Unit 2: Materials to Machines – The Physical Science of Digital Technology
Duration of Days: 30
• Material properties such as conductivity, hardness, flexibility, and solubility arise from molecular bonding structures.
• Electrical current flows through conductive pathways and can be controlled within circuits.
• Circuit boards are organized systems composed of traces, pads, and components that regulate electrical flow.
• Most electronic components manage and protect electrical movement rather than process information.
• Binary represents information using two controlled electrical states.
• Processing systems use structured input-output relationships to generate predictable outcomes.
• Digital systems are engineered combinations of materials, electrical control mechanisms, and logical processing structures.
• Conduct open-ended investigations to test conductivity and identify material patterns.
• Develop and use molecular models to explain how bonding structure influences material properties.
• Construct and troubleshoot simple electrical circuits.
• Analyze real circuit boards to identify pathways and components.
• Explain the function of resistors, capacitors, inductors, diodes, and switches.
• Translate decimal values into binary and interpret binary inputs.
• Model simple input-output processing systems.
• Construct systems-level explanations tracing a digital action from materials to output.
Students will complete a systems synthesis task tracing a digital action from material selection through circuit regulation, binary representation, processing, and final output.
Students will also complete a cumulative district-required examination assessing conceptual understanding of materials, circuits, binary systems, and processing logic.