Original Project
Atoms, Molecules, and States of Matter
For any single state of matter, increasing the temperature typically increases the distance between atoms or mol…
Item AM046006: During a hot day in the summer, the spaces between the concrete sections of a sidewalk get narrower because the concrete sections expand.
Most sidewalks are made out of solid concrete sections. There are spaces between the sections. What happens to the spaces during a hot day in the summer and why?
.jpg)
- The spaces get wider because the concrete sections shrink.
- The spaces get narrower because the concrete sections expand.
- The spaces stay the same because the concrete sections does not shrink or expand.
- Some spaces get wider, some spaces get narrower, and some spaces stay the same because each concrete section behaves differently on a hot summer day.
(Modified from Berkheimer, et al., 1988)
- Distribution of Responses
- Students Responding Correctly
| Group | Correct | Total | Percent |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 1247 | 3814 | 33% |
| Grades | |||
| 6–8 | 728 | 2704 | 27% |
| 9–12 | 516 | 1102 | 47% |
| Gender | |||
| Male | 685 | 1851 | 37% |
| Female | 546 | 1921 | 28% |
| Primary Language | |||
| English | 1145 | 3426 | 33% |
| Other | 90 | 354 | 25% |
- Notes
- NGSS does not address thermal expansion or contraction of matter.