Original Project
Atoms, Molecules, and States of Matter
Item AM052004: When an iron frying pan heats up, the distance between the iron atoms increases, so the pan gets a tiny bit larger.
A cook places an iron frying pan on the stove. What happens as the iron pan heats up?
- The number of iron atoms increases, so the pan gets a tiny bit larger.
- The number of iron atoms does not change, so the pan remains the same.
- The distance between the iron atoms increases, so the pan gets a tiny bit larger.
- 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 | 1006 | 2899 | 35% |
| Grades | |||
| 6–8 | 533 | 1787 | 30% |
| 9–12 | 470 | 1104 | 43% |
| Gender | |||
| Male | 580 | 1386 | 42% |
| Female | 408 | 1473 | 28% |
| Primary Language | |||
| English | 919 | 2591 | 35% |
| Other | 76 | 276 | 28% |
- Notes
- NGSS does not address thermal expansion or contraction of matter.