Test Information Guide

Field 11: Physics
Sample Open-Response Item

The following materials contain:

Sample Test Directions for Open-Response Items

This section of the test consists of two open-response item assignments. You will be asked to prepare a written response of approximately 150–300 words, or 1–2 pages, for each assignment.

Read the assignments carefully before you begin your responses. Think about how you will organize your responses. You may use the erasable sheet(s) to make notes, write an outline, or otherwise prepare your responses. However, your final response to each assignment must be either:

  1. typed into the on-screen response box,
  2. written on a response sheet and scanned using the scanner provided at your workstation, or
  3. provided using both the on-screen response box (for typed text) and a response sheet (for calculations or drawings) that you will scan using the scanner provided at your workstation.

Instructions for scanning your response sheet(s) are available by clicking the "Scanning Help" button at the top of the screen.

As a whole, your response to each assignment must demonstrate an understanding of the knowledge of the field. In your response to each assignment, you are expected to demonstrate the depth of your understanding of the subject area by applying your knowledge rather than by merely reciting factual information.

Your response to each assignment will be evaluated based on the following criteria.

The open-response item assignments are intended to assess subject knowledge. Your responses must be communicated clearly enough to permit valid judgment of the evaluation criteria by scorers. Your responses should be written for an audience of educators in this field. The final version of each response should conform to the conventions of edited American English. Your responses should be your original work, written in your own words, and not copied or paraphrased from some other work.

Be sure to write about the assigned topics. Remember to review your work and make any changes you think will improve your responses.

Any time spent responding to an assignment, including scanning the response sheet(s), is part of your testing time. Monitor your time carefully. When your testing time expires, a pop-up message will appear on-screen indicating the conclusion of your test session. Only response sheets that are scanned before you end your test or before time has expired will be scored. Any response sheet that is not scanned before testing ends will NOT be scored.

Sample Open-Response Item

Objective 0023
Prepare an organized, developed analysis on a topic related to one or more of the following subareas: Nature of Science; Force and Motion; Energy, Momentum, and Heat Transfer; Electricity and Magnetism; Waves, Sound, and Light; and Modern Physics.

Use the information below to complete the exercise that follows.

A high school physics teacher would like to create a classroom activity to investigate how the frictional force on an object being pulled across a rough surface depends on the weight of the object.

Prepare a response in which you:

Your response may include diagrams, tables, and/or graphs.

Sample Strong Response to the Open-Response Item

The sample response below reflects a strong knowledge and understanding of the subject matter.

The purpose of this investigation will be to determine the relationship between the kinetic frictional force on an object and the weight of the object. Measuring the kinetic frictional force means that the object is in motion.

The data to be collected includes finding the mass (weight) of the object and the force required to move the object at a steady pace across the surface.

To perform the investigation the following items are needed:

—A spring scale
—A piece of wood (preferably with an eye hook for easy attachment to a rope)
—A piece of rope
—Several weights (masses)

The procedure used to collect the data:

  1. Tie the rope to the hook in the wood.
  2. Use the spring scale to weigh the wood.
  3. Pull the wood across the floor at a constant speed. This might take some practice.
    Do at least three trials and average the results to ensure accuracy.
    Be careful to pull the rope horizontally while reading the spring scale so that there is no vertical force from the pull.
  4. Repeat the experiment after adding a known mass to the board. Record the results, including net weight and the reading on the spring scale as the board is pulled at a steady speed.
  5. Repeat the experiment for different weights (mg), conducting three trials for each new weight.

    box labeled with four arrows coming from the center. the arrow pointing straight up is labeled capital N. the arrow pointing left is labeled friction the arrow pointing down is labeled mg and the arrow pointing right is labeled capital f sub pull.

To analyze the data, graph the weight on the horizontal axis and spring scale reading on the vertical. From the free body diagram and using Newton's Second Law, we know that F = ma = Fpull – ffriction = 0. That said, the value for Fpull = ffriction and the reading on the scale is equal to Fpull. The graph will show how friction depends on the net mass of the board. The equation of the line can be found to show the relationship, with the slope being the coefficient of kinetic friction, since friction = μN = μmg.

Scoring Rubric

Performance Characteristics

The following characteristics guide the scoring of responses to the open-response item(s).

Performance Characteristics
Purpose The extent to which the response achieves the purpose of the assignment.
Subject Matter Knowledge Accuracy and appropriateness in the application of subject matter knowledge.
Support Quality and relevance of supporting details.
Rationale Soundness of argument and degree of understanding of the subject matter.

Scoring Scale

The scoring scale below, which is related to the performance characteristics for the tests, is used by scorers in assigning scores to responses to the open-response item(s).

Score Scale with description for each score point.
Score Point Score Point Description
4 The "4" response reflects a thorough knowledge and understanding of the subject matter.
  • The purpose of the assignment is fully achieved.
  • There is substantial, accurate, and appropriate application of subject matter knowledge.
  • The supporting evidence is sound; there are high-quality, relevant examples.
  • The response reflects an ably reasoned, comprehensive understanding of the topic.
3 The "3" response reflects an adequate knowledge and understanding of the subject matter.
  • The purpose of the assignment is largely achieved.
  • There is a generally accurate and appropriate application of subject matter knowledge.
  • The supporting evidence is adequate; there are some acceptable, relevant examples.
  • The response reflects an adequately reasoned understanding of the topic.
2 The "2" response reflects a limited knowledge and understanding of the subject matter.
  • The purpose of the assignment is partially achieved.
  • There is a limited, possibly inaccurate or inappropriate, application of subject matter knowledge.
  • The supporting evidence is limited; there are few relevant examples.
  • The response reflects a limited, poorly reasoned understanding of the topic.
1 The "1" response reflects a weak knowledge and understanding of the subject matter.
  • The purpose of the assignment is not achieved.
  • There is little or no appropriate or accurate application of subject matter knowledge.
  • The supporting evidence, if present, is weak; there are few or no relevant examples.
  • The response reflects little or no reasoning about or understanding of the topic.
U The response is unrelated to the assigned topic, illegible, primarily in a language other than English, not of sufficient length to score, or merely a repetition of the assignment.
B There is no response to the assignment.