7th Physics

Waves, which exist in mechanical and electromagnetic forms, have various properties.

1. Vibrations in materials set up wave like disturbances that spread away from the source. (AKSci - A.6)

o Demonstrate wave like motions using simple science materials like slinkies, ropes, water, ripple tanks, etc.

2. Energy from the sun is made up of a mixture of many different colors of light, etc., even though to the eye the light looks almost white. Other things that give off or reflect light have a different mix of colors. (AKSci - A.2)

o Using a prism, show that light from the sun is composed of many different colors.

Forces affect motion in a variety of ways.

A. Newton's Laws

1. An unbalanced force acting on an object changes its speed or path of motion, or both. If the force acts toward a single center, the object's path may curve into an orbit around the center. (AKSci - A.6)

o Design and conduct an investigation where an object's relative motion is described in terms of change in position, directions, and speed.

B. Gravitational Force and Motion not addressed at this grade level.

C. Magnetic and Electric Forces

1. Different kinds of materials respond differently to electric forces. In conducting materials such as metals, electric charges flow easily, whereas in insulating materials such as glass, they can move hardly at all. (AKSci - A.5)

o Design and conduct an investigation which demonstrates the differences in conductivity of various materials.

D. Pressure not addressed at this grade level.

The use of energy and its products affect the lives of all peoples of the world.

1. Different parts of the world have different amounts and kinds of energy resources to use and use them for different purposes. (AKSci - C.3)

o Compare energy sources in other countries to those of Anchorage.

Energy transformations occur at both micro and macro levels.

1. Energy can neither be created nor destroyed. (AKSci - A.9)

o Create an illustration or design an investigation which demonstrates kinetic energy and potential energy and how one may be transformed to the other.

2. Energy occurs in different forms (e.g., heat, chemical, mechanical, electrical). (AKSci - A.8c)

o Create an illustration or design an investigation which demonstrates kinetic energy and potential energy and how one may be transformed to the other.

3. Energy can change from one form to another. (AKSci - A.8b)

o Create an illustration or design an investigation which demonstrates kinetic energy and potential energy and how one may be transformed to the other.

4. Moving objects have kinetic energy. (AKSci - A.5)

o Make a Rube Goldberg device and describe the energy transfers involved.

5. An object has potential energy because of its position. (AKSci - A.5)

o Make a Rube Goldberg device and describe the energy transfers involved.

6. Heat moves in predictable ways from warmer objects to colder objects. (AKSci - A.9)

o Design and conduct an investigation that demonstrates heat transfer by conduction, convection or radiation. Record data and interpret the results.

7. Heat can be transferred through materials by the collisions of atoms, across space by radiation, or by movement of fluids. (AKSci - A.1)

o Design and conduct an investigation that demonstrates heat transfer by conduction, convection or radiation. Record data and interpret the results.