Science Assessment ~ Items ~ RG154002

A student opens a window in her classroom, letting in air from the outside that is warmer than the air inside the classroom.

What happens to the warmer air that comes in from outside and to the thermal energy of that air when it comes into contact with the colder air in the classroom?

The warmer air rises, but the thermal energy of the air does not.
The thermal energy of the air rises, but the warmer air does not.
Both the warmer air and thermal energy rise because thermal energy is associated with the movement of the molecules of the air.
Both the warmer air and thermal energy rise, but they move separately because thermal energy is not associated with the movement of the molecules of the air.

Details
Performance
NGSS

Topic: Energy: Forms, Transformation, Transfer, and Conservation
Correct Answer: C
Misconceptions

Distribution of Responses

Chart showing distrubtion of responses for Item EG154002

Scale Score for Item Difficulty (200[Easy]-800[Difficult]): 496

Students Responding Correctly

Group	Correct	Total	Percent
Overall	3369	7565	45%
Grades
4–5	163	474	34%
6–8	1676	3909	43%
9–12	1530	3182	48%
Gender
Male	1522	3489	44%
Female	1764	3892	45%
Primary Language
English	3018	6671	45%
Other	266	690	39%

View data table

NRC Framework: Heating is another process for transferring energy. Heat transfer occurs when two objects or systems are at different temperatures. Energy moves out of higher temperature objects and into lower temperature ones, cooling the former and heating the latter. This transfer happens in three different ways—by conduction within solids, by the flow of liquid or gas (convection), and by radiation, which can travel across space.

Science Assessment

Item RG154002: When warmer air enters a room with cooler air, both the warmer air and thermal energy rise because thermal energy is associated with the movement of the molecules of the air.