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This page shows questions in the Thermal Energy Experiment public release module at MSDE. 8th Grade MISA
"Thermal Energy Experiment"

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Expand All Official Practice Test

This is test content.

A student observed a cooking demonstration at a grocery store using pans made of different metals and decided to research how different materials transfer thermal energy. The student placed one insulated cup into another insulated cup, poured 30 milliliters (mL) of water at 20 degrees Celsius into the inner cup, and covered the cup. Finally, a hole was made in the cover and a thermometer was placed in the hole. The student then obtained four 20-gram cubes of different metal types.

The graphic is of a cup with a cover and a thermometer inside the cup. Title, Thermal Energy Transfer Device. The diagram is labeled: Thermometer, Cover, Inner Insulated Cup, 30 milliliters of Water, Outer insulated cup.

One of the metal cubes was heated to 100°C with the assistance of an adult and then placed into the cup, which was covered again. The student observed the thermometer until the temperature no longer changed and recorded the final temperature of the water. The process was repeated for the other three metal samples and the results of the investigation were recorded.

CHANGE IN WATER TEMPERATURE DATA
Metal Cube Number Initial Temperature of Water (°C) Final Temperature of Water (°C)
1 20.0 24.6
2 20.0 21.6
3 20.0 25.4
4 20.0 22.9

This is a multiple choice question that allows you to select only one option.

Which property of the metals used in the investigation is most likely the reason the student chose to use metal cubes?

  1. A.
    large mass
  2. B.
    small volume
  3. C.
    low malleability
  4. D.
    high conductivity

This is a multiple choice question that allows you to select only one option.

What is the most likely reason the student waited until the temperature no longer changed to record the data?

  1. A.
    to make sure that the water did not start to boil
  2. B.
    to have time to calculate the change in temperature
  3. C.
    to allow the transfer of thermal energy to be complete
  4. D.
    to observe that the temperature of the water was affected by the metal cube

This is a question with 2 parts, including a question with drop-down menus from which you must select an option to fill in the blank.

The data from the investigation showed that after each metal cube was placed into the water, the temperature of the water  
  and the kinetic energy of the water molecules  
 

This is a question with 2 parts, including a drag and drop question that allows you to select text and place it in an appropriate answer space, and, a matching question that allows you to match elements from one list with those on another list.

Place the descriptions of the type of energy present in the cubes into the appropriate box.

Not all descriptions will be used.

Kinetic energy was greater. Kinetic energy was less. Kinetic energy remained the same. Thermal energy was greater. Thermal energy was less. Thermal energy remained the same.
Before Placing the Cube in Water After Placing the Cube in Water

This is a test question that allows you to enter extended text in your response.

A student claimed that thermal energy was transferred from the water to the metal in the investigation.

Use evidence from the investigation to refute or support this claim.