HS-PS2-1 | Newton's Laws

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Analyze data to support the claim that Newton’s Second Law of Motion describes the mathematical relationship among the net force on a macroscopic object, its mass, and its acceleration.

Clarification statement: Examples of data could include tables, graphs, or diagrams (vector diagrams) for objects subject to a net unbalanced force (a falling object, an object sliding down a ramp, an object being acted on by friction, a moving object being pulled by a constant force, projectile motion, or an object moving in a circular motion), for objects in equilibrium (Newton’s First Law), or for forces describing the interaction between two objects (Newton’s Third Law).

Assessment boundary: Assessment is limited to macroscopic objects moving at non-relativistic speeds whose measured quantities can be classified as either vector or scalar.

Note: this is a NYSED-specific performance expectation that is different from the Next Generation Science Standards.

Assessment

What assessment of HS-PS2-1 might look like on a NY state exam.

Exam Cluster Question
June 2026 Pendulum Motion Question 3
Pendulum Motion Question 4
Pendulum Motion Question 5
Motorcycle Helmets Question 18
From Astro Blaster to Supernova Question 37
From Astro Blaster to Supernova Question 39
Charged Drops Question 50
Sample clusters (Spring 2025) World Record Jumps Question 1
Bungee Jumping Question 2
World Record Jumps Question 2
World Record Jumps Question 3
World Record Jumps Question 4

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: Identify the data or information that supports the claim that Newton’s Second Law of Motion describes the mathematical relationship among the net force on a macroscopic object, its mass, and/or its acceleration, or identify the data or information that supports a prediction or explanation of a macroscopic object’s motion for an object acted upon by balanced or unbalanced force(s).
☐
Level 2: Analyze and/or interpret data for an object acted upon by balanced forces by applying the mathematical relationships described in Newton’s Laws of Motion to quantify the force(s) acting on a macroscopic object, or determine the net force acting on the object, the mass, or acceleration of the object, or analyze and/or interpret data for an object acted upon by balanced forces using mathematical representations (kinematics) to determine quantities describing motion (with or without direction) including the acceleration, velocity, displacement of a macroscopic object, or time that the balanced forces act on a macroscopic object.
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Level 3: Analyze and/or interpret data for an object acted upon by unbalanced force(s) by applying the mathematical relationships described in Newton’s Laws of Motion to determine the net force acting on the object, the mass, or the acceleration of the object, or analyze and/or interpret data for an object acted upon by unbalanced force(s) using mathematical representations (kinematics) to determine quantities describing motion (with or without direction) including the acceleration, velocity, displacement of a macroscopic object, or time that the unbalanced force(s) act(s) on a macroscopic object.
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Level 4: Analyze data to support the claim that Newton’s Second Law of Motion describes the mathematical relationship among the net force on a macroscopic object, its mass, and its acceleration.
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Level 5: Plan and conduct an investigation to support a claim that describes the mathematical relationships among the net force on a macroscopic object, its mass, and its acceleration, and make predictions using the results of the investigation by applying Newton’s Laws of Motion.

Vocabulary

Terms from the Physics Glossary that come from this standard or from the released exam questions that assess it.

From this standard
  • acceleration
  • balanced forces
  • cause and correlation
  • cause and effect
  • circular motion
  • claim
  • constant force
  • design solution
  • direction
  • displacement
  • empirical evidence
  • equilibrium
  • falling object
  • force
  • friction
  • interaction
  • investigation
  • kinematics
  • macroscopic object
  • mass
  • mathematical representation
  • mechanism
  • net force
  • Newton's First Law
  • Newton's Laws of Motion
  • Newton's Second Law of Motion
  • Newton's Third Law
  • non-relativistic speeds
  • object
  • object sliding down a ramp
  • projectile motion
  • scalar
  • speed
  • support (a claim)
  • theory
  • unbalanced force
  • vector
  • vector diagram
  • velocity
From released exam questions
Implied by this standard
  • centripetal force – implied by "an object moving in a circular motion"
  • inertia – implied by "objects in equilibrium (Newton's First Law)"

Resources

Examples and discussion of resources for the learning, teaching, and assessment of HS-PS2-1.

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


NGSS Dimensions

Performance expectation HS-PS2-1 was developed using the following elements from the NRC document A Framework for K-12 Science Education:

Science and Engineering Practices
  • Analyzing and interpreting data: Analyze data using tools, technologies, and/or models (e.g., computational, mathematical) in order to make valid and reliable scientific claims or determine an optimal design solution.
  • Science models, laws, mechanisms, and theories explain natural phenomena: theories and laws provide explanations in science.
Disciplinary Core Ideas
  • Forces and motion: Newton’s second law accurately predicts changes in the motion of macroscopic objects.
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: Conrad Richman, Caroline Leonard
Physics | HS. Forces and Interactions
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