ASPECt
Energy: Forms, Transformation, Transfer, and Conservation
Energy can be transferred by electromagnetic radiation.
Item RG150002: Which graph plots the rate at which energy is absorbed and emitted by water in a container over a four-hour period?
A student places a lamp near a container of water. He turns on the lamp and then monitors the temperature of the water throughout the day.
At 8:00 a.m., the water in the tank is 25°C. At 10:00 a.m., the temperature of the water in the tank has increased to 65°C. The water stays at that temperature for the next two hours. Which of the following graphs correctly plots the rate at which energy is being absorbed and emitted by the water in the container over this four-hour period?
- Distribution of Responses
- Scale Score for Item Difficulty
(200[Easy]-800[Difficult]) - 477
- Students Responding Correctly
| Group | Correct | Total | Percent |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 631 | 1126 | 56% |
| Grades | |||
| 4–5 | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| 6–8 | 337 | 625 | 54% |
| 9–12 | 294 | 501 | 59% |
| Gender | |||
| Male | 277 | 512 | 54% |
| Female | 341 | 592 | 58% |
| Primary Language | |||
| English | 559 | 983 | 57% |
| Other | 61 | 119 | 51% |
- Disciplinary Core Ideas
- PS3.B Light also transfers energy from place to place.
PS4.B When light or longer wavelength electromagnetic radiation is absorbed in matter, it is generally converted into thermal energy (heat). Shorter wavelength electromagnetic radiation (ultraviolet, X-rays, gamma rays) can ionize atoms and cause damage to living cells.