluster | Question |
|---|---|---|
| June 2026 | From Astro Blaster to Supernova | Question 36 |
| Sample clusters (Spring 2025) | Bungee Jumping | Question 1 |
| Bungee Jumping | Question 4 |
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
- algebraic expression
- component (of a system)
- computational model
- conservation of energy
- electric field
- electrical energy
- endothermic reaction
- energy
- energy change
- energy conservation
- energy flow
- energy transfer
- energy transformation
- exothermic reaction
- gravitational energy
- gravitational field
- kinetic energy
- mass
- mathematical expression
- mathematical representation
- matter
- particle
- phenomenon
- potential energy
- power
- precision
- qualitative
- radiation
- reliability
- stored energy
- system
- thermal energy
- work
- atom – Aug 2026
- claim – Aug 2026, June 2026
- climate change – June 2026
- compound – Aug 2026
- evidence – Aug 2026, June 2026
- gas – Aug 2026
- heat – Aug 2026, June 2026
- heat energy – Aug 2026
- heat transfer – Aug 2026
- insulation – Aug 2026
- liquid – Aug 2026
- low pressure – Aug 2026
- metal – Aug 2026
- molar concentration – Aug 2026
- properties – Aug 2026
- reaction – June 2026
- solution – Aug 2026
- specific heat – Aug 2026, June 2026
- substance – Aug 2026
- surroundings – Aug 2026
- temperature – Aug 2026, June 2026
- thermal conductivity – Aug 2026
- vacuum – Aug 2026
- volume – June 2026
- heat equation (q = mcΔT) – implied by "computational model to calculate the change in the energy of one component"
Physics
- algebraic expression
- availability of energy
- change in energy
- charged particles
- component of a system
- compression of a spring
- computational model
- configuration
- conservation of energy
- device
- electric field
- electrical energy
- energy
- energy flow
- energy transfer
- energy transferred
- interaction
- kinetic energy
- mass
- mathematical expression
- mathematical representation
- object
- potential energy
- power
- precision
- qualitative
- radiation
- relative position
- reliability
- simulation
- speed
- stored energy
- system
- thermal energy
- total energy
- work
- dying star – June 2026
- energy transformation – Sample 2025
- gravitational potential energy – Sample 2025
- investigation – June 2026
- law of conservation of momentum – June 2026
- lowest point – Sample 2025
- mathematical model – June 2026, Sample 2025
- mechanical energy – Sample 2025
- neglect friction – June 2026
- rebound – June 2026
- safety – June 2026
- safety equipment – June 2026
- supernova – June 2026
- types of energy – June 2026
- elastic (spring) potential energy – implied by "compression of a spring"
Resources
Examples and discussion of resources for the learning, teaching, and assessment of HS-PS3-1.
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NGSS Dimensions
Performance expectation HS-PS3-1 was developed using the following elements from the NRC document A Framework for K-12 Science Education:
- Using Mathematics and Computational Thinking
- Create a computational model or simulation of a phenomenon, designed device, process, or system.
- PS3.A: Definitions of Energy
- Energy is a qualitative property of a system that depends on the motion and interactions of matter and radiation within that system. That there is a single quantity called energy is due to the fact that a system's total energy is conserved, even as, within the system, energy is continually transferred from one object to another and between its various possible forms.
- PS3.B: Conservation of Energy and Energy Transfer
- Conservation of energy means that the total change of energy in any system is always equal to the total energy transferred into or out of the system.
- Mathematical expressions, which quantify how the stored energy in a system depends on its configuration (e.g., relative positions of charged particles, compression of a spring) and how kinetic energy depends on mass and speed, allow the concept of conservation of energy to be used to predict and describe system behavior.
- The availability of energy limits what can occur in any system.
- (NYSED) Energy exists in many forms, and when these forms change, energy is conserved.
- Systems and System Models
- Models can be used to predict the behavior of a system, but these predictions have limited precision and reliability due to the assumptions and approximations inherent in models.