Physical Science: Physics · Structure and Properties of Matter

HS-PS1-8Nuclear Processes

Performance expectation

Develop models to illustrate the changes in the composition of the nucleus of the atom and the energy released during the processes of fission, fusion, and radioactive decay.

What NYSED says about assessing it

Clarification statement

Emphasis is on simple qualitative models, such as pictures or diagrams, and on the scale of energy released in nuclear processes relative to other kinds of transformations.

Assessment boundary

Assessment does not include quantitative calculation of energy released. Assessment is limited to alpha, beta, positron, and gamma radioactive decays.

The three dimensions

Every item written to HS-PS1-8 has to assess all three dimensions together, not the content alone. This is the structural change that made older practice material stop matching the exam.

Science & engineering practice

Developing and Using Models

Disciplinary core ideas
  • PS1.C: Nuclear Processes
Crosscutting concepts
  • Energy and Matter

Generate a cluster for HS-PS1-8

Phenomenon stimulus, connected items across the required types, answer key, rubric and figures drawn deterministically from a structured spec — in the format your students will sit.