Physical Science: Physics · Waves and Electromagnetic Radiation

HS-PS4-4Electromagnetic Radiation and Matter

Performance expectation

Evaluate the validity and reliability of claims in published materials of the effects that different frequencies of electromagnetic radiation have when absorbed by matter.

What NYSED says about assessing it

Clarification statement

Emphasis is on the idea that photons associated with different frequencies of light have different energies, and the damage to living tissue from electromagnetic radiation depends on the energy of the radiation. Examples of published materials could include scientific journals, trade books, magazines, web resources, videos, and other passages that may reflect bias.

Assessment boundary

Assessment is limited to qualitative descriptions.

The three dimensions

Every item written to HS-PS4-4 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

Obtaining, Evaluating, and Communicating Information

Disciplinary core ideas
  • PS4.B: Electromagnetic Radiation
Crosscutting concepts
  • Cause and Effect

Related performance expectations

Generate a cluster for HS-PS4-4

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.