Original Project
Atoms, Molecules, and States of Matter
Item AM052003: When an iron frying pan cools, the distance between the iron atoms decreases, so the pan gets a tiny bit smaller.
A cook takes a hot iron frying pan off the stove to cool. What happens as the iron pan cools?
- The mass of the iron atoms increases, so the pan gets a tiny bit heavier.
- The mass of the iron atoms does not change, so the pan remains the same.
- The distance between the iron atoms decreases, so the pan gets a tiny bit smaller.
- The distance between the iron atoms does not change, so the pan remains the same.
- Distribution of Responses
- Students Responding Correctly
| Group | Correct | Total | Percent |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 827 | 2895 | 29% |
| Grades | |||
| 6–8 | 485 | 1855 | 26% |
| 9–12 | 337 | 1031 | 33% |
| Gender | |||
| Male | 473 | 1431 | 33% |
| Female | 343 | 1433 | 24% |
| Primary Language | |||
| English | 736 | 2540 | 29% |
| Other | 72 | 306 | 24% |
- Notes
- NGSS does not address thermal expansion or contraction of matter.