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Investigate measurement
Assessment Strategies
by completing measurement lab in class
by completing metric system problem set
by completing unit conversion problem set
by taking an in-class exam
Criteria
you identify the accuracy of measurement instruments
your measurements are expressed with significant figures which match the accuracy of the measurement instrument
your measurements of the same quantity with different instruments are the same within the accuracy of the instruments
your converted measurements are correct
you perform metric conversions by moving the decimal point and/or adding zeros
you select correct conversion factor(s)
you show conversion ratios when converting units
you show units at all stages in solution, including final answer
your converted measurements have the same number of significant digits as original measurement
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Solve basic algebra problems
Assessment Strategies
by successfully completing labs, quizzes, problems, and exams
Criteria
you represent quantities with variables
you substitute given numbers for variables into formulas
you rearrange formulas to solve for an indicated variable
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Create graphs from data
Assessment Strategies
by completing graphing problem set
by creating graphs of laboratory data
Criteria
you label graph axes with quantities and units
you determine a scale for the graph that uses even increments (eg 1, 2, 5 or 10) and uses most of the graph paper
you title your graph
you correctly place easily readable data points
you sketch a line of best fit with a ruler
you determine the slope of the line of best fit
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Use scientific problem solving method
Assessment Strategies
by completing problem-solving problem set
by completing problem sets throughout the semester
by completing labs throughout the semester
by taking in-class exams
Criteria
you identify known and unknown quantities with variables for a problem
you select an appropriate formula to solve the problem
you identify unknown quantities and rearrange the formula to solve for the unknown
you substitute known quantities for variables in formula
you show units when substituting
you identify and perform any necessary unit conversions
you write a final answer including units
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Investigate vectors and scalars
Assessment Strategies
by completing the force table lab in class
taking an in-class exam
Criteria
you distinguish between a vector and a scalar
you use the force table to determine equilibrants
you draw a free body diagram of the vectors acting on an object
you select and apply a scale to convert physical quantities into graphical vectors
you draw vectors using a ruler and a protractor
you add vectors by connecting them head-to-tail
you break vectors into components using sines and cosines
you add the components of vectors
you combine the components of a vector into a magnitude and direction using Pythagoras's theorem and tangents
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Investigate Linear Motion
Assessment Strategies
by completing linear motion problem set
by completing gravity and linear motion lab in class
by taking an in-class exam
Criteria
you solve speed problems using v=s/t and the scientific problem solving method
you distinguish speed and velocity
you solve acceleration problems using a=delta v/t and the scientific problem solving method
you express acceleration in terms of the acceleration due to gravity
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Apply Newton's Laws
Assessment Strategies
by completing Newton's laws problem set
by taking an in-class exam
Criteria
you solve thought problems using Newton's first law
you solve problems using Newton's second law and the scientific problem solving method
you solve thought problems using Newton's third law
you distinguish force, mass and weight
you relate mass and weight using Newton's second law and the acceleration due to gravity
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Investigate Friction
Assessment Strategies
by completing friction problem set
by completing friction lab in class
by taking an in-class exam
Criteria
you identify the physical properties on which friction depends
you solve friction problems using the coefficient of friction and the scientific problem solving method
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Investigate Work, Energy and Power
Assessment Strategies
by completing work, energy and power problem sets
by completing the power lab in class
by taking an in-class exam
Criteria
you solve problems using W=Fd and the scientific problem solving method
you solve problems using conservation of energy and the scientific problem solving method
you identify the effect of changing speed and mass on kinetic energy
you solve power problems using the scientific problem solving method
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Apply Concepts of Torque and Equilibrium
Assessment Strategies
by completing the torque and equilibrium problem set
by completing the plane equilibrium lab in class
by taking an in-class exam
Criteria
you solve torque problems using the scientific problem solving method
you identify the torque arm when a force is applied at an angle
you solve translational equilibrium problems using the scientific problem solving method
you solve rotational equilibrium problems using the scientific problem solving method
you use translational and rotational equilibrium in conjunction to solve problems (optional at professor's discretion)
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Investigate Simple Machines
Assessment Strategies
by completing the simple machines problem set
by completing the simple machines lab in class
by taking an in-class exam
Criteria
you solve problems using AMA, IMA and efficiency and the scientific problem solving method
you identify the IMA formula for the six types of simple machines
you apply simple machines concepts to explain a tool or machine used in your technical area
you set up examples of different types of simple machines
