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Misconception EGM050:

Thermal energy is not related to the speed of the molecules that make up an object (AAAS Project 2061, n.d.).

Items that test for misconception EGM050 in this project (ASPECt) and key idea ()
Item ID
Number

Item Description

How Often the Misconception was Chosen

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EG085002

For two glasses containing the same number of water molecules, the water with molecules that are moving faster has more thermal energy because thermal energy depends on the average speed of the molecules.

28%

EG055005

The thermal energy of an object depends on the speed and type of molecules that make up the object.

24%

EG056005

The thermal energy of an object depends on the speed and number of molecules that make up the object.

23%

RG155002

As water at the bottom of a jar gets warmer than the water above it, the water at the bottom of the jar and its thermal energy both rise because thermal energy is associated with the movement of the water molecules.

22%

EG051004

For two glasses containing the same number of water molecules, the water with molecules that are moving at the lower average speed has less thermal energy.

18%

EG052005

For two balloons that contain the same number of helium atoms, the helium atoms in the balloon with the greater thermal energy are moving at the greater average speed.

18%

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.

17%

EG053006

For two ice cubes that are made up of the same number of molecules, the ice cube with the molecules moving at the lower average speed has less thermal energy.

15%

EG065002

Water has more thermal energy than ice because the thermal energy of a substance depends on how fast the molecules that substance are moving, and the molecules of water are moving faster than the molecules of ice.

12%