Four Types of Energy

A student recorded the time it took for all the water in a puddle on a sidewalk to evaporate after a rain. Which kind of energy causes water to evaporate?

• light energy from streetlights

• sound energy from passing cars

• thermal energy from the environment

• mechanical energy from nearby streets

Tags

NGSS.MS-PS1-4

A science class is observing a pet turtle in a small plastic pool. The students turned on a portable camping lamp that is clamped on to a counter next to the pool. Which kind of energy is used by the portable lamp to produce light?

• mechanical energy because the lamp is clamped on to 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

Rube Goldberg was an artist who drew cartoons that showed a very complicated way to do a simple task. The picture below shows a cartoon like the ones Goldberg drew. Which form of energy is used to turn on the switch?

• light energy

• thermal energy

• electrical energy

• mechanical energy

Water flows through turbines in dams like the one shown below. The flowing water makes the turbines spin. What type of energy is used to make the turbines spin in this type of dam?

• light energy

• thermal energy

• sound energy

• mechanical energy

Tags

NGSS.MS-PS3-1

NGSS.MS-PS3-5

The photograph shows a laser cutting a sheet of metal as the laser moves from one end of the metal to the other. Four groups of students each made a table of examples of different types of energy involved in this process. Which of these tables is correct?

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Tags

NGSS.MS-PS3-5

An old-fashioned metal toy is shown below. When the candle is lit, the carousel of the 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-PS3-3

NGSS.MS-PS3-4

A student uses the setup shown to investigate ways to speed up evaporation. Which forms of energy are being compared in the student's investigation?

• light and electrical

• mechanical and electrical

• light and thermal

• mechanical and thermal

Which of the following is an example of kinetic energy?

• A moving car

• A stretched bow

• A charged battery

• A piece of coal

Tags

NGSS.MS-PS3-5

What type of energy is stored in a compressed spring?

• Kinetic energy

• Thermal energy

• Potential energy

• Nuclear energy

Tags

NGSS.MS-PS3-2

Which form of energy is primarily involved in the process of photosynthesis?

• Chemical energy

• Thermal energy

• Nuclear energy

• Electrical energy

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS1-6