HS-PS2-4

Use mathematical representations of Newton’s Law of Gravitation and Coulomb’s Law to describe and predict the gravitational and electrostatic forces between objects.

Clarification statement: Emphasis is on both quantitative and conceptual descriptions of gravitational and electric fields.

Assessment boundary: Assessment is limited to systems with two objects.

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.

Level 5Level 4Level 3Level 2Level 1

Use mathematical representations of Newton's Law of Gravitation and Coulombs Law to compare magnitudes and directions of the gravitational and electrostatic forces, and predict changes in those forces when more than one variable is changed.

Use mathematical representations of Newton's Law of Gravitation and Coulombs Law to describe and predict the gravitational and electrostatic forces between objects.

Use mathematical representations of Newton's Law of Gravitation and Coulombs Law to describe and/or predict the gravitational force(s) or field, or electrostatic force(s) or field associated with an object or a system of two object, or describe and/or predict the magnitude of the factor(s) that result in the given forces or fields.

Given data and/or model(s), describe how factor(s) affect the gravitational or electrostatic force(s) acting on two objects, or describe how factor(s) affect the gravitational or electrostatic field between two objects.

Given data, information, or a model, draw or identify the direction, with or without the magnitude, of the the gravitational force(s) or field, or electrostatic force(s) or field, or determine the magnitude of the gravitational force(s) or field, or electrostatic force(s) or field.

Resources

Examples and discussion of resources for the learning, teaching, and assessment of HS-PS2-4.

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Assessment

What assessment of HS-PS2-4 might look like on a NY state exam.

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NGSS Dimensions

Performance expectation HS-PS2-4 was developed using the following elements from the NRC document A Framework for K-12 Science Education:

Science and Engineering Practices

• Using Mathematics and Computational Thinking
  • Use mathematical representations of phenomena to describe explanations.

Disciplinary Core Ideas

• PS2.B: Types of Interactions
  • Newton's law of universal gravitation and Coulomb's law provide the mathematical models to describe and predict the effects of gravitational and electrostatic forces between distant objects.
  • Forces at a distance are explained by fields (gravitational, electric, magnetic) permeating space that can transfer energy through space. Magnets or electric currents cause magnetic fields; electric charges or changing magnetic fields cause electric fields.

Crosscutting Concepts

• Patterns
  • Different patterns may be observed at each of the scales at which a system is studied and can provide evidence for causality in explanations of phenomena.

Page contributors: Caroline Leonard, Conrad Richman

Physics | HS. Forces and Interactions