Physics Problem Solving Rubric – May 1, 2007



| |4 |3 |2 |1 |0 |NA (Prob) |NA (Solver) |

|Physics Approach |The solver has clearly |The approach is clear but |The approach is unclear, |An attempt is made to |The solution does not |A physics approach is not |An explicit physics |

| |stated an appropriate and |contains minor omissions |or an important physics |identify relevant physics |indicate a basic physics |necessary for this |approach is not necessary |

|[skill: selecting relevant |complete physics approach.|or errors. |concept or principle of |concepts or principles, |approach, or all of the |problem. (i.e., has |for this solver, as |

|basic physics concepts and | | |the approach is missing or|but most of the approach |chosen concepts and |already been stated in the|indicated by the overall |

|principles] | | |inappropriate. |is vague, incomplete, or |principles are |problem or textbook |solution process. |

| | | | |inappropriate. |inappropriate. |heading) | |

|Useful Description* |The solution includes an |The description is useful |The description is not |An attempt is made, but |The solution does not |A description is not |A description is not |

| |appropriate and useful |but contains minor |useful, or a key feature |most of the description is|include a description, or |necessary for this |necessary for this solver,|

|[skill: representing |problem description. |omissions or errors. |of the description is |not useful, incomplete, or|all of the description is |problem. (i.e., it has |as indicated by the |

|information symbolically and | | |missing or incorrect. |incorrect. |incorrect. |already been given to the |overall solution process. |

|visually] | | | | | |solver) | |

|Specific Application of |The solution indicates an |The specific application |An important specific |An attempt is made, but |The solution does not |Specific application of |Specific application of |

|Physics** |appropriate and complete |of physics to this problem|relationship or condition |most of the specific |indicate a specific |physics is not necessary |physics is not necessary |

| |application of physics to |contains minor omissions |is missing or applied |application of physics to |application of physics, or|for this problem. (i.e., |for this solver, as |

|[skill: applying physics to |the specific conditions in|or errors. |incorrectly. |this problem is missing or|all of the application is |basic principles are |indicated by the overall |

|specific problem conditions] |this problem. | | |incorrect. |incorrect. |sufficient) |solution process. |

| |4 |3 |2 |1 |0 |NA (Prob) |NA (Solver) |

|Mathematical Procedures |Suitable mathematical |Suitable mathematical |An important mathematical |Attempted mathematical |There is no evidence of |Mathematical procedures |Mathematical procedures |

| |procedures are used during|procedures are used with |procedure is missing or is|procedures are |mathematical procedures in|are not necessary for this|are not necessary for this|

|[skill: applying math rules |the solution execution. |minor omissions or errors.|used with errors. |inappropriate, left |the problem solution or |problem, or constitute a |solver, as indicated by |

|and procedures in the context| | | |unfinished or contain |all mathematical |very small part of the |the overall solution |

|of physics] | | | |serious errors |procedures are |solution. |process. |

| | | | | |inappropriate. | | |

|Logical Organization |The entire problem |The solution is clear and |Parts of the solution are |Most of the solution parts|The entire solution is |Logical Organization is |Logical Organization is |

| |solution is clear, |focused with minor |unclear, unfocused, and/or|are unclear, unfocused, |unorganized (haphazard) |not necessary for this |not necessary for this |

|[skills: communicating |focused, and logically |inconsistencies. |inconsistent. |and inconsistent. |and contains obvious |problem or constitutes a |solver, as indicated by |

|reasoning clearly, goal |connected. | | | |logical breaks. |very small part of the |the overall solution |

|directedness, and evaluating | | | | | |solution (i.e., one-step |process. |

|solution for consistency] | | | | | |problem). | |

*A “problem description” could include: restating known and unknown parameters, defining variables, selecting convenient/unique symbols, stating the goal or target variable, drawing a picture, stating qualitative expectations, drawing graphs, defining a coordinate system, or an abstracted physics diagram (force diagram, motion diagram, ray diagram, energy bar chart, etc.)

**A “specific application of physics” includes a statement of definitions, relationships between the defined variables, initial conditions, and assumptions or constraints in the problem (i.e., friction negligible, massless spring, massless pulley, inextensible string, etc.)

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