4.8A Transfer of Energy

Which of the following plans would be best for a classroom investigation about how sound transfers energy? 

• 1. Place 1/8 cup of uncooked rice on a paper plate. Have a student take a microphone and speak into it right next to the rice to observe how the rice moves. Then, have the student speak into the microphone farther from the rice, and observe how the rice moves. 

• 1. Turn a radio speaker sideways, and cover the face of it with plastic wrap. Place 1/8 cup of uncooked rice on top of the plastic wrap. Turn the radio on at a low volume, and observe how the rice moves. Then, turn the radio on at a high volume, and observe how the rice moves. 

• Place 1/8 cup of uncooked rice on a table. Have a student hit the table hard near the rice, and observe how the rice moves. Then, have the student hit the table gently near the rice, and observe how the rice moves.

• 1. Place 1/8 cup of uncooked rice in one side of a plastic tub. Have a student blow gently through a straw toward the rice, and observe how the rice moves. Then, have the student blow harder through the straw, and observe how the rice moves. 

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NGSS.MS-PS3-5

NGSS.MS-PS4-1

When a billiard player uses the cue stick to hit the white ball into the number 3 ball, the number 3 ball travels into the pocket in the corner of the table. What is the best explanation for this?

• 1. The sound that is made when the white ball hits the number 3 ball pushes the number 3 ball into the pocket. 

• 1. The energy from the cue stick transfers straight into the number 3 ball to move it into the pocket.  

• 1. Energy transfers from the cue stick into the white ball and then to the number 3 ball, moving it into the pocket. 

• 1. The table is slanted, and gravity pulls the number 3 ball down a slope into the pocket.

Tags

NGSS.MS-PS3-5

NGSS.MS-PS2-1

4. When one person speaks to a second person from across the room, their voice can be heard. When the same person speaks into a plastic cup that is connected by a rope to another plastic cup, which the second person holds to their ear across the room, the person speaking can be heard more loudly than they were before even though they speak at the same volume. What could explain this? 

• Sound waves travel better through solids than gases. 

• 1. Sound waves travel better through gases than solids. 

• 1. Sound waves travel better through solids than liquids. 

• 1. Sound waves travel better through gases than liquids. 

Tags

NGSS.MS-PS4-2

A plastic tub is filled halfway with water, and a rubber duck is placed on top of the water to float, demonstrating how waves in water transfer energy. How could this model be improved? 

• 1. A larger rubber duck could be used. 

• 1. Air could be blown through a straw toward the surface of the water to create waves to move the rubber duck. 

• 1. The tub could be filled with deeper water. 

• 1. The tub could be filled with less water. 

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NGSS.MS-PS4-1

NGSS.MS-PS4-2

When a ball is kicked into another ball, it transfers energy to the second ball and causes it to roll. Look at the table.  What can you conclude from this data? Select two correct answers.  

• 1. Kicking the first ball harder transfers more energy to the ball so that it can move faster. 

• 1. Kicking the first ball harder transfers less energy to the ball so that it can move faster. 

• 1. When the first ball moves faster, it has less energy to transfer to the second ball, which causes that ball to roll farther. 

• 1. When the first ball moves faster, it has more energy to transfer to the second ball, which causes that ball to roll farther. 

Tags

NGSS.MS-PS3-5

NGSS.MS-PS2-1

NGSS.MS-PS2-2

To observe how energy can be transferred, you can fill a small aluminum tray with sand and point a hair dryer on a low setting toward the sand. What should you wear to stay safe during this investigation? Why? 

• 1. The hair dryer will transfer light energy to the sand, so you should wear sunglasses to protect your eyes from the light reflected back up from the sand. 

• 1. The hair dryer will transfer sound energy to the sand, so you should wear earplugs so that the sound doesn’t damage your ears. 

• The hair dryer will transfer electrical energy to the sand, so you should wear rubber gloves so that you don’t get shocked by electricity.

• 1. The moving air from the hair dryer will transfer energy to the sand and cause it to move, so you should wear safety goggles to prevent sand from blowing in your eyes. 

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NGSS.MS-PS2-5

1. Look at the image below. What will happen when the person pulls the first ball back and lets it go?

• 1. It will hit the next ball, and none of the other balls will be affected.

• 1. It will push the next ball, which will push the next ball. This will continue until the last ball in the line is pushed and moves to the right.

• 1. It will push the last ball in the line.

• 1. It will push the next ball and bounce back up again.

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NGSS.MS-PS2-1

NGSS.MS-PS2-2

2. Look at the image of a rock skipping across a pond. What do the ripples in the water demonstrate? The ripples are the circles created with the rock.

• 1. When the rock is thrown in the water, it sinks right to the bottom.

• 1. When the rock hits the water, some of the energy from the water is transferred to the rock. This causes the rock to spin around.

• 1. When the rock hits the water, some of the energy from the moving rock is transferred to the water. This causes it to move in ripples.

• 1. When air blows over the water, it makes the water move.

Tags

NGSS.MS-PS3-5

NGSS.MS-PS4-1

When you move the pedals to ride a bike, what form of energy are you using?

• Light

• Mechanical

• Sound

• Heat/Thermal

Tags

NGSS.MS-PS3-5

NGSS.MS-PS3-1

A kazoo is a small, narrow, tube-like instrument that you can hum into to play music. Which of the following shows evidence that a humming sound transfers energy through a kazoo?

• 1. The sides of the kazoo vibrate slightly when someone hums into it.

• 1. The kazoo can make high-pitched sounds.

• 1. The kazoo can make low-pitched sounds.

• 1. The kazoo stops making sound when the person stops humming.

Tags

NGSS.MS-PS3-5

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NGSS.MS-PS4-2