Science Assessment ~ Topics ~ Energy: Forms, Transformation, Transfer, and Conservation ~ Item RG076003 ~ Student Performance

A class is learning about magnets and energy. A student asks if energy can be transferred by a magnet to an iron rod when they are on the moon where there is no air. Is it possible to transfer energy by magnetic forces on the moon?

Yes, energy can be transferred by magnetic forces on the moon because magnetic forces act at a distance even when there is no air. Energy can be transferred by forces that act at a distance as long as there is a change in position of either the magnet or the iron rod.
Yes, energy can be transferred by magnetic forces on the moon because magnetic forces act at a distance even when there is no air. Energy is transferred by forces that act at a distance at all times, even when there is no change in position of the magnet or the iron rod.
No, energy cannot be transferred by magnetic forces on the moon because there is no air on the moon. Energy can only be transferred by magnetic forces when there is a medium, like air, between the magnet and the iron rod.
No, energy cannot be transferred by magnetic forces on the moon or anywhere else because magnetic forces act at a distance. Energy can only be transferred by forces that act when two objects are in contact.

Distribution of responses
Answer Choice	Overall	Grades			Gender		Primary Language
	n = 1127	4–5 n = 0	6–8 n = 619	9–12 n = 508	Male n = 561	Female n = 537	English n = 947	Other n = 145
A.	28%	N/A	27%	28%	33%	22%	28%	26%
B.	28%	N/A	28%	29%	26%	31%	28%	33%
C.	31%	N/A	32%	30%	26%	36%	31%	28%
D.	13%	N/A	13%	13%	15%	11%	13%	13%

Science Assessment

Item RG076003: Energy can be transferred by magnetic forces on the moon because magnetic forces act at a distance even when there is no air. Energy can be transferred by forces that act at a distance as long as there is a change in position of either the magnet or the iron rod.