Original Project
Energy: Forms, Transformation, Transfer, and Conservation
Item NG061002: When cold butter is placed on top of hot corn, thermal energy is transferred from the corn to the butter but not from the butter to the corn.
A cook heats an ear of corn in a pot of hot water. She takes the corn out of the hot water and puts it on a plate. Then she takes some butter out of the refrigerator. She cuts a piece of cold butter and places it on top of the hot corn.
Which of the following describes how thermal energy is transferred between the corn and the butter?
- Thermal energy is transferred both from the corn to the butter and from the butter to the corn.
- Thermal energy is transferred from the corn to the butter but not from the butter to the corn.
- Thermal energy is transferred from the butter to the corn but not from the corn to the butter.
- Thermal energy is not transferred between the corn and the butter.
- Distribution of Responses
- Students Responding Correctly
| Group | Correct | Total | Percent |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 1308 | 2942 | 45% |
| Grades | |||
| 6–8 | 751 | 1764 | 43% |
| 9–12 | 555 | 1172 | 47% |
| Gender | |||
| Male | 650 | 1431 | 45% |
| Female | 638 | 1453 | 44% |
| Primary Language | |||
| English | 1196 | 2639 | 45% |
| Other | 74 | 226 | 33% |