A candidate for licensure as a teacher of physics in grades 9
through 12 must complete a preparation program under subpart
2, item C, that must include
the candidate's demonstration of the knowledge and skills in items A to C, and
subpart
3, items E and F.
A. A teacher of physics must demonstrate a
conceptual understanding of physics. The teacher must:
(1) use sources of information to solve
unfamiliar quantitative problems and communicate the solution in a logical and
organized manner as evidenced by the ability to:
(a) describe, in terms of the known and
unknown quantities, a given problem in the appropriate pictorial, graphical, or
written form;
(b) qualitatively
describe, in appropriate physics terms using motion diagrams, vector force
diagrams, energy or momentum diagrams, ray diagrams, or field diagrams as
necessary, a given problem situation;
(c) mathematically describe, in terms of the
relevant numerical, algebraic, and trigonometric quantities and equations, a
given problem;
(d) plan, using
words, diagrams, and mathematical relationships, a solution for solving a given
problem and verify the solution;
(e) implement, using algebra and manipulation
and solution of coupled sets of linear equations, quadratic equations, simple
differential equations, and simple integrals as necessary, a solution to a
given problem; and
(f) evaluate, in
terms of unit consistency, reasonableness, and completeness of solution, the
solution of a given problem;
(2) use computers to display and analyze
experimental and theoretical data as evidenced by the ability to:
(a) graphically describe data using a
computer;
(b) design a mathematical
model to provide a reasonable fit to a given set of data;
(c) compute and evaluate the statistical
significance of mean and standard deviation for a distribution of
data;
(3) estimate
common physical properties as evidenced by the ability to:
(a) describe numerically, using reasonable
physical estimates, the physical properties of common objects; and
(b) compute and evaluate the reasonableness
of calculated physical parameters of common objects; and
(4) develop a plan to ensure a safe
environment and practices in all physics learning activities.
B. A teacher of physics must
demonstrate a knowledge of physics concepts. The teacher must:
(1) understand linear and rotational motion
as evidenced by the ability to:
(a) perform
measurements and calculations to describe the linear and angular position,
velocity, and acceleration of a given object; the forces and torques acting on
an object; and the energy, momentum, and angular momentum of a system before
and after an interaction;
(b)
describe, using words, pictures and diagrams, graphs, vectors, and mathematical
relationships, the motion of a given object;
(c) describe, using words, free-body vector
diagrams, and mathematical relationships, the forces acting on each object in a
given system of interacting objects and explain, using Newton's Second and
Third Laws, the relationships between all the forces;
(d) describe, using words, energy diagrams or
graphs, and mathematical relationships, the change of energy of a system and
any transfer of energy into or out of a given system of interacting
objects;
(e) describe, using words,
vector diagrams, and mathematical relationships, the change of linear or
angular momentum of a given system and any transfer of momentum into or out of
the system of interacting objects;
(f) explain and predict qualitatively and
quantitatively, in terms of Newton's Laws, the conservation of energy, and the
conservation of momentum, the motion of objects in a given system of
interacting objects; and
(g) design
a strategy for making an object move in a given way;
(2) understand simple harmonic and wave
motion as evidenced by the ability to:
(a)
perform measurements and calculations to describe the wavelength, amplitude,
period, frequency, and energy of a traveling wave or an object in simple
harmonic motion;
(b) describe,
using words, force diagrams, energy diagrams or graphs, motion graphs, and
mathematical relationships, simple or damped harmonic motion or resonance of a
given oscillating system;
(c)
explain and predict qualitatively and quantitatively, using the equation of
motion, changes in motion of an oscillator in a given system when the intrinsic
characteristics of the oscillator change, when a given external force is
applied to the oscillator, and when the oscillator loses energy to its
surroundings;
(d) design, using
words, diagrams or graphs, and mathematical relationships, a system which
oscillates at a given frequency or exhibits damped oscillations;
(e) describe a traveling or standing wave in
a given medium;
(f) explain and
predict qualitatively and quantitatively, using the wave equation of motion and
the superposition principle, changes in wave motion when a given traveling wave
interacts with a given object or boundary;
(g) explain and predict qualitatively and
quantitatively, using the wave equation of motion and the superposition
principle, changes in wave motion when a given traveling wave interacts with a
second wave; and
(h) explain and
predict qualitatively and quantitatively, using the wave equation of motion and
the superposition principle, changes in the wave when the source and detector
are moving relative to each other;
(3) understand electricity and magnetism as
evidenced by the ability to:
(a) perform
