Science Assessment ~ Topics ~ Energy: Forms, Transformation, Transfer, and Conservation ~ Item EG049003 ~ Student Performance

Object 1 and Object 2 are both made up of the same type of molecule and the same number of molecules. Object 1 has more thermal energy than Object 2. Is the average speed of the molecules of Object 1 more than, less than, or the same as the average speed of the molecules of Object 2?

The average speed of the molecules of Object 1 is more than the average speed of the molecules of Object 2.
The average speed of the molecules of Object 1 is less than the average speed of the molecules of Object 2.
The average speed of the molecules of Object 1 is the same as the average speed of the molecules of Object 2.
More information is needed to say anything about the average speed of the molecules.

Distribution of responses
Answer Choice		Overall	Grades			Gender		Primary Language
		n = 1145	4–5 n = 0	6–8 n = 591	9–12 n = 554	Male n = 576	Female n = 542	English n = 1006	Other n = 109
A.	The average speed of the molecules of Object 1 is more than the average speed of the molecules of Object 2.	51%	N/A	46%	56%	48%	53%	50%	50%
B.	The average speed of the molecules of Object 1 is less than the average speed of the molecules of Object 2.	21%	N/A	25%	17%	22%	20%	22%	16%
C.	The average speed of the molecules of Object 1 is the same as the average speed of the molecules of Object 2.	17%	N/A	16%	18%	16%	18%	17%	22%
D.	More information is needed to say anything about the average speed of the molecules.	11%	N/A	13%	10%	13%	10%	11%	12%

Science Assessment

Item EG049003: For two objects that are made up of the same type of molecule and the same number of molecules, the molecules of the object with more thermal energy have the greater average speed.