ASPECt
Energy: Forms, Transformation, Transfer, and Conservation
Item EG067002: The gravitational potential energy of a space shuttle increases as it gets higher in the sky.
A space shuttle is launched and is traveling up into the sky.
How does the gravitational potential energy of the space shuttle change as it gets higher in the sky?
- The gravitational potential energy of the space shuttle increases as it gets higher.
- The gravitational potential energy of the space shuttle decreases as it gets higher.
- The gravitational potential energy of the space shuttle does not change as it gets higher.
- The gravitational potential energy of the space shuttle depends on how fast the rocket is moving.
- Distribution of Responses
- Scale Score for Item Difficulty
(200[Easy]-800[Difficult]) - 501
- Students Responding Correctly
| Group | Correct | Total | Percent |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 1592 | 3878 | 41% |
| Grades | |||
| 4–5 | 265 | 782 | 34% |
| 6–8 | 590 | 1513 | 39% |
| 9–12 | 737 | 1583 | 47% |
| Gender | |||
| Male | 718 | 1762 | 41% |
| Female | 830 | 2004 | 41% |
| Primary Language | |||
| English | 1410 | 3398 | 41% |
| Other | 129 | 344 | 38% |
- Disciplinary Core Ideas
- PS3.A A system of objects may also contain stored (potential) energy, depending on their relative positions.
- NRC Framework
- By the end of grade 8. For example, energy is stored-in gravitational interaction with Earth-when an object is raised, and energy is released when the object falls or is lowered.