8th Grade Science Guide

8.2: Physics 3 Dimensions & Progressions

Unit 1

STANDARD ● 8.2.2 Ask questions about how the amount of potential energy varies as distance within the system changes. Plan and conduct an investigation to answer a question about potential energy. Emphasize comparing relative amounts of energy. Examples could include a cart at varying positions on a hill or an object being dropped from different heights. Calculations of kinetic and potential energy will be learned at the high school level. (MS-PS3-2) ● 8.2.3 Engage in argument to identify the strongest evidence that supports the claim that the kinetic energy of an object changes as energy is transferred to or from the object. Examples could include observing temperature changes as a result of friction, applying force to an object, or releasing potential energy from an object. (MS-PS3-4) (MS-PS3-5)

CONCEPTS

SKILLS

● Potential energy ● Distance ● Relative amounts of energy

● Ask questions ● Plan and conduct investigations

LEARNING PROGRESSIONS

● Objects contain stored (potential) energy. ● The energy is dependent on their relative positions.

● Applying a force on an object will transfer the energy from potential to kinetic energy. ● Energy can be lost in a system through friction which leaves in the form of heat.

VOCABULARY ● Gravity

● Speed ● Spring ● Friction ● Transfer of Energy ● Conservation of Energy

● Force ● Mass

● Gravitational potential ● Kinetic energy ● Potential Energy ● Heat Energy

● Closed System ● Open System ● Joule

POSSIBLE PHENOMENA ● A gravity light is elevated, and then produces light as it slowly falls back to the ground. ● Dropping a marble into sand leaves a crater, the greater the height from which it is dropped the bigger the crater. ● When using a rubber band to shoot paper across the room, the distance you pull the rubber band affects the speed of the paper and how far it fies. ● The further a trampoline stretches when you land on it, the higher you can jump. ● When an object goes down a hill and then up the other side, the speed of the object changes. ● Runaway truck lanes provide a safe way for trucks with no breaks to slow down. ● When a skateboarder is going up the halfpipe, they are slowing down until they momentarily stop at the top of their jump. When they are going down the halfpipe, they speed up. ● A ball dropped from 1 m will bounce up but not return to the original height.