HS-PS4-1

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Use mathematical representations to support a claim regarding relationships among the period, frequency, wavelength, and speed of waves traveling and transferring energy (amplitude, frequency) in various media.

Clarification statement: Examples of data could include descriptions of waves classified as transverse, longitudinal, mechanical, or standing, electromagnetic radiation traveling in a vacuum and glass, sound waves traveling through air and water, seismic waves traveling through Earth, and direction of waves due to reflection and refraction.

Assessment boundary: Assessment is limited to algebraic relationships and describing those relationships qualitatively.

Performance Level Descriptions

Every Regents exam question on HS-PS4-1 is written to match one of the performance level descriptions (PLDs) below.

Level 1: Draw a model of a wave with given characteristics or identify the characteristics of a given wave traveling and transferring energy in a medium (period, frequency, wavelength, amplitude, speed, and/or type), or identify the change in characteristics of a wave as the wave hits a boundary.

Level 2: Use words, diagrams, and/or graphs to represent the mathematical relationships among the period, frequency, wavelength, and/or speed of waves in a medium, or use mathematical relationships to determine the direction of a wave as the wave hits a boundary (reflection and/or refraction), or given data, model(s), and/or a mathematical representation, compare the phase of points at positions on the wave or the relative amount of energy transferred due to amplitude or frequency, or determine the amount of energy transferred due to the frequency of electromagnetic radiation (photon).

Level 3: Given data, model(s), and/or a mathematical representation, determine the period, frequency, wavelength, or speed of a wave or electromagnetic radiation (photon) traveling and transferring energy in a medium, or use mathematical relationships and a ruler and protractor to construct the reflected and/or refracted ray(s) to show the direction of a wave as it hits a boundary, or determine the index of refraction.

Level 4: Use mathematical representations to support a claim regarding relationships among the period, frequency, wavelength, and speed of waves traveling and transferring energy (amplitude, frequency) in various media.

Level 5: Plan and conduct an investigation and use mathematical representations to evaluate claims regarding the relationships among the period, frequency, wavelength, and speed of waves traveling and transferring energy in various media.

Resources

Examples and discussion of resources for the learning, teaching, and assessment of HS-PS4-1.

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Regents Exam Questions

Released New York State Regents exam questions that assess HS-PS4-1 are listed here by exam and question cluster. Each link opens the question with its answer key.

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NGSS Dimensions

Performance expectation HS-PS4-1 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 or design solutions to describe and/or support claims and/or explanations.

Disciplinary Core Ideas

• PS4.A: Wave Properties
  • The wavelength and frequency of a wave are related to one another by the speed of travel of the wave, which depends on the type of wave and the medium through which it is passing.

Crosscutting Concepts

• Cause and Effect
  • Empirical evidence is required to differentiate between cause and correlation and make claims about specific causes and effects.

Page contributors: Caroline Leonard, Conrad Richman

Physics | HS. Waves and Electromagnetic Radiation