Middle School Physical Science : Identify types of energy

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Example Questions

Example Question #1 : Matter And Energy

Which of these is NOT a type of potential energy?

Possible Answers:

elastic

sound

chemical

gravitational

Correct answer:

sound

Explanation:

The answer is "sound." Potential energy is defined as stored energy, and energy can be stored in chemicals, by being up high, or by pulling on elastic. Sound is energy from the movement of particles and is therefore a type of kinetic energy.

Example Question #1 : Matter And Energy

Energy stored in the nucleus of an atom is called:

Possible Answers:

sound energy

mechanical energy

kinetic energy

nuclear energy

Correct answer:

nuclear energy

Explanation:

Nuclear energy is the energy that holds together the nucleus of atoms. Atoms are the most simple blocks that make up matter. Every atom has in its center a very small nucleus. Normally, nuclear energy is hidden inside the atoms.

Kinetic energy is the energy that an object has because of its motion. This energy can be converted into other kinds, such as gravitational or electric potential energy, which is the energy that an object has because of its position in a gravitational or electric field.

Sound energy is produced when an object vibrates. The sound vibrations cause waves of pressure that travel through a medium, such as air, water, wood or metal. Sound energy is a form of mechanical energy.

Mechanical energy is power that an object gets from its position and motion.

Example Question #1 : Identify Types Of Energy

A biker has just eaten an apple before beginning his exercise. This is an example of how chemical energy can be converted into motion energy. Motion energy is otherwise known as:

Possible Answers:

nuclear energy

sound energy

mechanical energy

kinetic energy

Correct answer:

mechanical energy

Explanation:

Nuclear energy is the energy that holds together the nucleus of atoms. Atoms are the most simple blocks that make up matter. Every atom has in its center a very small nucleus. Normally, nuclear energy is hidden inside the atoms.

Kinetic energy is the energy that an object has because of its motion. This energy can be converted into other kinds, such as gravitational or electric potential energy, which is the energy that an object has because of its position in a gravitational or electric field.

Sound energy is produced when an object vibrates. The sound vibrations cause waves of pressure that travel through a medium, such as air, water, wood or metal. Sound energy is a form of mechanical energy.

Mechanical energy is power that an object gets from its position and motion.

Example Question #2 : Identify Types Of Energy

What kind of energy is stored in gasoline?

Possible Answers:

kinetic and nuclear energy

potential and radioactive energy

kinetic and chemical energy

potential and chemical energy

Correct answer:

potential and chemical energy

Explanation:

Energy is 'the ability to do work. Chemical energy is a type of potential energy that is energy due to the position of an object or objects. The potential energy is in the form of chemical bonds that are forces that hold the atoms together in a chemical.

The answer is "potential and chemical energy" because gasoline is combustible and stores chemical potential energy until it is ignited and that energy is released in an exothermic reaction.

Example Question #3 : Matter And Energy

There is a bowling ball rolling towards a collection of standing pins waiting to be knocked over. This is an example of what kind(s) of energy?

Possible Answers:

potential and kinetic energy

kinetic energy

potential energy

thermal energy

Correct answer:

potential and kinetic energy

Explanation:

Kinetic energy is the energy associated with objects in motion. Potential energy is the type of energy associated with an object's potential to do work. Thus, he answer is both potential and kinetic energy because the ball is moving forward with kinetic energy and the pins are waiting to be knocked over with potential energy. 

Thermal energy (also called heat energy) is produced when a rise in temperature causes atoms and molecules to move faster and collide with each other. This question does not mention anything about temperature or heat, so this is not the correct answer. 

Example Question #2 : Identify Types Of Energy

A solar panel works by allowing photons, or particles of light, to knock electrons free from atoms, generating a flow of electricity. Solar panels collect what type of energy?

Possible Answers:

nuclear energy

electric energy

heat energy

solar energy

Correct answer:

solar energy

Explanation:

Nuclear energy is the energy that holds together the nucleus of atoms. Atoms are the most simple blocks that make up matter. Every atom has in its center a very small nucleus. Normally, nuclear energy is hidden inside the atoms.

