Global Science - Unit 3 Standards

Physics: Waves 4. Waves have characteristic properties that do not depend on the type of wave. As a basis for understanding this concept:

a. Students know waves carry energy from one place to another.
  • Waves
  • Wave characteristics
  • Wave types (ex.light/sound)

b. Students know how to identify transverse and longitudinal waves in mechanical media, such as springs and ropes, and on the earth (seismic waves).
  • Transverse/longitudinal waves
  • Frequency/wavelength
  • Mechanical and seismic media
  • Patterns of wave movement

c. Students know how to solve problems involving wavelength, frequency, and wave speed.
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d. Students know sound is a longitudinal wave whose speed depends on the properties of the medium in which it propagates.
  • Sound is a longitudinal wave
  • Generation of sound waves

e. Students know radio waves, light, and X-rays are different wavelength bands in the spectrum of electromagnetic waves whose speed in a vacuum is approximately 3 x 108m/s (186,000 miles/second).
  • Electromagnetic spectrum/range of wavelengths
  • Radio waves, light, x-rays position on spectrum
  • Speed of light/3 x 108 m/s
  • Vacuum definition
  • Frequency/wavelength

f. Students know how to identify the characteristic properties of waves: interference (beats), diffraction, refraction, Doppler Effect, and polarization.
  • Diffraction/refraction,  interference, Doppler effect, polarization
  • Constructive/destructive interference

Dynamic Earth Processes 3. Plate tectonics operating over geologic time has changed the patterns of land, sea, and mountains on Earth's surface. As the basis for understanding this concept:

a. Students know features of the ocean floor (magnetic patterns, age, and sea-floor topography) provide evidence of plate tectonics.

·        Plate tectonics

  • Convergent/divergent boundaries
  • Continental drift
  • Ocean floor features
  • Magnetic forces & patterns

b. Students know the principal structures that form at the three different kinds of plate boundaries.

·        Plate boundaries

  • Layers of Earth
  • Convergence/divergence
  • Convection
  • Principal structures at boundaries

c. Students know how to explain the properties of rocks based on the physical and chemical conditions in which they formed, including plate tectonic processes.

·        Rock cycle

  • Rock properties
  • Intrusion/extrusion

d. Students know why and how earthquakes occur and the scales used to measure their intensity and magnitude.

·        Earthquake scales

  • Earthquake magnitude/intensity
  • Types of waves
  • Epicenter/focus
  • Triangulation

California Geology 9. The geology of California underlies the state's wealth of natural resources as well as its natural hazards. As a basis for understanding this concept:

 

b. Students know the principal natural hazards in different California regions and the geologic basis of those hazards.
  • Natural hazards such earthquake faults/volcanoes, tsunamis, erosion
  • Location of faults/volcanic activity
  • Pacific Ring of Fire