NGSS Science Benchmarks

The diagrams show waves interfering as they move through the same medium at the same time.

Which of the wave interactions would best represent constructive interference of sound waves produced by musical instruments?

• Wave interaction a

• Wave interaction b

• Wave interaction c

• Wave interaction d

Tags

NGSS.MS-PS4-1

The factors that affect the motion of objects are the subject of investigations in both science and engineering. The motion of an object can change as a result of many factors. Changes in motion can result from changes in the forces that act on the object. Forces can cause the speed of an object to increase or decrease depending on how they are applied. As long as a net force continues to act on an object the motion of the object will continue to change. Motion can also change if mass is added or taken away from the object.

Sam set up an investigation to determine how a net force applied to a cart would affect its motion. The setup for his investigation is shown below. In his investigation he added a net force to an object at rest and continued adding the same net force which he measured by the spring scale as shown in the diagram.

How would a force applied in this way most likely affect the motion of the cart?

• The cart would immediately gain speed and then move at a constant speed as long as the net force is applied.

• The cart would immediately gain speed and then slow down and eventually stop when the force is applied.

• The cart would immediately gain speed and continue to gain speed at the same rate as long as the net force is applied.

• The cart would immediately gain speed and then change direction when the force is applied.

Tags

NGSS.MS-PS2-2

The swimmer pictured pushes against the wall with her feet and goes forward through the water.

Which of the following best explains the force that initially pushes her forward?

• The reaction force of the wall pushing against her foot.

• The action force of her foot pushing against the wall.

• The force of her hands pushing against the water.

• The force of friction as she moved through the water.

Tags

NGSS.MS-PS2-1

NGSS.MS-PS2-2

The diagram shows two waves traveling toward each other in a slinky. When the waves passed each other the part of the slinky where they passed did not move.

What could best explain this observation?

• The waves interfered destructively and did not move the medium.

• The waves interfered constructively and produced a trough.

• The waves reflected off each other and went in the other direction.

• The waves absorbed the energy from each other and canceled it out.

Tags

NGSS.MS-PS4-1

Jill drew the model below in her notebook to help her explain why a blue book appears blue to an observer.

Which of the following best explains one condition that is necessary for the book to appear blue to the observer?

• The light that strikes the book must contain blue light.

• The blue light that strikes the observer's eye must be absorbed by the book.

• The blue light that strikes the observer's eye must be transmitted by the book.

• .The light that strikes the book must contain the colors red and green.

Tags

NGSS.MS-PS4-2

The horse in the diagram is pulling the wagon along a road.

If the horse pulling on the wagon is the action force what is the equal and opposite reaction force?

• The wagon pulling on the horse.

• The horse pushing on the ground.

• The ground pushing on the horse.

• The friction on the wheels pulling on the wagon.

Tags

NGSS.MS-PS2-1

The diagram shows waves traveling in opposite directions in a slinky.

What will most likely happen when the crest of one wave collides with the crest of the other wave?

• The waves will interfere constructively to produce a larger crest.

• The waves will reflect off each other and move in the opposite direction.

• The waves will collide with each other and cancel each other out.

• The waves will interfere with each other and produce a trough.

Tags

NGSS.MS-PS4-1

A student investigated light waves. She tested several types of material. She observed the light behaviors with each of the materials and recorded her observations in the chart.

Which type of material could she claim reflected the most light waves from the evidence she observed in her investigation?

• material 1 because most of the light was transmitted

• material 2 because the light was scattered

• material 3 because white reflects all colors of light.

• material 4 because black reflects all colors of light.

Tags

NGSS.MS-PS4-2

The diagram shows a wave traveling through a slinky.

Which of the following best explains the relationship between the energy and matter in the slinky?

• The wave is a transverse wave because the direction that the energy travels is parallel to the direction that the matter vibrates.

• The wave is a compression wave because the direction that the energy travels is parallel to the direction that the matter vibrates.

• The wave is a transverse wave because the direction that the energy travels is perpendicular to the direction that the matter vibrates.

• The wave is a compression wave because the direction that the energy travels is perpendicular to the direction that the matter vibrates.

Tags

NGSS.MS-PS4-1

The diagram shows what happened when a beam of light passed through a glass prism.

Which of the following best explains this behavior of light waves?

• The light waves refracted because they changed speeds when they entered a different medium.

• The light waves refracted because they changed shape when they entered a different medium.

• The light waves were reflected because they changed speeds when they entered a different medium.

• The light waves were reflected because they changed shape when they entered a different medium.

Tags

NGSS.MS-PS4-2