HS-PS4-4

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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

Exam	Cluster	Question
August 2026	The Great American Solar Eclipse	Question 10
	The Great American Solar Eclipse	Question 11
	The ABCs of Ultraviolet Radiation	Question 26
	The ABCs of Ultraviolet Radiation	Question 27
June 2026	How Glow Became Gloom	Question 4
	Urban Heat Islands	Question 21
Sample clusters (Spring 2025)	Evaluating Gas Stoves	Question 3
	Evaluating Gas Stoves	Question 4

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.

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Level 1: Based on evidence, identify the frequency, wavelength, relative energy, or effect on matter of electromagnetic radiation when one of these is provided.

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Level 2: Use information that provides evidence to support a claim that describes the effects of different frequencies, relative energies, and/or wavelengths of electromagnetic radiation when absorbed by matter.

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Level 3: Make and support a claim, using scientific and/or technical information, that describes the effects of a frequency and/or wavelength of electromagnetic radiation when absorbed by matter.

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Level 4: Evaluate the validity and reliability of claims in published materials of the effects that different frequencies of electromagnetic radiation have when absorbed by matter.

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Level 5: Gather and evaluate a variety of valid and reliable sources to formulate a claim on the effects that different frequencies of electromagnetic radiation have when absorbed by matter, citing qualitative evidence with scientific reasoning.

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

From this standard

• 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

From released exam questions

• 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

Implied by this standard

• electromagnetic spectrum – implied by "light or longer wavelength electromagnetic radiation"
• ionizing radiation – implied by "can ionize atoms and cause damage to living cells"

Physics

From this standard

• 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

From released exam questions

• 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.

This section could be expanded upon. You can help out by adding to this section.

NGSS Dimensions

Performance expectation HS-PS4-4 was developed using the following elements from the NRC document A Framework for K-12 Science Education:

Science and Engineering Practices

• 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.

Disciplinary Core Ideas

• 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.

Crosscutting Concepts

• 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.

Page contributors: Conrad Richman, Caroline Leonard

Chemistry and Physics | HS. Waves and Electromagnetic Radiation