Energy Practice

A science class is observing a pet turtle in a small plastic pool. The students turn on a portable camping lamp that is clamped on to a counter next to the pool.

What kind of energy is used by the portable lamp to produce light?

• Mechanical energy because the lamp is clamped on the counter.

• Thermal energy because the lamp increases the temperature of the water.

• Electrical energy because the lamp is battery operated.

• Sound energy because the lamp vibrates when clicked on.

The photograph shows a laser cutting a sheet of metal as the lase moves from one end of the metal to the other.

Four groups of students made a table of examples of the different types of energy involved in the process.

Which of these tables is correct?

• 
• 
• 
• 

Tags

NGSS.MS-PS3-1

NGSS.MS-PS3-3

NGSS.MS-PS3-4

A student made a list of activities that involve energy.

1. Sharks chasing a school of fish

2. A toaster heating bread

3. A cell phone charging

4. A tree limb falling to the ground

5. Tomato plants absorbing sunlight

6. A canoe floating down a river

Which activities on the list are examples of the use of mechanical (movement) energy?

• 1, 4, 6

• 2, 4, 5

• 1, 2

• 3, 5, 6

Tags

NGSS.MS-PS3-1

NGSS.MS-PS3-5

A student uses a set of headphones to listen to music. Which of these objects uses the same source of energy as the headphones?

• A flute using wind energy

• A piano using mechanical energy

• A keyboard using electrical energy

• A teapot using thermal energy

An old-fashioned metal toy is shown below. When the candle is lit, the carousel of horses begins to turn.

Which of these correctly describes the energy that makes the carousel turn?

• Heat from the candle produces currents of warm air.

• Heat from the candle produces electrical energy.

• Light from the candle produces mechanical energy.

• Light from the candle produces wind currents.

Tags

NGSS.MS-PS1-4

NGSS.MS-PS3-4

A class is learning about states of matter. The teacher shows the students how to set up the investigation shown in the diagram.

What kinds of energy are needed in this investigation to change the state of matter of the candle?

• Light, mechanical, and thermal

• Electrical and thermal

• Mechanical, light, and electrical

• Thermal and mecanical

Tags

NGSS.MS-PS1-4

NGSS.MS-PS3-4

A family was vacationing in the mountains in a cabin that had no electrical power. They needed boiling water in order to prepare dried soup mix.

With no electrical energy available, which method would most likely provide enough thermal energy to quickly heat the water to boiling?

• Using a microwave oven to heat water in a glass jar for 3 minutes.

• Shaking the water in a closed insulated bottle for 3 minutes.

• Shining a battery powered flashlight on a metal container of water tfor 10 minutes.

• Placing a metal pot of water over glowing charcoal in an outdoor grill for 10 minutes.

Tags

NGSS.MS-PS1-4

NGSS.MS-PS3-3

NGSS.MS-PS3-4

NGSS.MS-PS3-5

Many people ride a bicycle for fun and exercise. Some people ride a bicycle to work because it saves money and benefits the environment by reducing the use of fossil fuels.

Which of these is NOT an example of the bicycle using mechanical energy?

• The pedal, gears, and chain help turn the wheels.

• The wheels turn when the bicycle moves.

• The front wheel guides the bicycle as it moves.

• The reflector allows the bicycle to be seen at night.