ASPECt
Energy: Forms, Transformation, Transfer, and Conservation
Item NG011004: When a box slows down as it slides across the floor, the motion energy of the box decreases and the thermal energy increases because the motion energy is converted into thermal energy.
A student shoves a box, and it slides across the floor. As the box slides across the floor, the box slows down, and both the box and the floor get a little warmer. What happens to the kinetic energy (motion energy) and the thermal energy of the box as it slows down and comes to a stop and why?
- The kinetic energy of the box decreases to zero, and its thermal energy increases because the kinetic energy is converted into thermal energy.
- The kinetic energy of the box decreases to zero, and its thermal energy stays the same because kinetic energy is used up and is not converted into thermal energy.
- The kinetic energy of the box stays the same, and its thermal energy increases because new energy in the form of thermal energy is made.
- Both the kinetic energy and the thermal energy of the box decrease to zero because an object has energy only when it is moving.
- Distribution of Responses
- Scale Score for Item Difficulty
(200[Easy]-800[Difficult]) - 502
- Students Responding Correctly
| Group | Correct | Total | Percent |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 1230 | 2945 | 42% |
| Grades | |||
| 4–5 | 25 | 78 | 32% |
| 6–8 | 513 | 1394 | 37% |
| 9–12 | 692 | 1473 | 47% |
| Gender | |||
| Male | 602 | 1382 | 44% |
| Female | 593 | 1486 | 40% |
| Primary Language | |||
| English | 1126 | 2669 | 42% |
| Other | 74 | 193 | 38% |