HS - PS3.A (B and C) - Macro and Microscopic Views of Energy - ASSIGNED (RC 4/30/2014)

Module: Macro and Microscopic Views of Energy

DCI: PS3.A (B) At the macroscopic scale, energy manifest itself in multiple ways, such as in motion, sound, light, and thermal energy.

DCI: PS3.A (C) These relationships are better understood at the microscopic scale, at which all of the different manifestations of energy can be modeled as a combination of energy associated with the motion of particles and energy associated with the configuration (relative position of the particles). In some cases the relative position energy can be thought of as stored in fields (which mediate interactions between particles). This last concept includes radiation, a phenomenon in which energy stored in fields moves across space.

PE: HS-PS3-2 Develop and use models to illustrate that energy at the macroscopic scale can be accounted for as a combination of energy associated with the motions of particles (objects) and energy associated with the relative positions of particles (objects).

[Clarification Statement: Examples of phenomena at the macroscopic scale could include the conversion of kinetic energy to thermal energy, the energy stored due to position of an object above the earth, and the energy stored between two electrically-charged plates. Examples of models could include diagrams, drawings, descriptions, and computer simulations.]

PE: HS-PS3-3 Design, build, and refine a device that works within given constraints to convert one form of energy into another form of energy.

 [Clarification Statement: Emphasis is on both qualitative and quantitative evaluations of devices. Examples of devices could include Rube Goldberg devices, wind turbines, solar cells, solar ovens, and generators. Examples of constraints could include use of renewable energy forms and efficiency.] [Assessment Boundary: Assessment for quantitative evaluations is limited to total output for a given input. Assessment is limited to devices constructed with materials provided to students.]

The ideas here are: 

- energy can manifest itself in a variety of ways (motion, sound, light, and thermal)

- this is, however, a macroscopic view of energy

- energy is better understood at a microscopic view

- energy, really, is dependent on the motion and arrangements of particles of matter

- sometimes, this energy can be thought of as stored in fields which cause particles to interact

- this last interaction is called radiation, by which the energy stored in fields moves across space

PS3-2 is a PE that was also included in our batch "defining energy".  Some of those concepts though, are still applicable.  We can look at total energy as the sum of the energy of its parts. One idea, when the thermal energy of an object increases, which of the following describes the behavior of the particles of matter within that object? 

It will be difficult to address PS3-3, but we can ask questions about the efficiency of a device based on data. 

Possible Questions: 

-Which of the following represents a macroscopic view of energy?

- As the thermal energy of an object increases, which of the following best describes the behavior of the particles within that object? 

- Students are trying to build a device that will prevent the flow of thermal energy.  (We describe a device, or perhaps we provide a picture.) They record they record the following data. Based on this information, which of the following changes should be made to the device?