Solar House 8 th Grade Science Systems Assessment

Solar energy panels were installed on this home, providing electricity for many uses including household appliances and electronic devices.

1How is energy transferred from the sun, through space to the solar panels? A.It is transferred as radiation. B.It is transferred by conduction. C.It is transferred by convention currents. D.It is transferred by movement of particles in space.

2The solar panels’ output energy is used to run the household appliances and electronic devices. What form of energy are the solar panels providing to the appliances? A.Light B.Chemical C.Electrical D.Thermal (Heat)

3Energy from the solar panels is used to power an electric heater that warms the air in the house. The foundation of the house also warms. How does the foundation become warmer? A.The warmer air in the house absorbs the cold of the foundation. B.The cooler foundation transfers its cold energy to the soil beneath it. C.The cooler foundation transfers thermal energy (heat) to the soil beneath it. D.The warmer air in the house transfers thermal energy (heat) to the foundation.

4The solar house’s’ electric heater warms the air. What happens to the motion of the molecules of air as their temperature increases? A.The motion of the molecules slows down. B.The motion of the molecules becomes faster. C. The motion of the molecules does not change. D.The motion of the molecules changes direction.

5Describe two energy transfers from solar panels to household appliances or electronic devices. In your description, be sure to: -Identify the form of energy before and after each transfer. -Describe where the energy transfers happen. Examples: Electrical energy is transformed to mechanical energy in the dryer Electrical energy is transformed to sound energy in the cell phone Electrical energy is transformed to light energy in the computer Electrical energy is transformed to thermal energy in the dryer Electrical energy is transformed to sound energy in the TV Electrical energy is transformed to mechanical energy in the vacuum

6What is one piece of evidence supporting the claim that light from the sun is made of a mixture of all colors of light? Rainbow Prism

7Why is a banana yellow? A.It gives off yellow light. B.It reflects the light from the sun. C.It absorbs yellow light and reflects all other colors. D.It reflects yellow light and absorbs other colors.

8Why can we see the light from the sun, but not hear the sounds it makes? A.The sun’s light waves are bigger than sound waves. B.The sun is too far away for the sound to make it to Earth. C.The sun’s light waves can travel through space, but sound cannot. D.The sun’s light waves can travel through the Earth’s atmosphere, but sound cannot.

9A computer uses electricity, transforming it into other forms of energy. What are those form(s) of energy? A.Light B.Light and sound C.Light, sound and heat D. Light, sound, heat and motion

Rocket Challenge Directions: Use the following information to answer questions 10 through 11. Justin and Maddy decided to do the School Rocket Challenge. They recorded the stages of their design process as follows: Challenge: Make a rocket that will travel at least 4.0 meters. Rules: 1. Any materials may be used to make rockets. 2. Rockets may be up to 40 centimeters (cm) long. 3. All rockets will be launched in the same way from the same rubber band rocket launcher. Research the Problem: Use a pencil to model a rocket. Investigate the effect of length, weight, and fins on how a pencil travels. Launch the pencil straight off a table several times in the same way. Record how the pencil traveled.

Explore Ideas: Use small fins on the end of the rocket. Make the rocket out of light weight materials. Make the rocket 40 cm long because longer pencils traveled farther. Add weight to the back end of the rocket to help the rocket point up.

Plan Summary: Build a rocket out of a lightweight cardboard tube with a paper nose cone. Tape the cardboard fins to the end of the rocket to help the rocket go straight. Steps to Do the Plan: 1. Make a nose cone from a piece of paper. 2. Make four fins from a piece of cardboard. 3. Tape the nose cone and fins to a cardboard tube as shown in the Diagram of Solution. 4. Be sure rocket is 40 cm long.

Diagram of Solution: Test Solution: Launch the Tube Rocket three times. Measure and record the distance the rocket traveled. Find the average distance traveled. Test Results:

10What form of energy does the rocket have because the rocket is traveling? A. Light energy B. Kinetic energy C. Electrical energy D. Chemical energy

11 Justin and Maddy decided to redesign the Rocket Launcher to make the rocket travel farther. Rocket Launcher Explain how to redesign the Rocket Launcher. You may use any materials in your redesign. In your explanation, be sure to: Describe how to redesign the original Rocket Launcher. Explain how the redesign would make the rocket travel farther than the original Rocket Launcher.

Possible Answers: Describe redesign: Explain how the redesign helps the rocket travel farther: Use a bigger (longer, thicker, stronger, tighter, smaller, newer) rubber band  Exert more force on the rocket  Can pull the band back farther Angle the launcher upward  More time in the air  Fly higher Pull the rubber band back fartherExert more force on the rocket  Raise the base  Launch form a higher place  More time in the air  Send the rocket higher  Use one pole  Move pole More force on the rocket Tape or nail the launcher down  So the launcher will not move  For more stability Lubricate, use rollers, or smoother material on top surface of launcher Reduce friction so more force acts on the rocket