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Item CL138001: As a jar of water is warmed from the bottom, the water at the bottom of the jar becomes warmer than the water around it and starts to rise.

A jar of water is placed over a flame and the flame warms the water at the bottom of the jar.

What happens to the water at the bottom of the jar before it boils?

  1. As the water at the bottom of the jar becomes a little warmer than the water around it, the warmer water will start to rise.
  2. The water at the bottom of the jar will get warmer, but it will not rise.
  3. The water at the bottom of the jar will get warmer and warmer, but it will not rise until it starts to boil.
  4. All of the water in the jar will get warmer at the same time, so there is no movement of the water in the jar.
Distribution of responses
Answer Choice
Overall
Grades
Gender
Primary Language
 
n = 4621
6–8
n = 2431
9–12
n = 2167
Male
n = 2259
Female
n = 2201
English
n = 3867
Other
n = 521
A. 54% 50% 58% 55% 53% 54% 50%
B. 8% 8% 8% 8% 7% 8% 7%
C. 33% 36% 30% 31% 36% 33% 36%
D. 5% 6% 5% 6% 4% 5% 7%