Science Assessment ~ Items ~ RG097002

A player rolls Ball A toward Ball B as pictured in Figure 1. Then Ball A hits Ball B. Both balls continue to roll after the collision as shown in Figure 2.

Which of the following statements correctly describes Ball A’s speed in Figure 2 compared to its speed in Figure 1?

Ball A is moving faster in Figure 2 because it gained energy from hitting Ball B.
Ball A is moving slower in Figure 2 because it transferred energy to Ball B when the balls hit each other.
Ball A is moving slower in Figure 2 because some energy was destroyed when the balls hit each other.
Ball A is moving at the same speed because no energy was transferred when the balls hit each other.

Details
Performance
NGSS

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

Distribution of Responses

Chart showing distrubtion of responses for Item EG097002

Scale Score for Item Difficulty (200[Easy]-800[Difficult]): 464

Students Responding Correctly

Group	Correct	Total	Percent
Overall	2269	3771	60%
Grades
4–5	396	835	47%
6–8	960	1587	60%
9–12	913	1349	68%
Gender
Male	1071	1710	63%
Female	1137	1940	59%
Primary Language
English	2050	3364	61%
Other	143	269	53%

View data table

Disciplinary Core Ideas: PS3.C When objects collide, the contact forces transfer energy so as to change the objects' motions.

Science Assessment

Item RG097002: After one ball collides with another, the first ball moves slower because it transferred energy to the second ball when the balls hit each other.