8th Grade Physics Standards for Poway Unified School District
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Focusing Concept |
Standard and Essential Learnings |
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Motion |
1. The velocity of an object is the rate of change of its position. As a basis for understanding this concept: |
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· a. position is defined in relation to some choice of a standard reference point and a set of reference directions. |
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· b. the average speed is the total distance traveled divided by the total time elapsed and that the speed of an object along the path traveled can vary. |
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· c. Students know how to solve problems involving distance, time and average speed. |
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· d. Students know the velocity of an object must be described by specifying both the direction and the speed of the object. |
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· e. Students know changes in velocity may be due to changes in speed, direction , or both. |
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· f. Students know how to interpret graphs of position versus time and graphs of speed verses time for motion in a single direction.
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Forces |
2. Unbalanced forces cause changes in velocity. As a basis for understanding this concept, students know: |
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· a. a force has both direction and magnitude. |
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· b. when an object is subject to two or more forces at once, the result is the cumulative effect of all the forces. |
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· c. when the forces on an object are balanced, the motion of the object does not change. |
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· d. how to identify separately the two or more forces that are acting on a single static object, including gravity, elastic forces due to tension or compression in matter and friction. |
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· e. that when the forces on an object are unbalanced, the object will change its velocity (that is, it will speed up, slow down, or change direction). |
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| * f. the greater the mass of an object, the more force is needed to achieve the same rate of change in motion. | |
| * g. the role of gravity in forming and maintaining the shapes of planets, starts and the solar system. | |
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Earth in the Solar System (Earth Sciences) |
4. The structure and composition of the universe can be learned from studying stars and their evolution. As a basis for understanding this concept students know: |
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· a. how galaxies are clusters of billions of stars and may have different shapes. |
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· b. the Sun is one of many stars in the Milky Way galaxy and may differ in size, temperature and color.. |
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· c. how to use astronomical units and light years as measures of distance between the Sun, stars and Earth. |
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· d. Stars are the sources of light for all bright objects in outer space and that the Moon and planets shine by reflected sunlight, not by their own light. |
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· e. the appearance, general composition, relative position and size, and motion of objects in the solar system, including planets, planetary satellites, comets and asteroids. |
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