Force & Motion
What force pulls objects down toward the Earth?
Gravity
What kind of energy is transferred when one object bumps into another and makes it move?
Mechanical energy (energy of motion or energy transferred by moving objects)
What do we call a material that lets heat or electricity pass through it easily?
A conductor
What do we need for electrical energy to flow and make something work, like a light bulb?
A closed circuit
What changes in the sky can we see each night that the Moon goes through?
The phases of the Moon
What do we call a push or a pull that makes an object move?
A force
When you roll a ball across the floor, what kind of energy is moving from you to the ball?
Transfer Energy
What do we call a material that does not let heat or electricity pass through it easily?
An insulator
What happens if there is a break in an electrical path?
The electricity stops flowing and the device won’t work.
During which season do we usually have the longest daylight hours?
Summer
Why does a toy car roll farther on a smooth floor than on carpet?
A smooth floor has less friction, so the car does not slow down as quickly
How does sound travel from a speaker to your ears?
As vibrations through the air (sound energy)
Which of these is a good electrical conductor: wood, copper, or plastic?
Copper
Name two things that electrical energy can produce when it flows through a closed circuit.
Light and thermal (heat) energy
How does the temperature usually change from winter to summer?
Temperatures get warmer from winter to summer.
How does changing the strength of a push or pull affect the motion of an object?
A stronger push or pull can make an object move faster, slow down, stop, or change direction.
What happens when a rock is dropped into water? How does the energy move?
The energy transfers from the rock to the water, making waves spread outward.
Which of these is a good thermal insulator: metal, rubber, or aluminum?
Rubber
Why does a light bulb get warm when it is turned on?
Because electrical energy is transferred through the filament, producing thermal (heat) energy along with light.
What is the pattern of the Moon’s appearance over a month?
The pattern starts with a new moon, increasing light until full moon, decreasing light and back to new moon.
How does gravity affect the way different objects fall when they are dropped from the same height?
Gravity pulls all objects toward the ground. Objects fall downward because of gravity, even if they are different sizes or weights.
How can energy be transferred through motion, water, and sound at the same time? Give an example.
Example: Hitting a drum. Your hand’s motion transfers energy to the drum, the drum makes vibrations in the air (sound), and the drumhead may move water or another object on it.
Explain why a metal spoon heats up faster in hot soup than a wooden spoon.
The metal spoon is a conductor, so it transfers heat quickly. The wooden spoon is an insulator, so it does not heat up as fast.
Explain why a flashlight works when you insert batteries correctly but does not work if the batteries are inserted the wrong way.
The batteries must be placed correctly to complete the closed circuit. If the circuit is broken (batteries backward), electricity cannot flow, so the flashlight won’t produce light or heat.
If today is a full moon, what will the Moon look like about one week from now?
It will be a last quarter (or third quarter) moon. The Moon’s phases follow a predictable pattern.