Middle School Physical Science : Middle School Physical Science

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for Middle School Physical Science

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51 Practice Tests Question of the Day Flashcards Learn by Concept

Example Questions

Example Question #181 : Middle School Physical Science

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The image shows electrons moving freely through a copper wire. Based on this image, a copper wire is best described as:

Possible Answers:

a conductor

a magnet

a resistor

an insulator

Correct answer:

a conductor

Explanation:

The answer is "a conductor."

Some types of matter transfer energy more easily than others. These substances are called “conductors.” An electrical conductor is a substance in which electrical charge carriers, usually electrons, move easily from atom to atom with the application of voltage. Conductivity, in general, is the capacity to transmit something, such as electricity or heat. Some examples of conductors are copper, steel, gold, aluminum, and brass. If a substance does NOT transfer energy efficiently, it is called an insulator. Some common insulators are: Glass, Air, Plastic, Rubber, Porcelain, and Wood.

Example Question #1 : Determine The Relationships Between Energy Transfer And Change In Kinetic Energy

Which of these is an example of conduction?

Possible Answers:

A spoon in a cup of hot soup gets warmer

Hot air balloons rise up

It’s hot outside so you start sweating

You feel warm when you stand by the fire

Correct answer:

A spoon in a cup of hot soup gets warmer

Explanation:

The answer is "A spoon in a cup of hot soup gets warmer."

When heat energy is transferred to objects, the kinetic energy of the particles changes. Heat energy always moves towards equilibrium, meaning that hotter objects transfer their heat to colder objects, and at an atomic level kinetic energy is transferred from faster moving particles to slower moving particles.

There are three types of heat transfer, conduction, convection, and radiation.
Conduction: transfer of heat between two atoms that are touching
Radiation: transfer of heat by electromagnetic waves (light) where particles are not touching
Convection: transfer of heat by the movement of fluids (liquid or gas) where hot particles rise and cold particles sink

Example Question #2 : Determine The Relationships Between Energy Transfer And Change In Kinetic Energy

Which of these is an example of convection?

Possible Answers:

heat from the sun causes sunburns

you burn your hand when touching a hot stove

Hot air balloons rise up

you feel warm around a fire

Correct answer:

Hot air balloons rise up

Explanation:

The answer is "Hot air balloons rise up"

When heat energy is transferred to objects, the kinetic energy of the particles changes. Heat energy always moves towards equilibrium, meaning that hotter objects transfer their heat to colder objects, and at an atomic level kinetic energy is transferred from faster moving particles to slower moving particles.

There are three types of heat transfer, conduction, convection, and radiation.
Conduction: transfer of heat between two atoms that are touching
Radiation: transfer of heat by electromagnetic waves (light) where particles are not touching
Convection: transfer of heat by the movement of fluids (liquid or gas) where hot particles rise and cold particles sink

Example Question #3 : Determine The Relationships Between Energy Transfer And Change In Kinetic Energy

Which of these is an example of radiation?

Possible Answers:

you touch a hot stove and get burned

warm air rises in a room being cooled by an air conditioner

you feel warm around a fire

a hot pan fries an egg

Correct answer:

you feel warm around a fire

Explanation:

The answer is "you feel warm around a fire."

When heat energy is transferred to objects, the kinetic energy of the particles changes. Heat energy always moves towards equilibrium, meaning that hotter objects transfer their heat to colder objects, and at an atomic level kinetic energy is transferred from faster moving particles to slower moving particles.

There are three types of heat transfer, conduction, convection, and radiation.
Conduction: transfer of heat between two atoms that are touching
Radiation: transfer of heat by electromagnetic waves (light) where particles are not touching
Convection: transfer of heat by the movement of fluids (liquid or gas) where hot particles rise and cold particles sink

Example Question #4 : Determine The Relationships Between Energy Transfer And Change In Kinetic Energy

In conduction, heat energy always moves:

Possible Answers:

from colder objects to warmer objects

in circles through both touching objects

from warmer objects to colder objects

upwards

Correct answer:

from warmer objects to colder objects

Explanation:

the answer is "from warmer objects to colder objects"

When heat energy is transferred to objects, the kinetic energy of the particles changes. Heat energy always moves towards equilibrium, meaning that hotter objects transfer their heat to colder objects, and at an atomic level kinetic energy is transferred from faster moving particles to slower moving particles.

