Thermal energy pre-test

The kinetic energies of particles in a sample of matter are increasing. This sample is most likely

• a liquid that is warming.
• a gas that is cooling.
• a liquid that is turning into a solid.
• a gas that is turning into a liquid.

Two metal containers full of ice are on a table. Alicia wraps one container with layers of cloth. She does not wrap the other container. What most likely happens?

• Ice melts faster in the wrapped container.
• Ice melts faster in the unwrapped container.
• Ice melts at the same time in both containers.
• Ice melts in the unwrapped container but not in the wrapped container.

Which graph illustrates the relationship between the temperature and the average kinetic energy of gas particles?

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A student places a balloon filled with helium gas into a freezer and thirty minutes later observes that the balloon shrank. Which statement describes why the balloon changed in size?

• The number of helium atoms decreased.
• The average kinetic energy of atoms decreased.
• The total heat of atoms increased.
• The heat capacity of atoms increased.

A student investigated the containers of water shown in the pictures below. The student placed Container 1 in the middle of Container 2. The student measured the temperature of the water in each container after 30 minutes. Which results most likely occurred?

• Water in Container 1: 70°C, Water in Container 2: 30°C
• Water in Container 1: 60°C, Water in Container 2: 60°C
• Water in Container 1: 40°C, Water in Container 2: 100°C
• Water in Container 1: 20°C, Water in Container 2: 20°C

Isabella filled a glass with warm water. She measured the temperature, and it was 30°C. She left the glass on a table in a room that was 20°C. A few hours later, she measured the water temperature again, and it was 24°C. Which best explains why the water temperature changed?

• Energy in the air removed heat from the water.
• Heat energy in the water was destroyed by the glass.
• Heat energy in the water was transferred to the cooler air.
• Energy used by evaporation caused the water temperature to decrease.

Elaine investigated how well different materials conducted heat. She had samples of metal, wood, plastic, and rubber that were each the same size. Elaine put each sample in boiling water for five minutes and then measured its temperature. She put her results in the table.Based on the data, which material is the best conductor of heat?

• metal
• wood
• plastic
• rubber

Why is covering up with a thick, fluffy blanket a good way to stay warm on a cold night?

• The blanket produces heat that warms your body.
• The blanket transfers thermal energy from the room to your body.
• The blanket decreases the transfer of thermal energy from your body to the air.
• The blanket increases the amount of thermal energy that your body produces.

Students were investigating thermal energy. They put a metal spoon in the freezer. They put hot water in a beaker and measured the water temperature. They removed the spoon from the freezer and put it in the beaker. After 10 minutes, the students measured the water temperature again and touched the spoon. The data are shown in the table. Which best describes how the thermal energy in the water and in the spoon changed during the investigation?

• The water and the spoon both lost thermal energy.
• The water and the spoon both gained thermal energy.
• The water lost thermal energy, and the spoon gained thermal energy.
• The water gained thermal energy, and the spoon lost thermal energy.

A crayon placed on a dark driveway in bright sunlight melted into a colorful puddle. What caused the crayon to melt?

• Solar radiation heated the driveway and then heat transferred to the crayon by conduction.
• Solar radiation heated the driveway and then heat transferred to the crayon by radiation.
• Solar convection heated the driveway and then heat transferred to the crayon by radiation.
• Solar convection heated the driveway and then heat transferred to the crayon by conduction.