Exploring Adaptations and Energy Changes

A scientist observes two different plants: one that lives in a desert and one that lives in a rainforest. The desert plant has thick, waxy leaves, while the rainforest plant has large, thin leaves. Using evidence, explain which adaptation helps each plant survive in its environment and why.

• Both plants have thick leaves to store water.

• The desert plant’s thick, waxy leaves help it store water, while the rainforest plant’s large, thin leaves help it capture more sunlight.

• The rainforest plant’s thick leaves help it store water, while the desert plant’s thin leaves help it lose water.

• Both plants have thin leaves to lose water quickly.

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS1-5

NGSS.MS-LS2-1

A student places a chocolate bar outside on a hot day and another in the refrigerator. After an hour, the chocolate outside has melted, but the one in the refrigerator has not. Using reasoning, explain how temperature affected the physical change in the chocolate.

• The chocolate in the refrigerator melted because it was cold.

• The chocolate outside melted because higher temperature caused it to change from solid to liquid, while the cold temperature in the refrigerator kept the other chocolate solid.

• Both chocolates melted because of the air.

• The chocolate in the refrigerator melted faster than the one outside.

Tags

NGSS.MS-PS1-4

NGSS.MS-PS3-4

NGSS.MS-PS3-5

A student builds a simple circuit with a battery, a light bulb, and a buzzer. When the circuit is closed, both the bulb lights up and the buzzer makes sound. Explain how electrical energy is transformed in this circuit and provide evidence for your explanation.

• Electrical energy is only transformed into light.

• Electrical energy is transformed into both light (in the bulb) and sound (in the buzzer), showing that one form of energy can become multiple forms.

• Electrical energy is transformed into heat only.

• Electrical energy is not transformed at all.

A student tries to push a heavy box across the floor, but it does not move. Using reasoning, explain why the box does not move, even though a force is being applied.

• The box is too light to move.

• The force applied by the student is balanced by the friction from the floor, so the box does not move.

• The box moves because the student is pushing it.

• The box is glued to the floor.

Tags

NGSS.MS-PS2-2

A student is asked to create a model of the Solar System. She places the Sun in the center, with planets, moons, asteroids, and comets in their correct positions. Using evidence, explain how you would distinguish between a planet, a moon, and an asteroid in her model.

• Planets orbit the Sun, moons orbit planets, and asteroids are small rocky objects that also orbit the Sun.

• Moons orbit the Sun, planets orbit asteroids, and asteroids orbit moons.

• Asteroids orbit planets, moons orbit the Sun, and planets orbit asteroids.

• All objects orbit the Sun in the same way.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-1

NGSS.MS-ESS1-2

Compare the life cycles of a butterfly and a frog. Using reasoning and evidence, explain one way their life cycles are similar and one way they are different.

• Both have the same number of stages and live in water their whole lives.

• Both undergo metamorphosis, but a butterfly changes from caterpillar to adult in a chrysalis, while a frog changes from tadpole to adult in water.

• Only butterflies have a life cycle.

• Frogs do not change form during their life cycle.

A student heats a pot of water on the stove. After a few minutes, the water starts to boil and turns into steam. Using evidence, explain how temperature causes this physical change.

• The water boils because it is cold.

• Increasing the temperature adds energy to the water, causing it to change from liquid to gas (steam).

• The water turns into ice because of the heat.

• The water does not change at all.

Tags

NGSS.MS-PS1-4

NGSS.MS-PS3-4

NGSS.MS-PS3-5

A student connects a fan to a battery. When the circuit is complete, the fan blades spin. Using reasoning, explain what type of energy transformation is taking place and how you know.

• Electrical energy is transformed into the energy of motion (kinetic energy) because the fan blades spin.

• Electrical energy is transformed into sound only.

• Electrical energy is not transformed.

• Electrical energy is transformed into light only.

Tags

NGSS.MS-PS3-5

A book is resting on a table. A student pushes the book, but it does not move. Using evidence, explain what forces are acting on the book and why it remains still.

• Only the student’s push is acting on the book.

• The student’s push is balanced by friction and possibly gravity, so the forces are balanced and the book does not move.

• The book moves because the student is pushing it.

• There are no forces acting on the book.

A student is asked to identify Earth’s position in the Solar System. Using reasoning and evidence, explain where Earth is located and how it is different from other objects like asteroids and comets.

• Earth is the third planet from the Sun, while asteroids are mostly found in the asteroid belt and comets have long, elliptical orbits.

• Earth is an asteroid in the asteroid belt.

• Earth is a comet with a tail.

• Earth is the closest planet to the Sun.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-2

NGSS.MS-ESS1-3