There are three types of heat transfer, conduction, convection, and radiation.
Conduction: transfer of heat between two atoms that are touching
Radiation: transfer of heat by electromagnetic waves (light) where particles are not touching
Convection: transfer of heat by the movement of fluids (liquid or gas) where hot particles rise and cold particles sink

Example Question #5 : Determine The Relationships Between Energy Transfer And Change In Kinetic Energy

At an atomic level, when an object is heated up:

Possible Answers:

the kinetic energy of its particles increases

the kinetic energy of its particles does not change

the kinetic energy of its particles decreases

Correct answer:

the kinetic energy of its particles increases

Explanation:

The answer is "the kinetic energy of its particles increases."

When heat energy is transferred to objects, the kinetic energy of the particles changes. Heat energy always moves towards equilibrium, meaning that hotter objects transfer their heat to colder objects, and at an atomic level kinetic energy is transferred from faster moving particles to slower moving particles.

There are three types of heat transfer, conduction, convection, and radiation.
Conduction: transfer of heat between two atoms that are touching
Radiation: transfer of heat by electromagnetic waves (light) where particles are not touching
Convection: transfer of heat by the movement of fluids (liquid or gas) where hot particles rise and cold particles sink

Example Question #26 : Energy In Chemical Reactions

Which of these would require the most thermal energy to warm up?

Possible Answers:

they will all require the same amount of energy to heat up

10 kg of steel

100 kg of steel

50 kg of steel

Correct answer:

100 kg of steel

Explanation:

The answer is 100 kg of steel because more mass will require more energy to bring to a constant temperature.

Example Question #6 : Determine The Relationships Between Energy Transfer And Change In Kinetic Energy

If a piece of iron is very hot, the average kinetic energy of the particles in the iron is:

Possible Answers:

high because the temperature is high

low because the temperature is low

low because the temperature is high

high because the temperature is low

Correct answer:

high because the temperature is high

Explanation:

The answer is "high because the temperature is high."

When heat energy is transferred to objects, the kinetic energy of the particles changes. Heat energy always moves towards equilibrium, meaning that hotter objects transfer their heat to colder objects, and at an atomic level kinetic energy is transferred from faster moving particles to slower moving particles.

There are three types of heat transfer, conduction, convection, and radiation.
Conduction: transfer of heat between two atoms that are touching
Radiation: transfer of heat by electromagnetic waves (light) where particles are not touching
Convection: transfer of heat by the movement of fluids (liquid or gas) where hot particles rise and cold particles sink

Example Question #7 : Determine The Relationships Between Energy Transfer And Change In Kinetic Energy

You are doing an experiment where you pour different amounts of hot water into the 200mL of cold water and measure the final temperature. The purpose of a “control” in an experiment is to see what would happen if you did NOT do a test. If we are testing how the volume of warm water effects energy transfer, which cup is our control?

Possible Answers:

200 mL of hot water

200 mL of cold water + 200 mL of hot water

200 mL of cold water

an empty cup

Correct answer:

200 mL of cold water

Explanation:

The answer is 200 mL of cold water because no hot water was added, and the test was not performed.

When heat energy is transferred to objects, the kinetic energy of the particles changes. Heat energy always moves towards equilibrium, meaning that hotter objects transfer their heat to colder objects, and at an atomic level kinetic energy is transferred from faster moving particles to slower moving particles.

There are three types of heat transfer, conduction, convection, and radiation.
Conduction: transfer of heat between two atoms that are touching
Radiation: transfer of heat by electromagnetic waves (light) where particles are not touching
Convection: transfer of heat by the movement of fluids (liquid or gas) where hot particles rise and cold particles sink

Example Question #8 : Determine The Relationships Between Energy Transfer And Change In Kinetic Energy

What is the relationship between kinetic energy and thermal energy?

Possible Answers:

as thermal energy increases, kinetic energy of the particles increases

as thermal energy increases, kinetic energy of the particles stays the same 

as thermal energy increases, kinetic energy of the particles decreases

as thermal energy increases, kinetic energy of the whole object increases and it causes motion

Correct answer:

as thermal energy increases, kinetic energy of the particles increases

Explanation:

The answer is, "as thermal energy increases, kinetic energy of the particles increases."

When heat energy is transferred to objects, the kinetic energy of the particles changes. Heat energy always moves towards equilibrium, meaning that hotter objects transfer their heat to colder objects, and at an atomic level kinetic energy is transferred from faster moving particles to slower moving particles.

There are three types of heat transfer, conduction, convection, and radiation.
Conduction: transfer of heat between two atoms that are touching
Radiation: transfer of heat by electromagnetic waves (light) where particles are not touching
Convection: transfer of heat by the movement of fluids (liquid or gas) where hot particles rise and cold particles sink

All Middle School Physical Science Resources

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