Science Assessment ~ Topics ~ Energy: Forms, Transformation, Transfer, and Conservation ~ Item NG039003 ~ Student Performance

A radiator is a device used to heat up a room. When a student stands close to the radiator, he feels warm even though he is not touching the radiator.

What will happen if the student holds a blanket up so that the blanket is between himself and the radiator but not touching him?

He will feel warmer because blankets keep people warm.
He will feel cooler because the blanket is blocking the energy being given off by the radiator.
He will feel the same because holding the blanket up will not change the temperature of the air in the room.
He will feel the same because he will still receive the same amount of energy from the radiator even if the blanket is between himself and the radiator.

Distribution of responses
Answer Choice		Overall	Grades			Gender		Primary Language
		n = 3562	4–5 n = 713	6–8 n = 1540	9–12 n = 1309	Male n = 1654	Female n = 1813	English n = 3163	Other n = 299
A.	He will feel warmer because blankets keep people warm.	14%	22%	13%	10%	14%	14%	13%	17%
B.	He will feel cooler because the blanket is blocking the energy being given off by the radiator.	49%	38%	49%	54%	49%	50%	50%	39%
C.	He will feel the same because holding the blanket up will not change the temperature of the air in the room.	20%	21%	20%	20%	21%	19%	19%	26%
D.	He will feel the same because he will still receive the same amount of energy from the radiator even if the blanket is between himself and the radiator.	17%	17%	18%	17%	16%	18%	17%	18%

Science Assessment

Item NG039003: A boy will feel cooler when he holds a blanket up between him and a radiator because the blanket is blocking the energy being given off by the radiator.