ASPECt
Energy: Forms, Transformation, Transfer, and Conservation
Item RG200001: When a metal rod is heated at one end, energy transfers through the rod by random collisions of atoms.
An adult heats one end of a metal rod over a flame. Initially, the end closest to the flame is hotter than the other end of the rod. Which of the following correctly describes how energy is transferred through the rod?
- Energy is transferred through the rod by the friction that results when the atoms that make up the metal rub against one another.
- Energy is transferred through the rod by the movement of atoms from the hotter end of the rod to the cooler end.
- Energy is transferred through the rod by the random collisions of the atoms that make up the metal.
- Energy is transferred through the rod as heat moves past the atoms that make up the metal. The atoms that make up the metal do not move.
Answer Choice |
Overall |
Grades |
Gender |
Primary Language |
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|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| n = 5622 |
4–5 n = 0 | 6–8 n = 3004 |
9–12 n = 2618 |
Male n = 2565 |
Female n = 2931 |
English n = 5002 |
Other n = 475 |
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| A. | Energy is transferred through the rod by the friction that results when the atoms that make up the metal rub against one another. | 20% | N/A | 20% | 20% | 20% | 20% | 20% | 19% |
| B. | Energy is transferred through the rod by the movement of atoms from the hotter end of the rod to the cooler end. | 42% | N/A | 44% | 40% | 41% | 43% | 42% | 42% |
| C. | Energy is transferred through the rod by the random collisions of the atoms that make up the metal. | 17% | N/A | 14% | 20% | 17% | 16% | 16% | 18% |
| D. | Energy is transferred through the rod as heat moves past the atoms that make up the metal. The atoms that make up the metal do not move. | 21% | N/A | 22% | 20% | 22% | 21% | 21% | 21% |