Electric energy is a form of energy resulting from the flow of electric charge.

Heat energy is the result of the movement of tiny particles called atoms, molecules or ions in solids, liquids and gases. Heat energy can be transferred from one object to another. The transfer or flow due to the difference in temperature between the two objects is called heat. 

Solar energy is energy captured from the sun. 

The answer is "solar energy" because the energy comes from the sun. They convert the solar energy to electric energy for further use.

Example Question #4 : Identify Types Of Energy

Nuclear power plants have a process of creating energy that can be used by people. First, the splitting of uranium atoms in a nuclear reactor releases energy to boil water and make steam. Then the steam turns turbines which collect electrons to produce electricity. Which of these best describes energy conversions used by Nuclear power plants in the correct order.

Possible Answers:

nuclear, potential, electric, electric

nuclear, thermal, mechanical, electric

chemical, thermal, nuclear, mechanical

potential, thermal, kinetic, nuclear

Correct answer:

nuclear, thermal, mechanical, electric

Explanation:

Nuclear energy is the energy that holds together the nucleus of atoms. Atoms are the most simple blocks that make up matter. Every atom has in its center a very small nucleus. Normally, nuclear energy is hidden inside the atoms.

Thermal energy (also called heat energy) is produced when a rise in temperature causes atoms and molecules to move faster and collide with each other.

Electric energy is a form of energy resulting from the flow of electric charge.

Mechanical energy is power that an object gets from its position and motion.

The answer is "nuclear, thermal, mechanical, electric" because nuclear energy is converted from the splitting of the uranium atoms into heat (or thermal) energy to make steam. After that, the spinning of turbines is mechanical or kinetic energy. Then finally it is converted to electric energy which people can use.

Example Question #5 : Identify Types Of Energy

The temperature of a substance is a type of:

Possible Answers:

potential energy

kinetic energy

neither kinetic nor potential energy

both kinetic and potential energy 

Correct answer:

kinetic energy

Explanation:

Kinetic energy is the energy that an object has because of its motion. This energy can be converted into other kinds, such as gravitational or electric potential energy, which is the energy that an object has because of its position in a gravitational or electric field.

Potential energy is the type of energy associated with an object's potential to do work.

The answer is "kinetic energy" because temperature is a measure of the average kinetic energy of the particles in a substance

Example Question #6 : Matter And Energy

What is happening to the energy from an electrical outlet when you plug in an oven and turn it on?

Possible Answers:

Electric energy from the outlet is transferred through wires which changes into solar energy from an oven

Magnetic energy from the outlet is transferred through wires which changes into solar energy from an oven

Electric energy from the outlet is transferred through wires which changes into heat energy from an oven

Magnetic energy from the outlet is transferred through wires which changes into heat energy from an oven

Correct answer:

Electric energy from the outlet is transferred through wires which changes into heat energy from an oven

Explanation:

When something is plugged into an outlet, that means we are using electric energy.

When something is plugged into an outlet, it isn't capturing energy from the sun. Thus, "Electric energy from the outlet is transferred through wires which changes into solar energy from an oven" is not correct because we aren't using solar energy, or energy form the sun. 

Magnetic energy is the potential energy of a magnetic field. And outlet and an oven do not use magnets to create energy. 

The answer is "Electric energy from the outlet is transferred through wires which changes into heat energy from an oven."

Example Question #6 : Identify Types Of Energy

 Energy from the sun travels in waves to Earth where plants use a chemical process to convert it into food. This is an example of how:

Possible Answers:

radiation or solar energy is converted to matter

radiation or solar energy is converted to wind energy

radiation or solar energy is converted into chemical energy

radiation or solar energy is converted to hydroelectric energy

Correct answer:

radiation or solar energy is converted into chemical energy

Explanation:

Radiation or solar energy is energy captured from the sun. Plants use this energy from the sun to undergo photosynthesis. Photosynthesis is the process of converting sunlight into good- which is a chemical process. Remember, a chemical process is a change. In this example, the sunlight is being changed into food. 

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