HS-PS3-2 | Kinetic and Potential Energy
Develop and use models to illustrate that energy at the macroscopic scale can be accounted for as a combination of energy associated with the motions of particles (objects) and energy associated with the relative position of particles (objects).
Clarification statement: Examples of phenomena at the macroscopic scale could include the conversion of kinetic energy to thermal energy, the energy stored due to position of an object above Earth, and the energy stored between two electrically- charged plates. Examples of models could include diagrams, drawings, descriptions, and computer simulations.
Assessment
What assessment of HS-PS3-2 might look like on a NY state exam.
| Exam | Cluster | Question |
|---|---|---|
| June 2026 | Pendulum Motion | Question 1 |
| Pendulum Motion | Question 2 | |
| Motorcycle Helmets | Question 19 | |
| Sample clusters (Spring 2025) | Bungee Jumping | Question 3 |
| Bungee Jumping | Question 5 |
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 from the Physics Glossary that come from this standard or from the released exam questions that assess it.
- component of a system
- computer simulation
- configuration
- conversion of kinetic energy to thermal energy
- electrically-charged plates
- energy
- energy stored due to position
- energy stored in fields
- energy transfer
- evidence
- field
- interaction
- light
- macroscopic scale
- microscopic scale
- motions of particles
- object
- quantitative
- radiation
- relative position
- sound
- system
- thermal energy
- total energy
- air resistance – Sample 2025
- energy bar graph – June 2026
- energy transformation – June 2026
- force – June 2026
- fractional amount of energy – June 2026
- friction – June 2026
- gravitational force – Sample 2025
- kinetic energy – June 2026
- lowest point – June 2026
- mechanical energy – Sample 2025
- neglect friction – June 2026
- pendulum – June 2026
- potential energy – June 2026
- rebound – Sample 2025
- release point – June 2026
- simulation – June 2026
- electric potential energy – implied by "the energy stored between two electrically-charged plates"
Resources
Examples and discussion of resources for the learning, teaching, and assessment of HS-PS3-2.
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NGSS Dimensions
Performance expectation HS-PS3-2 was developed using the following elements from the NRC document A Framework for K-12 Science Education:
- Developing and Using Models
- Develop and use a model based on evidence to illustrate the relationships between systems or between components of a system.
- PS3.A: Definitions of Energy
- Energy is a quantitative 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.
- At the macroscopic scale, energy manifests itself in multiple ways, such as in motion, sound, light, and thermal energy.
- These relationships are better understood at the microscopic scale, at which all of the different manifestations of energy can be modeled as a combination of energy associated with the motion of particles and energy associated with the configuration (relative position of the particles). In some cases the relative position energy can be thought of as stored in fields (which mediate interactions between particles). This last concept includes radiation, a phenomenon in which energy is stored in fields moves across space.
- Energy and Matter
- Energy can be transferred between one place and another place, between objects and/or fields, or between systems.