Unit 7 Key Terms

Maya and Mason are having a playful debate about the weather. Fill in the blank: Temperature is a measure of how ___ or ___ something is.

• hot, cold

• fast, slow

• big, small

• heavy, light

Answer explanation

Temperature measures how hot or cold something is, making 'hot' and 'cold' the correct choices. The other options do not relate to temperature.

Tags

NGSS.MS-PS1-4

NGSS.MS-PS3-5

Imagine you are in a science class with Anika and Elijah, and your teacher asks: Fill in the blank: Thermal energy is the ___ energy of a substance’s atoms. Can you help them find the answer?

• kinetic

• potential

• chemical

• nuclear

Answer explanation

Thermal energy is the kinetic energy of a substance’s atoms, as it relates to their motion. The faster the atoms move, the more thermal energy they possess, making 'kinetic' the correct choice.

Tags

NGSS.MS-PS1-4

NGSS.MS-PS3-4

Imagine you're a scientist like Hannah, and you're observing a magical potion. Fill in the blank: Thermal expansion is an increase in the ___ of a substance in response to an increase in the temperature of the substance.

• size

• color

• weight

• density

Answer explanation

Thermal expansion refers to the increase in the size of a substance when its temperature rises. As temperature increases, particles move more and occupy more space, leading to an increase in size.

Tags

NGSS.MS-PS1-4

NGSS.MS-PS3-4

Imagine you're an astronaut like Grace or Samuel, exploring the vast universe. What is the mixture that forms the atmosphere surrounding a planet, moon, or other celestial body?

• gases

• liquids

• solids

• plasma

Answer explanation

The atmosphere surrounding a planet, moon, or celestial body is primarily composed of gases. These gases can include oxygen, nitrogen, carbon dioxide, and others, which are essential for supporting life and various processes.

Tags

NGSS.MS-PS1-1

Imagine you're in a science class with Abigail, Evelyn, and Samuel. The teacher asks, "Can anyone tell me how energy travels through space as ___ waves?"

• electromagnetic

• sound

• mechanical

• thermal

Answer explanation

Energy travels through space as electromagnetic waves, which include visible light, radio waves, and X-rays. Unlike sound and mechanical waves, electromagnetic waves do not require a medium to propagate.

Tags

NGSS.MS-PS4-1

Imagine you're a detective like Rohan, solving the mysteries of science! Fill in the blank: Conduction is the transfer of energy as ___ through a material.

• heat

• light

• sound

• electricity

Answer explanation

Conduction is the transfer of energy as heat through a material. This process occurs when particles collide, transferring thermal energy from one part of the material to another, making 'heat' the correct choice.

Tags

NGSS.MS-PS1-4

Hey there, science explorers! Can you help Sophia and Mason solve this mystery? Fill in the blank: Heat is the energy transferred between objects that are at different ___.

Answer explanation

Heat is the energy transferred between objects that are at different temperatures. This transfer occurs because of the temperature difference, making 'temperatures' the correct choice to fill in the blank.

Tags

NGSS.MS-PS3-3

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Hey there, young meteorologists! Can you help Noah and Scarlett solve this mystery? Wind is the movement of air caused by the difference in ___ ___. What do you think it is?

• air pressure

• temperature

• humidity

• altitude

Answer explanation

Wind is caused by differences in air pressure. When air pressure varies, air moves from high to low pressure areas, creating wind. Therefore, the correct answer is 'air pressure'.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-5

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Imagine you're on a magical journey with Scarlett, Sophia, and Emma, flying across the Earth on a straight path. Suddenly, you notice your path curving! What mysterious force caused this? It's the Coriolis effect, the curving of the path of a moving object from an otherwise straight path due to Earth’s ___.

• rotation

• gravity

• magnetic field

• atmosphere

Answer explanation

The Coriolis effect is caused by the Earth's rotation. As you fly across the Earth, the rotation causes your path to curve, making it appear as if a mysterious force is at work.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-6

Imagine you're a detective like Priya, trying to solve the mystery of global wind patterns. Global wind is the movement of air over the Earth’s surface in patterns that are ___

• worldwide

• local

• random

• sporadic

Answer explanation

Global wind patterns are consistent and occur across the entire planet, making 'worldwide' the correct choice. The other options suggest limited or unpredictable movements, which do not accurately describe global wind.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-5

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