Thermal Energy Unit

Susan has two clear, colorless liquids, Liquid A and Liquid B. She needs to determine whether they are the same substance. Based on the information in the table, are Liquid A and Liquid B the same substance?

• No, Liquid A and Liquid B have different volumes.

• Yes, Liquid A and Liquid B have the same molecular weight. 

• Yes, the molecules of Liquid A and Liquid B have the same number of atoms. 

• No, the atoms of the molecules of Liquid A and Liquid B are arranged differently.

• Yes, the molecules of Liquid A and Liquid B are made up of the same types of atoms.

Tags

NGSS.MS-PS1-1

Temperature affects how energy is transferred. To show this, students place a metal spoon that is room temperature into a bowl of hot soup for 60 seconds. When the students take the spoon out of the soup, what changes will have occurred? 

• The spoon is colder.

• The spoon made the soup warmer. 

• The spoon's particles are moving faster.

• There has been no change in the movement of the soup's or the spoon's particles.

Tags

NGSS.MS-PS1-4

NGSS.MS-PS3-4

A student claims that thermal energy transfers between objects. Which of the following will test the student's claim?

• Place a glass of room temperature water out on the counter, and monitor its temperature.

• Place ice cubes into a mug of hot chocolate, and watch as the hot chocolate melts the ice cubes.

• Place a slice of room temperature bread in a toaster, and monitor the temperature of the toaster.

• Place a container of ice cream in the freezer, and watch as the freezer keeps the ice cream from melting.

Tags

NGSS.MS-PS1-4

NGSS.MS-PS3-3

NGSS.MS-PS3-4

A student is designing a habitat for a bearded dragon. Bearded dragons cannot control their body temperature and rely on their environment to do so. Criteria for the bearded dragon habitat are a basking area that is 95-110°F and a cooling-off area that is 80-90°F. If energy transfers from hotter regions to colder ones, which would be the best place to make the basking and cooling-off areas in the bearded dragon habitat shown?

• The basking area should be at Location 2 and the cooling-off area at Location 1 so that the cold air can rise.

• The basking area should be at Location 3 and the cooling-off area at Location 2 so that energy can be transferred along the ground.

• The basking area should be at Location 1 and the cooling-off area at Location 3 since heat rises and will therefore remain at the top of the habitat.

• The basking area should be at Location 2 and the cooling-off area at Location 3 to take advantage of the transfer of heat through colliding sand particles. 

Tags

NGSS.MS-ETS1-1

NGSS.MS-PS3-3

NGSS.MS-PS3-4

A class is challenged to create a cup that is insulated to keep hot drinks hotter longer by preventing heat loss. The criteria for the cup are as follows:

- It must keep the drink as hot as possible.

- It must fit in one hand.

- The person using the cup must be able to drink from its rim. 

Students recall that particles move slower at cooler temperatures and faster at hotter temperatures. To insulate the cup, students wrap different materials around the cup, fill the cup with hot water, and test the water temperature two different times. They measure the temperature of the water when it is first placed in the insulated cup. Then they test the temperature again 5 minutes later. What can students conclude based on their results?

• The cotton fabric is the best choice because it is easiest to use.

• Fewer layers of bubble wrap will work better, making it easier to use. 

• The duct tape will be best if more layers are added to improve insulation.

• The foam material was most effective in reducing the rate of heat loss, but changes must be made to make it easier to drink from.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ETS1-1

NGSS.MS-ETS1-2

NGSS.MS-ETS1-3

NGSS.MS-PS3-3

NGSS.MS-PS3-4

Friction is a force of resistance. It resists the motion of objects that slide against each other. Science students wish to demonstrate that heat is produced when objects in motion have friction. To do this, the students set up four demonstrations. Which demonstration best shows the concept of heat produced by friction? 

• Test 1 because the surface of the road is smooth and level, which allows the person on roller skates to move faster

• Test 2 because a marble going down a ramp at various heights will also produces various speeds

• Test 3 because riding a bike fast and suddenly stopping are opposing forces that produce change

• Test 4 because oiling a bicycle chain so it does not get stuck will keep the bike moving smoothly

Tags

NGSS.MS-PS1-4

NGSS.MS-PS3-3

NGSS.MS-PS3-5

Based on their temperature measurements and their understanding of the effect of mass on thermal energy transfer, students have determined that they can increase the length of time it takes their ice to melt my increasing the mass of the ice in the container. Select the correct trial that shows the results students obtained by increasing the mass of ice in the container.

• Trial 1

• Trial 2

• Trial 3

Tags

NGSS.MS-PS1-4

NGSS.MS-PS3-4

Based on their temperature measurements and their understanding of the effect of mass on thermal energy transfer, students have determined that they can increase the length of time it takes their ice to melt my increasing the mass of the ice in the container. Select the correct trial that shows the results students obtained by increasing the mass of ice in the container. Select the evidence that supports which trial you chose.

• It takes less time to melt a larger mass of ice before the temperature starts increasing.

• It takes more time to melt a larger mass of ice before the temperature starts increasing.

• It takes more energy to melt a larger mass of ice, which results in a greater final temperature.

• The amount of ice should not affect the time it takes to complete the phase change or the final temperature.

Tags

NGSS.MS-PS1-4

NGSS.MS-PS3-4

NGSS.MS-PS3-5

Students described the container design elements that will best provide an ice cold drink at the end of the school day. Select all options that will contribute to keeping the liquid in the container cold. 

• Use cold water instead of ice to avoid the need for a phase change.

• Insulate just the top of the container because that's where all the heat goes.

• Insulate all surfaces of the container to slow down the heat transfer from air molecules.

• Keep the container away from sources of heat to avoid any additional thermal energy transfer.

• Add as much ice as possible to the container to increase the mass that must undergo a phase change. 

Tags

NGSS.MS-PS1-4

NGSS.MS-PS3-3

NGSS.MS-PS3-4

Burning hydrogen is an example of a chemical reaction. The reaction is in the picture.

 

Which of the following statements about energy in this reaction is the most accurate?

• Energy is absorbed.

• Energy is released.

• Energy is first released, then absorbed, and eventually it disappears.

• There is no energy in this reaction.

Tags

NGSS.MS-PS1-4

NGSS.MS-PS3-5