Science Assessment ~ Items ~ RG133002

A planet has a moon that orbits around the planet. The moon was hit by a meteor that affected the moon’s orbit and increased the distance between the moon and the planet.

What is true about the gravitational potential energy of the new arrangement of the planet and its moon? (Assume the total mass of the moon is not changed when it is hit by the meteor.)

The gravitational potential energy would be less.
The gravitational potential energy would be greater.
The gravitational potential energy would be unchanged.
There is not enough information to determine the effect on gravitational potential energy.

Details
Performance
NGSS

Topic
Correct Answer: B
Misconceptions

Distribution of Responses

Chart showing distrubtion of responses for Item 133002

Scale Score for Item Difficulty (200[Easy]-800[Difficult]): 521

Students Responding Correctly

Group	Correct	Total	Percent
Overall	434	1496	29%
Grades
4–5	N/A	N/A	N/A
6–8	253	875	29%
9–12	181	621	29%
Gender
Male	188	693	27%
Female	229	754	30%
Primary Language
English	372	1306	28%
Other	40	134	30%

View data table

Disciplinary Core Ideas: PS3.A A system of objects may also contain stored (potential) energy, depending on their relative positions.
PS3.C When two objects interacting through a field change relative position, the energy stored in the field is changed.

Science Assessment

Item RG133002: The gravitational potential energy of a system containing a planet and a moon would be greater after the distance between the moon and planet increases..