ENERGY TRANSFERS
A rubber band is stretched and released. What happens to the energy stored in the rubber band?
It is transferred into other forms of energy, including kinetic energy.
A metal spoon sits in hot soup and its handle becomes warm. What type of thermal energy transfer is occurring?
Conduction
Engineers are designing a container to keep ice from melting. Should they maximize or minimize thermal energy transfer?
Minimize thermal energy transfer.
A drought causes a pond to lose much of its water. What will most likely happen to the fish population?
It will decrease because water and living space are limited.
A hawk catches and eats a mouse. What type of interaction is this?
Predation
A roller coaster moves from the top of a hill toward the bottom. What happens to its gravitational potential energy and kinetic energy?
Gravitational potential energy decreases while kinetic energy increases.
You stand near a campfire and feel warmth without touching the fire. What type of thermal transfer is this?
Radiation
Which material would most likely keep a cold drink cold: thin metal, bare metal, or thick foam insulation?
Thick foam insulation
Double Jeopary
Which is an abiotic environmental variable that can affect population size: predators, competition, temperature, or disease?
Two deer eat the same limited patch of grass. What type of interaction is this?
Competition
A moving soccer ball hits a stationary ball, causing the second ball to move. What provides evidence that energy was transferred?
The second ball began moving.
Warm air rises while cooler air moves downward. What type of thermal energy transfer is occurring?
Convection
Three cup designs have temperature changes of 12°C, 5°C, and 18°C. Which design best minimizes thermal energy transfer?
The design with a 5°C change.
A pond has high dissolved oxygen and 420–430 fish. When oxygen becomes low, the population drops to 280 and then 190. What relationship does the data support?
Lower oxygen is associated with a smaller fish population.
A tick feeds on a deer. The tick benefits while the deer is harmed. What type of interaction is this?
Parasitism
Food provides energy for an organism. What type of energy is stored in food?
Chemical potential energy.
Rice placed on a speaker begins moving when the speaker produces a loud sound. What does this demonstrate?
Sound produces vibrations that transfer energy through a system.
Why might an engineer combine a reflective outer layer with an insulating inner layer?
The materials can work together to reduce thermal energy transfer.
A rabbit population increases after predators decrease. Later, the rabbits use most of the available food. What is now limiting the rabbit population?
Food availability
A bee gets nectar from a flower while helping transfer pollen. What type of relationship is this?
Mutualism
A pendulum is at its highest point and then swings downward. What energy transformation occurs?
Gravitational potential energy → kinetic energy.
Double Jeopardy
Two identical cups contain hot water. One is wrapped in insulation and stays hotter longer. What does this demonstrate?
Container A has temperature changes of 8°C, 9°C, and 8°C. Container B has changes of 15°C, 6°C, and 14°C. Which container provides more consistent evidence of its performance?
Container A
A pond has 100, 125, 140, and then 90 frogs over four years. A severe drought occurred during Year 4. What is the most reasonable explanation for the decrease?
The drought may have reduced resources needed by the frogs.
Two bird species live in the same forest. One eats insects in tree bark while the other eats insects on the forest floor. Why might they experience less competition?
They use different resources in different parts of the habitat.