measurements and calculations to describe time varying or constant values of
current, voltage, and power in electric circuits and in magnetic
fields;
(b) describe, using words,
circuit diagrams, graphs, and mathematical relationships, the current, voltage,
resistance, capacitance, or inductance of a given system of circuit
elements;
(c) explain and predict
qualitatively and quantitatively, using the conservation of charge and the
conservation of energy, the current through or the voltage across each element
in a given circuit when changes are made to the circuit;
(d) design a circuit in which the current
varies in a given way;
(e) explain
and predict qualitatively and quantitatively, in terms of Newton's laws and the
Lorentz Force, the motion of charges in given electric and magnetic
fields;
(f) predict qualitatively
and quantitatively, using Gauss's law or Ampere's law, the electric field
around a given simple geometric distribution of charges and the magnetic field
around a given simple geometric system of current-carrying wires;
(g) predict qualitatively, using Lenz's law
and Faraday's Law, the induced currents from a given changing magnetic
flux;
(h) design, using simple
materials, a working electric motor and an air-core electromagnet that produces
a field strength; and
(i) explain,
in terms of the motion of charges and the electromagnetic nature of light, how
electromagnetic radiation is generated in a given situation;
(4) understand physical and
geometrical optics as evidenced by the ability to:
(a) perform measurements and calculations to
describe light intensity and polarization of a given light source, the location
of images formed by a simple mirror and lens system, and the focal length and
magnification of a curved mirror or thin lens;
(b) describe, using words, ray diagrams,
graphs, and mathematical relationships, the reflection, refraction,
transmission, and absorption of light when it encounters a given macroscopic
object, a plane or curved mirror, a boundary between mediums of different
indices of refraction, a linear polarizer, a prism, and thin concave and convex
lenses;
(c) explain and predict
qualitatively and quantitatively, in terms of ray diagrams and the laws of
reflection and refraction of light, the location and magnification of a real or
virtual image for a given system of mirrors or lenses;
(d) design a system of lenses and mirrors to
produce a real or virtual image of a given magnification;
(e) describe, using words, diagrams, and
graphs, the interaction of monochromatic light with a given single or pair of
parallel slits and with thin films; and
(f) explain and predict qualitatively and
quantitatively, using the behavior of waves and the principle of superposition,
the change in the resulting light pattern with given changes in slit width,
separation, and the wavelength of the incident light on a system of
slits;
(5) understand
the kinetic-molecular model of matter and thermodynamics as evidenced by the
ability to:
(a) perform measurements and
calculations to describe the mass, volume, density, temperature, and heat
capacity of a solid, liquid, or gas at constant pressure and the pressure in a
gas;
(b) explain qualitatively,
using the kinetic-molecular model of matter, a common physical
change;
(c) describe, using words,
graphs, and mathematical relationships, changes in pressure, volume, or
temperature of an ideal gas;
(d)
predict, using the First Law of Thermodynamics, the final temperature of a
given thermally isolated system of interacting objects and materials;
(e) explain and predict qualitatively and
quantitatively, using the First Law of Thermodynamics, the transfer of heat
into or out of a given system;
(f)
explain, using the First Law of Thermodynamics, the changes of pressure,
temperature, and volume for a monatomic ideal gas operating in a Carnot cycle
between given states, and describe quantitatively, using words, graphs, and
mathematical relationships, the thermal efficiency of the system; and
(g) explain, in terms of the second law of
thermodynamics, why energy flows from hot to cold objects; and
(6) understand contemporary
physics as evidenced by the ability to:
(a)
perform measurements and calculations to detect nuclear radiation in the
environment, and determine wavelengths and energy of the emission spectrum of a
given gas;
(b) describe, using
words, diagrams, and mathematical relationships, the time dilation, length
contraction, and momentum and energy of an object of given velocity;
(c) describe, using words, diagrams, and
tables, the basic atomic and subatomic constituents of matter;
(d) explain qualitatively, in terms of the
standard model, the observed interaction between atomic or subatomic particles
in a simple situation;
(e) explain
qualitatively, using the quantum nature of light and matter, and the
conservation of energy and momentum, the observed interaction between photons
and matter in a given situation;
(f) explain, using conservation principles,
the observed changes in the matter and energy of a given nuclear
process;
(g) predict, using the
Heisenberg Uncertainty Principle, the lower limit of size, momentum, energy, or
time that could be expected in a given atomic or subatomic measurement or
situation; and
(h) describe, in
terms of the energy bands and levels in the material, the electrical
conductivity of a given conductor, insulator, or semiconductor.