Virginia SOL PS.5

PS.5 is a Standards of Learning science standard. These are the key ideas and practices under it.

• PS.5.a

  energy can be stored in different ways

• PS.5.b

  energy is transferred and transformed

• PS.5.c

  energy can be transformed to meet societal needs.

01

What Students Need to Do

Students identify where energy is stored in batteries, fuel, stretched bands, and raised objects. They trace energy through a system from its input to useful and less useful outputs. They explain how devices use energy changes to meet human needs.

02

What Mastery Looks Like

A student can label an energy-flow diagram for a device and account for the input across all outputs. The student identifies sound and thermal energy as outputs instead of claiming energy disappeared. They can compare designs based on useful output.

03

Common Misconceptions

Students often say energy is used up when a device stops working. They may confuse energy transfer with energy transformation or overlook thermal and sound energy released to the surroundings.

04

How to Assess It

Exit ticket: A battery powers a toy car until the car stops. Identify the initial energy storage, describe two energy changes, and explain where the energy goes.

1. 01

   Wind identical rubber-band cars different numbers of turns, measure travel distance, and diagram the energy changes for each trial.

2. 02

   Write a claim explaining why a phone becomes warm while charging, then support it with an energy-flow diagram.

3. 03

   Sort device, input, useful output, and wasted output cards into matching sets, then check each set with a partner.

4. 04

   Compare LED and incandescent bulb labels, then explain which bulb provides more useful light for the same electrical input.

• 5.2

  The student will investigate and understand that energy can take many forms. Key ideas include

• PS.3

  The student will investigate and understand that matter has properties and is conserved in chemical and physical processes. Key ideas include

• 6.4

  The student will investigate and understand that there are basic sources of energy and that energy can be transformed. Key ideas include

• 5.9

  The student will investigate and understand that the conservation of energy resources is important. Key ideas include