Original Project
Atoms, Molecules, and States of Matter
Item AM042005: When a glass thermometer is placed in hot water, the level of liquid rises because the molecules get farther apart.
A glass thermometer has a colored liquid inside it. The level of colored liquid rises when the thermometer is placed in hot water. Why does the level of liquid rise?
- Water molecules are pushed into the thermometer.
- Heat molecules push the molecules of the liquid upward.
- Heat causes the molecules of the liquid to get farther apart.
- The molecules of the liquid break down into atoms and take up more space.
Answer Choice |
Overall |
Grades |
Gender |
Primary Language |
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|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| n = 3814 |
6–8 n = 2699 |
9–12 n = 1107 |
Male n = 1854 |
Female n = 1919 |
English n = 3428 |
Other n = 354 |
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| A. | Water molecules are pushed into the thermometer. | 8% | 8% | 7% | 8% | 8% | 7% | 17% |
| B. | Heat molecules push the molecules of the liquid upward. | 39% | 44% | 27% | 37% | 41% | 39% | 38% |
| C. | Heat causes the molecules of the liquid to get farther apart. | 45% | 39% | 58% | 47% | 43% | 46% | 33% |
| D. | The molecules of the liquid break down into atoms and take up more space. | 9% | 9% | 8% | 8% | 9% | 8% | 12% |