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Investigate Pressure
Assessment Strategies
by completing the pressure problem set
by completing the pressure lab
by taking an in-class exam
Criteria
you solve problems using the pressure relationships
you solve problems using Pascal's principle
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Investigate Buoyancy and Archimedes' Principle
Assessment Strategies
by completing buoyancy problem set
by completing specific gravity lab
by taking an in-class exam
Criteria
you solve problems using buoyancy principles
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Use Fahrenheit, Celsius, Kelvin and Rankine Temperature Scales
Assessment Strategies
by completing the temperature problem set
by taking an in-class exam
Criteria
you express temperatures in Fahrenheit, Celsius, Kelvin and Rankine
you identify the freezing and boiling point of water in Fahrenheit, Celsius, Kelvin and Rankine
you distinguish between 0 degrees Fahrenheit or Celsius and absolute zero
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Convert Temperatures Between Fahrenheit, Celsius, Kelvin and Rankine
Assessment Strategies
by completing the temperature problem set
by taking an in-class exam
Criteria
you select the correct conversion relation
you add and/or multiply the quantities in the relation in the correct order
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Apply Gas Laws
Assessment Strategies
by completing the gas laws problem set
by taking an in-class exam
Criteria
you solve problems using the temperature/pressure relationship and the scientific problem solving method
you solve problems using the pressure/volume relationship and the scientific problem solving method
you solve problems using the temperature/volume relationship and the scientific problem solving method
you solve problems using the general gas law and the scientific problem solving method
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Investigate Thermal Expansion
Assessment Strategies
by completing the thermal expansion problem set
by completing the thermal expansion lab in class
by taking an in-class exam
Criteria
you identify the dependencies for thermal expansion
you solve thermal expansion problems using the scientific problem solving method
you apply thermal expansion concepts to physical situations
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Investigate Specific and Latent Heat
Assessment Strategies
by completing the heat and latent heat problem sets
by completing calorimetry and bomb calorimeter labs
by taking an in-class exam
Criteria
you solve specific heat problems using the scientific problem solving method
you solve latent heat problems using the scientific problem solving method
you identify heat losers and gainers and solve calorimetry problems using thermal equilibrium and using the scientific problem solving method
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Investigate Heat Transfer
Assessment Strategies
by completing the R-value problem set
by taking an in-class exam
Criteria
you distinguish between convection, conduction and radiation
you give examples of convection, conduction and radiation
you identify heat transfer examples as convection, conduction or radiation
you solve heat conduction problems using the scientific problem solving method
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Investigate States of Matter
Assessment Strategies
by discussing states of matter in class
by taking an in-class exam
Criteria
you identify the three states of matter
you identify the properties of the three states of matter
you analyze the molecular theory explaining each of the three states of matter
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Investigate Deformation of Matter
Assessment Strategies
by completing spring problem set
by completing stress and strain problem set
by completing stress and strain lab
by taking an in-class exam
Criteria
you solve spring problems using Hooke's law
you solve problems using stress and strain concepts and Young's Modulus
you identify the ultimate strength, elastic limit and Young's modulus from experimental data
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Investigate Electrostatics
Assessment Strategies
taking an in-class exam
Criteria
you investigate the relationship between charge and force
you investigate the arrangement of charges and associated forces in various electrostatic situations
you construct and identify electric field diagrams for various charge distributions
you summarize voltage or electric potential
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Investigate Simple Circuits
Assessment Strategies
by completing problems sets
by completing circuits lab
by taking an in-class exam
Criteria
you identify the parts of a simple circuit, including conductors, current sources, resistors and other loads, and switches
you examine the functioning of a chemical battery
you construct and read simple circuit diagrams
you apply simple circuit diagrams to create a circuit
you use a multimeter to measure voltage and current
you apply Ohm's law to complete circuits problems
you solve series circuits
you solve parallel circuits
you solve combination circuits
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Investigate Electric Power
Assessment Strategies
by completing electric power problem sets
by completing electric power lab
by taking in-class exams
Criteria
you solve problems using the electric power relationship
you calculate the cost of electricity usage
you investigating the functioning of fuses and circuit breakers
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Investigate Light
Assessment Strategies
completing light lab
Criteria
you use a grease-spot photometer to determine the relationship between distance and intensity
you measure light intensity in real-world situations and compare to recommended light levels
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Investigate Sound
Assessment Strategies
completing sound lab
Criteria
you investigation the relationship between sound intensity and distance
you measure sound intensity using a sound meter
you identify dangerous levels of sound, and safe lengths of exposure