EQA06 - Energy

Which is the best example of how electromagnetic energy is used in everyday life?

• a pot of boiling water on a gas stove
• a patient receiving an X-ray in a hospital
• a car burning gasoline to power the engine
• a car of a roller coaster moving quickly down a slope

Answer explanation

A patient receiving an X-ray in a hospital → X-rays are a form of electromagnetic energy used in medicine to see inside the body without surgery.

Tags

NGSS.HS-PS4-3

NGSS.HS-PS4-1

NGSS.HS-PS4-5

A welding torch produces a flame by burning acetylene fuel in the presence of oxygen. This flame is used to melt a metal. Which energy transformation represents this process?

• chemical energy into thermal energy
• kinetic energy into potential energy
• kinetic energy into electromagnetic energy
• potential energy into chemical energy

Answer explanation

Chemical energy into thermal energy → The acetylene fuel stores chemical energy, which is released as heat when burned.

Tags

NGSS.HS-PS3-4

Two metal blocks that have slightly different temperatures are placed next to one another. After five minutes, they both have lower but equal temperatures. According to the law of conservation of energy, what most likely happened?

• Energy was created inside the blocks.
• Energy was destroyed inside the blocks.
• Energy was absorbed into the blocks from outside the system.
• Energy was transferred from the warmer block to the cooler block.

Answer explanation

Energy was transferred from the warmer block to the cooler block → Heat flows naturally from hotter objects to cooler ones until equilibrium is reached.

Tags

NGSS.HS-PS3-4

Which best describes heat?

• energy that is carried by electric and magnetic fields
• energy that decreases as a car slows to a stop
• energy that increases as a book is lifted to a higher shelf
• energy that flows from a hot mug of tea to a cold hand

Answer explanation

Energy that flows from a hot mug of tea to a cold hand → Heat is energy moving from something warmer to something cooler by direct contact.

Tags

NGSS.HS-PS3-4

A solar panel combines multiple photovoltaic cells. Which type of energy is used to power a solar panel?

• kinetic energy
• thermal energy
• electromagnetic energy
• gravitational potential energy

Answer explanation

Electromagnetic energy → Solar panels capture sunlight, which is electromagnetic energy, and convert it into usable electricity.

Tags

NGSS.HS-PS3-3

NGSS.HS-PS4-3

During photosynthesis, sunlight shining on a plant is absorbed. Through several chemical reactions, the plant produces sugar, a high-energy compound, from simpler substances. What energy transformation occurs during this process?

• thermal energy to chemical energy
• electromagnetic energy to chemical energy
• kinetic energy to potential energy
• potential energy to chemical energy

Answer explanation

Electromagnetic energy to chemical energy → Plants use sunlight to power chemical reactions that store energy in sugars.

Tags

NGSS.HS-LS1-5

Which is the best term to use when describing the energy of motion?

• chemical
• kinetic
• potential
• thermal

Answer explanation

Kinetic → Kinetic energy is the energy an object has because it is moving.

Tags

NGSS.HS-PS2-1

Which statement describes thermal energy?

• the energy that is associated with electric fields
• the energy that is stored in chemical bonds
• the energy that is associated with the pull of gravity
• the energy that is associated with temperature

Answer explanation

The energy that is associated with temperature → Thermal energy is linked to the motion of particles, which determines temperature.

Tags

NGSS.HS-PS3-4

Which form of energy is directly related to the measure of the average kinetic energy of the particles in a substance?

• thermal energy
• potential energy
• mechanical energy
• electromagnetic energy

Answer explanation

Thermal energy → The average kinetic energy of a substance’s particles is measured as temperature, which is thermal energy.

Tags

NGSS.HS-PS3-4

NGSS.HS-PS3-2

Which is the best example of potential energy?

• holding a basketball in the air
• rolling a ball across a flat table
• flowing electric current through a wire
• turning on a flashlight in a dark room

Answer explanation

Holding a basketball in the air → The ball has stored potential energy due to its elevated position in Earth’s gravitational field.