Science Assessment ~ Items ~ CL129002

The air temperature at a town usually increases during July and begins to decrease in early August. Does a change in the amount of energy transferred to or from the town cause the average daily air temperature to begin to decrease?

Yes, the amount of energy transferred from the sun to the town starts to decrease in early August, which causes the air temperature to decrease regardless of how much energy is transferred from the town into space.
Yes, the amount of energy transferred to the town from the sun becomes less than the amount of energy transferred from the town into space in early August, which causes the air temperature to decrease.
No, the amount of energy transferred to or from the town could change, but it would not affect the air temperature at the town.
No, the amount of energy transferred to and from the town does not change in August. The decrease in temperature must be caused by a change in weather patterns so that colder air moves to the town in the beginning of August.

Details
Performance
NGSS

Topic: Weather and Climate II: Seasonal Differences
Correct Answer: B
Misconceptions

Distribution of Responses

Chart showing distrubtion of responses for Item CL129002

Students Responding Correctly

Group	Correct	Total	Percent
Overall	756	2179	35%
Grades
6–8	398	1154	34%
9–12	355	1014	35%
Gender
Male	368	1074	34%
Female	359	1027	35%
Primary Language
English	657	1883	35%
Other	71	215	33%

View data table

NRC Framework: ESS2.D To maintain any average temperature over time, energy inputs from the sun and from radioactive decay in Earth’s interior must be balanced by energy loss due to radiation from the upper atmosphere.; PS3.B Even when a system is isolated (such as Earth in space), energy is continually being transferred into and out of it by radiation.

Science Assessment

Item CL129002: The air temperature at a town usually increases during July and begins to decrease in early August because the amount of energy transferred to the town from the sun becomes less than the amount of energy transferred from the town into space in early August.