Curriculum Guide
High School Standard 1.6
Physical Science Standards 1.6 - When energy changes form, it is neither created not destroyed; however, because some is necessarily lost as heat, the amount of
energy available to do work decreases.
Related Colorado Department of Education Sample Units:





Forms And Transformation Of Energy - High School Science (Physics) (Concepts: Energy, Forms, Transformation, Conservation, Work)
Matter And Energy - High School Chemistry (Concepts: Energy, Transformation, Transfer, Conservation, Radiation, Quantification)
Our Changing Climate? - High School Earth Science (Concepts: Energy, Change, Climate, Hazards, Predicting, Factors, Systems, Technology, Ecosystem)
Conservation And Use Of Resources - High School Earth Science (Concepts: Resources, Impacts, Cost/Benefit Analysis, Sustainability, Energy, Efficiency,
Systems)
Matter And Energy In Ecosystems - High School Biology (Concepts: Energy, Transformation, Matter, Cycle, Interdependence, Conservation, Ecosystem)
Essential Questions - 21st Century Skills and Readiness Competencies (District):
1. How does the Law of Conservation of Energy help us to solve quantitative and
qualitative problems involving complex systems?
2a. How is energy conserved in a daily process such as driving a car or in riding a
roller coaster?
2b. Why does a swinging pendulum never return to its highest position?
3a. Why is 100 percent efficiency impossible in an energy transformation?
3b. Which type of energy production method is the most efficient and why?
4. Scientists or engineers often say energy is “lost.” What might be a more
accurate word than “lost" and why?
5. What factors are needed to determine the energy of mechanical versus
electromagnetic waves?
Evidence Outcomes (District):
1. Describe energy transformations both quantitatively and qualitatively.
2. Use direct and indirect evidence to develop and support claims about the
conservation of energy in a variety of systems, including transformations to heat.
3. Evaluate the energy conversion efficiency of a variety of energy transformations.
4. Examine, evaluate, question, and ethically use information from a variety of sources
and media to investigate energy conservation and loss.
5. Differentiate among the characteristics of mechanical and electromagnetic waves
that determine their energy.
Academic Vocabulary (District):
amplitude
compression
diffraction
efficiency
electromagnetic wave
frequency
interference
Law of Conservation of Energy
longitudinal wave
mechanical wave
power
rarefaction
reflection
refraction
speed of light
Assessment (District):
1. Evaluate the Virtual Energy Conversions lab report with a specific emphasis on the
conclusion.
1, 2, & 3. Use the KE-PE Transformation PowerPoint clicker questions to assess.
4. The Energy Efficiency lab worksheet will serve as assessment. Also, after
students view the website and video for the Lab Home, have them write a short essay
to compare and contrast five features of the Lab home to their own home.
5a. Use the Electromagnetic and Mechanical Waves PowerPoint clicker questions to
assess all or portions of the Wave Unit.
5b. Check the Radio & EM simulation lab for accuracy.
5c. Check Sound Lab for accuracy.
transverse wave
wavelength
work
Suggested Activities/Strategies (District):
1. Use the Virtual Energy Conversions lab in which students watch the animation and
then have them write a lab report showing the different types of energy conversions.

Virtual Energy Conversions
1, 2, & 3. Use the Kinetic Energy (KE)/Potential Energy (PE) Transformation Skate
Park interactive simulation, lesson plans, PowerPoint with assessment questions, and
student directions.

1, 2, & 3. Kinetic Energy/Potential Energy Transformation
4. Use the Energy Efficiency Lab Activity comparing the heat output and efficiency of
four types of light bulbs. This activity can be adapted to a variety of learning levels.

4. Energy Efficiency Website
o
4. Energy Efficiency (Teacher Instructions)
o
4. Energy Efficiency Lab (Student Instructions)
o
4. Energy Efficiency Lab Worksheet
5a. The Electromagnetic and Mechanical Wave Properties Activities link includes
online interactive simulations, lessons, labs, and worksheets for mechanical and
electromagnetic waves, properties, energy, and interference.

5a. Electromagnetic and Mechanical Wave Properties Activities
5b. Have students work through and record data in the Radio Waves and
Electromagnetic simulation to understand how frequency affects the amount of energy.

5b. Phet Colorado Simulation on Radio and Electromagnetic Waves
5c. Students work through the Sound Simulation to develop an understanding of how
sound is a type of mechanical wave and how frequency effects pitch. Students should
record their lab data.

5c. Phet Colorado Sound Simulation (Mechanical Waves)
Resources/Technology (District):

Energy Efficiency Support Materials

Instructional Framework for Energy

YouTube on Green Energy