Standards - Science

Communicate scientific information to explain the relationship between the structures and functions, both mechanical (e.g., chewing, churning in stomach) and chemical (e.g., enzymes, hydrochloric acid [HCl] in stomach), of the digestive system, including the accessory organs (e.g., salivary glands, pancreas).

Obtain and communicate information to demonstrate an understanding of the disorders of the digestive system (e.g., ulcers, Crohn’s disease, diverticulitis).

Develop and use a model to explain how the organs of the respiratory system function.

Engage in argument from evidence describing how environmental (e.g., cigarette smoke, polluted air) and genetic factors may affect the respiratory system, possibly leading to pathological conditions (e.g., cystic fibrosis).

Obtain, evaluate, and communicate information to differentiate between the male and female reproductive systems, including pathological conditions that affect each.

Use models to demonstrate what occurs in fetal development at each stage of pregnancy.

Use models to differentiate the structures of the urinary system and to describe their functions.

Analyze and interpret data related to the urinary system to show the relationship between homeostatic imbalances and disease (e.g., kidney stones, effects of pH imbalances).

Obtain and communicate information to explain the lymphatic organs and their structure and function.

Develop and use a model to explain the body’s lines of defense and immunity.

Obtain and communicate information to demonstrate an understanding of the disorders of the immune system (e.g., acquired immunodeficiency syndrome [AIDS], severe combined immunodeficiency [SCID]).

Obtain, evaluate, and communicate information to support the claim that the endocrine glands secrete hormones that help the body maintain homeostasis through feedback loops.

Analyze the effects of pathological conditions (e.g., pituitary dwarfism, Addison’s disease, diabetes mellitus) caused by imbalance of the hormones of the endocrine glands.

Use the periodic table as a model to predict the relative properties and trends (e.g., reactivity of metals; types of bonds formed, including ionic, covalent, and polar covalent; numbers of bonds formed; reactions with oxygen) of main group elements based on the patterns of valence electrons in atoms.

Plan and carry out investigations (e.g., squeezing a balloon, placing a balloon on ice) to identify the relationships that exist among the pressure, volume, density, and temperature of a confined gas.

Analyze and interpret data from a simple chemical reaction or combustion reaction involving main group elements.

Analyze and interpret data using acid-base indicators (e.g., color-changing markers, pH paper) to distinguish between acids and bases, including comparisons between strong and weak acids and bases.

Use mathematical representations to support and verify the claim that atoms, and therefore mass, are conserved during a simple chemical reaction.

Develop models to illustrate the concept of half-life for radioactive decay.

Research and communicate information about types of naturally occurring radiation and their properties.

Develop arguments for and against nuclear power generation compared to other types of power generation.

Analyze and interpret data for one- and two-dimensional motion applying basic concepts of distance, displacement, speed, velocity, and acceleration (e.g., velocity versus time graphs, displacement versus time graphs, acceleration versus time graphs).

Apply Newton’s laws to predict the resulting motion of a system by constructing force diagrams that identify the external forces acting on the system, including friction (e.g., a book on a table, an object being pushed across a floor, an accelerating car).

Use mathematical equations (e.g., $(m_1 v_1 + m_2 v_2) _{before} = (m_1 v_1 + m_2 v_2) _{after}$) and diagrams to explain that the total momentum of a system of objects is conserved when there is no net external force on the system.

Use the laws of conservation of mechanical energy and momentum to predict the result of one-dimensional elastic collisions.

Construct simple series and parallel circuits containing resistors and batteries and apply Ohm’s law to solve typical problems demonstrating the effect of changing values of resistors and voltages.

Design and conduct investigations to verify the law of conservation of energy, including transformations of potential energy, kinetic energy, thermal energy, and the effect of any work performed on or by the system.

Design, build, and test the ability of a device (e.g., Rube Goldberg devices, wind turbines, solar cells, solar ovens) to convert one form of energy into another form of energy.*

Use mathematical representations to demonstrate the relationships among wavelength, frequency, and speed of waves (e.g., the relation v = $lambda$ f) traveling in various media (e.g., electromagnetic radiation traveling in a vacuum and glass, sound waves traveling through air and water, seismic waves traveling through Earth).

Propose and defend a hypothesis based on information gathered from published materials (e.g., trade books, magazines, Internet resources, videos) for and against various claims for the safety of electromagnetic radiation.

Obtain and communicate information from published materials to explain how transmitting and receiving devices (e.g., cellular telephones, medical-imaging technology, solar cells, wireless Internet, scanners, __S__ound __N__avigation __a__nd __R__anging [SONAR]) use the principles of wave behavior and wave interactions with matter to transmit and capture information and energy.

Investigate and analyze, based on evidence obtained through observation or experimental design, the motion of an object using both graphical and mathematical models (e.g., creating or interpreting graphs of position, velocity, and acceleration versus time graphs for one- and two-dimensional motion; solving problems using kinematic equations for the case of constant acceleration) that may include descriptors such as position, distance traveled, displacement, speed, velocity, and acceleration.

Identify external forces in a system and apply Newton’s laws graphically by using models such as free-body diagrams to explain how the motion of an object is affected, ranging from simple to complex, and including circular motion.

Use mathematical computations to derive simple equations of motion for various systems using Newton’s second law.

Use mathematical computations to explain the nature of forces (e.g., tension, friction, normal) related to Newton’s second and third laws.