Science Assessment ~ Items ~ RG076003

A class is learning about magnets and energy. A student asks if energy can be transferred by a magnet to an iron rod when they are on the moon where there is no air. Is it possible to transfer energy by magnetic forces on the moon?

Yes, energy can be transferred by magnetic forces on the moon because magnetic forces act at a distance even when there is no air. Energy can be transferred by forces that act at a distance as long as there is a change in position of either the magnet or the iron rod.
Yes, energy can be transferred by magnetic forces on the moon because magnetic forces act at a distance even when there is no air. Energy is transferred by forces that act at a distance at all times, even when there is no change in position of the magnet or the iron rod.
No, energy cannot be transferred by magnetic forces on the moon because there is no air on the moon. Energy can only be transferred by magnetic forces when there is a medium, like air, between the magnet and the iron rod.
No, energy cannot be transferred by magnetic forces on the moon or anywhere else because magnetic forces act at a distance. Energy can only be transferred by forces that act when two objects are in contact.

Details
Performance
NGSS

Topic
Correct Answer: A
Misconceptions

Distribution of Responses

Chart showing distrubtion of responses for Item 076003

Scale Score for Item Difficulty (200[Easy]-800[Difficult]): 525

Students Responding Correctly

Group	Correct	Total	Percent
Overall	313	1127	28%
Grades
4–5	N/A	N/A	N/A
6–8	169	619	27%
9–12	144	508	28%
Gender
Male	185	561	33%
Female	119	537	22%
Primary Language
English	262	947	28%
Other	37	145	26%

View data table

Disciplinary Core Ideas: PS2.B Forces that act at a distance (electric, magnetic, and gravitational) can be explained by fields that extend through space and can be mapped by their effect on a test object (a charged object, or a ball, respectively).
PS3.C When two objects interacting through a field change relative position, the energy stored in the field is changed.

Science Assessment

Item RG076003: Energy can be transferred by magnetic forces on the moon because magnetic forces act at a distance even when there is no air. Energy can be transferred by forces that act at a distance as long as there is a change in position of either the magnet or the iron rod.