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Item RG165002: For energy to be transferred between magnets, the distance between the magnets must change.

A student secures two magnets to a circular disc as illustrated below.

He then slides the disc across the top of a table. Was energy transferred between the two magnets while the disc was sliding across the table? Why or why not?

  1. Yes, energy was transferred because the magnets are moving. Energy is transferred between magnets whenever the magnets are in motion.  
  2. Yes, energy was transferred because the magnets are attracted to each other.  Energy is transferred whenever an attractive force exists between magnets.
  3. No, energy was not transferred because magnets cannot transfer energy to other magnets.  Only a force is shared between magnets.
  4. No, energy was not transferred because the magnets are secured in their positions on the disc.  For energy to be transferred between magnets, the distance between the magnets must change.
Distribution of Responses
Chart showing distrubtion of responses for Item 165002
Scale Score for Item Difficulty
(200[Easy]-800[Difficult])
551
Students Responding Correctly
Group Correct Total Percent
Overall 221 1135 20%
Grades
  4–5N/AN/AN/A
  6–8 114 635 18%
  9–12 107 500 21%
Gender
  Male11652022%
  Female10159317%
Primary Language
  English19499220%
  Other2411920%

View data table