Thermal Energy Amplify

Louis has two sets of two gears (Set A and Set B) that he is using to build two different machines. He has all the gears laying out separately, as shown in the diagram above. Then he puts the gears into the machines so that the gears in Set A are touching each other and the gears in Set B are touching each other. Use the information in the diagram to answer the question. After the gears have been touching for a while, which of the two bottom gears will be cooler, and why?

• The smaller bottom gear will be cooler than the larger bottom gear, because less energy has to transfer for the molecules to reach the same temperature as the molecules of the top gear.

• The larger bottom gear will be cooler than the smaller bottom gear, because the energy that transferred to it was spread out over more molecules.

• The larger bottom gear will be cooler than the smaller bottom gear. It started with more total energy, so less energy had to transfer for both gears in Set B to reach the same total energy.

• Both gears will be the same temperature, because both of the top gears had the same amount of energy to transfer and the molecules in the bottom gears start with the same energy.

Tags

NGSS.MS-PS1-4

NGSS.MS-PS3-4

NGSS.MS-PS3-5

A chef takes four pans from different parts of her kitchen and puts them in two stacks. The diagram above shows the pans before they touch each other. Use the information in the diagram to answer the question. After the pans have been touching for a while, which of the two bottom pans will be cooler, and why?

• The smaller bottom pan will be cooler than the larger bottom pan, because less energy has to transfer for the molecules to reach the same temperature as the molecules of the top pan.

• The larger bottom pan will be cooler than the smaller bottom pan. It started with more total energy, so less energy had to transfer for both pans to reach the same total energy.

• The larger bottom pan will be cooler than the smaller bottom pan, because the energy that transferred to it will have spread out over more molecules.

• Both pans will be the same temperature because both of the top pans had the same amount of energy to transfer and the molecules in the bottom pans start with the same energy.

Tags

NGSS.MS-PS1-4

NGSS.MS-PS3-4

NGSS.MS-PS3-5

Ralph and Sheila are at a construction site and they are stacking bricks. The diagram above shows the bricks before they touch. Use the information in the diagram to answer the question. After the bricks have been touching for a while, whose top brick will be cooler?

• Ralph’s top brick will be cooler than Sheila's top brick, because less energy has to transfer for Ralph’s brick’s molecules to reach the same temperature as the molecules of his bottom brick.

• Sheila's top brick will be cooler than Ralph’s top brick, because Sheila’s started with more total energy, so less energy had to transfer for both her bricks to reach the same total energy.

• Sheila’s top brick will be cooler than Ralph’s top brick, because the energy that transferred to Sheila’s was spread out over more molecules.

• Both will be the same temperature, because both bottom bricks had the same amount of energy to transfer and the molecules in the top bricks started with the same energy.

Tags

NGSS.MS-PS1-4

NGSS.MS-PS3-5

Four people are putting their laptop computers away. Mari puts her laptop on Sam’s laptop, and Arun puts his laptop on Odessa’s laptop. The diagram above shows the laptops before they touch each other. Use the information in the diagram to answer the question. After the laptops have been touching for a while, will Sam’s laptop or Odessa’s laptop be cooler, and why?

• Sam’s laptop will be cooler than Odessa’s laptop, because less energy has to transfer for the molecules of Sam’s laptop to reach the same temperature as the molecules of Arun’s laptop.

• Both laptops will be the same temperature, because both Arun’s and Mari’s laptops had the same amount of energy to transfer and the molecules in Sam’s and Odessa’s laptops started with the same energy.

• Odessa’s laptop will be cooler than Sam’s laptop, because Odessa’s started with more total energy, so less energy has to transfer for her and Arun’s laptops to reach the same total energy.

• Odessa’s laptop will be cooler than Sam’s laptop, because the energy that transferred to Odessa’s was spread out over more molecules.

Tags

NGSS.MS-PS1-4

NGSS.MS-PS3-4

Which object has higher thermal energy?

• A

• B

• Same amount 20 degrees C

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NGSS.MS-PS1-4

Because a bath has more molecules, it has more __________ than a teacup at the same temperature.

• Heat

• Thermal energy

• Potential energy

• Degrees

What happens to the molecules in the ground when the temperature of the ground increases?

• More heat molecules combine with the molecules in the ground.

• The energy of the molecules in the ground decreases.

• The energy of the molecules in the ground increases.

• The cold energy of the molecules in the ground decreases.

Tags

NGSS.MS-PS1-4

What is the difference between the molecules of a HOT soup in the pot and the molecules of the soup in the freezer?

• The molecules of the soup in the pot are moving and the molecules of the soup in the freezer are not moving.

• The molecules of the soup in the pot are moving faster than the molecules of the soup in the freezer.

• There is no difference because all of the soup is made of the same type of molecules.

• The molecules of the soup in the freezer are smaller than the molecules of the soup in the pot.

Tags

NGSS.MS-PS1-4

NGSS.MS-PS3-5

What is the primary mechanism by which thermal energy is transferred in a solid?

• Conduction

• Convection

• Radiation

• Evaporation

Which of the following materials is the best conductor of thermal energy?

• Wood

• Glass

• Copper

• Plastic

Tags

NGSS.MS-PS3-4

NGSS.MS-PS3-3