HS-PS4-4 | Electromagnetic Radiation and Matter
Evaluate the validity and reliability of claims in published materials of the effects that different frequencies of electromagnetic radiation have when absorbed by matter.
Clarification statement: Emphasis is on the idea that photons associated with different frequencies of light have different energies, and the damage to living tissue from electromagnetic radiation depends on the energy of the radiation. Examples of published materials could include scientific journals, trade books, magazines, web resources, videos, and other passages that may reflect bias.
Assessment boundary: Assessment is limited to qualitative descriptions.
Note: this is a performance expectation for both HS chemistry and HS physics. The focus will vary based on which class this standard is being taught in.
Assessment
What assessment of HS-PS4-4 might look like on a NY state exam.
Chemistry
Physics
| Exam | Cluster | Question |
|---|---|---|
| June 2026 | The Cell Phone | Question 29 |
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 electromagnetic radiation)
- atom
- bias
- claim
- electromagnetic radiation
- energy
- evidence
- frequency
- gamma rays
- heat
- heat energy
- living cell
- matter
- photon
- qualitative
- radiation
- reasoning
- reliability
- system
- thermal energy
- ultraviolet radiation
- validity
- wavelength
- X-rays
- beta particle – June 2026
- electromagnetic energy – June 2026
- electron – June 2026
- emission spectrum – Aug 2026
- excited state – June 2026
- fusion – Aug 2026
- gas – Sample 2025
- global warming – Sample 2025
- global warming potential (GWP) – Sample 2025
- greenhouse effect – Sample 2025
- greenhouse gas – Sample 2025
- ground state – June 2026
- infrared radiation – Aug 2026, June 2026, Sample 2025
- nucleus – June 2026
- ozone layer – Aug 2026
- particle – June 2026
- phosphorescence – June 2026
- plasma – Aug 2026
- quantitative – Sample 2025
- radiative forcing – Sample 2025
- reflectivity – June 2026
- solar radiation – Aug 2026, June 2026, Sample 2025
- spectral line – Aug 2026
- stratosphere – Aug 2026
- temperature – Sample 2025
- UVA, UVB and UVC – Aug 2026
- visible light – Aug 2026, June 2026
- visible spectrum – Sample 2025
- electromagnetic spectrum – implied by "light or longer wavelength electromagnetic radiation"
- ionizing radiation – implied by "can ionize atoms and cause damage to living cells"
Physics
- absorbed by matter
- bias
- cause and effect
- claim
- electromagnetic radiation
- energy
- evidence
- frequency
- gamma rays
- heat
- ionize
- light
- living cells
- living tissue
- mechanism
- medium
- photon
- published materials
- qualitative
- radiation
- relative energy
- scale (of a model)
- scientific reasoning
- support (a claim)
- system
- technical information
- thermal energy
- ultraviolet
- validity and reliability
- wavelength
- X-rays
- absorb energy – June 2026
- device – June 2026
- eject an electron – June 2026
- electromagnetic spectrum – June 2026
- health effects – June 2026
- hydrogen – June 2026
- ionization energy – June 2026
- ionizing radiation – June 2026
- justification – June 2026
- photon energy – June 2026
- radio – June 2026
- radio/microwave frequency region – June 2026
- refute – June 2026
- temperature – June 2026
Resources
Examples and discussion of resources for the learning, teaching, and assessment of HS-PS4-4.
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NGSS Dimensions
Performance expectation HS-PS4-4 was developed using the following elements from the NRC document A Framework for K-12 Science Education:
- Obtaining, Evaluating, and Communicating Information
- Evaluate the validity and reliability of multiple claims that appear in scientific and technical texts or media reports, verifying the data when possible.
- PS4.B: Electromagnetic Radiation
- When light or longer wavelength electromagnetic radiation is absorbed in matter, it is generally converted into thermal energy (heat). Shorter wavelength electromagnetic radiation (ultraviolet, X-rays, gamma rays) can ionize atoms and cause damage to living cells.
- Cause and Effect
- Cause and effect relationships can be suggested and predicted for complex natural and human designed systems by examining what is known about smaller scale mechanisms, within the system.