Item RG068003: Energy can be transferred by light in outer space because light can travel without air carrying it, but energy cannot be transferred by sound because sound requires a medium such as air to carry it.
In outer space, there is no air, only empty space between the stars and planets. Can energy be transferred by light and sound in outer space? Why?
- Energy can be transferred by light and by sound in outer space because light and sound can both travel without air carrying them.
- Energy can be transferred by light in outer space because light can travel without air carrying it, but energy cannot be transferred by sound because sound requires a medium such as air to carry it.
- Energy can be transferred by sound in outer space because sound can travel without air carrying it, but energy cannot be transferred by light because light requires a medium such as air to carry it.
- Energy cannot be transferred by light or sound in outer space because both light and sound require a medium such as air to carry them.
- Distribution of Responses
- Scale Score for Item Difficulty
(200[Easy]-800[Difficult]) - 503
- Students Responding Correctly
Group | Correct | Total | Percent |
---|---|---|---|
Overall | 2502 | 6231 | 40% |
Grades | |||
4–5 | 143 | 486 | 29% |
6–8 | 1131 | 3050 | 37% |
9–12 | 1228 | 2695 | 46% |
Gender | |||
Male | 1258 | 2844 | 44% |
Female | 1175 | 3203 | 37% |
Primary Language | |||
English | 2231 | 5506 | 41% |
Other | 199 | 533 | 37% |
- Disciplinary Core Ideas
- PS3.B Light also transfers energy from place to place.
PS4.A A sound wave needs a medium through which it is transmitted.
PS4.B However, because light can travel through space, it cannot be a matter wave, like sound or water waves. - NRC Framework
- ...a sound wave is a moving pattern of particle vibrations that transmits energy through a medium.