FORMATIVE MINI ASSESSMENTS
Second Grading Period 2009-10
December 1 - 10
STUDENT NAME ___________________________________DATE___________________ PERIOD_____________
Science – Grade 6
Read each question and choose the best answer. Be sure to mark all of your answers.
The illustration below shows an example of energy changing forms.
Sun
Insulated wires
Fan
Solar cells
1
Radio
(Not drawn to scale)
Which changes in energy form are illustrated in the diagram above?
A electrical
B sound
C mechanical
D solar
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solar
mechanical
solar
electrical
light and mechanical
light and electrical
sound and heat
sound and mechanical
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2
For a science project, a student was conducting
research on the energy transformations of
different types of power plants. After
completing his research comparing
hydroelectric power plants to wind power
plants, the student concluded that —
F hydroelectric power plants convert solar
energy to water energy
G wind power plants convert wind energy to
sound energy
H hydroelectric and wind power plants are
mainly used to grow crops
J
hydroelectric and wind power plants are
mainly used to produce electricity
5
When you turn on a light bulb in your house,
you convert —
A potential energy into electrical energy and
light energy
B electrical energy into kinetic energy and
light energy
3
C electrical energy into light energy and
thermal energy
What is one of the major problems with using
wind power as an energy source?
D chemical energy into light energy and
thermal energy
A It creates more toxic waste than other power
plants.
B The equipment to collect wind energy does
not exist.
C Wind cannot produce a constant supply of
electricity.
D There is never enough wind to make wind
power plants work.
4
Which of the following is a conversion from
chemical energy to thermal energy?
F Browning toast in an electric toaster
G Burning charcoal in a barbecue pit
6
Our world contains many sources of energy.
We can capture energy from the sun and the
wind. We can also produce energy by burning
fossil fuels containing stored energy. All of the
following are true statements concerning energy
resources except —
F solar energy and wind power are renewable
resources
G coal and natural gases are nonrenewable
resources
H Drying hair with a hair dryer
H nonrenewable resources, such as fossil fuels,
only take a few years to create
J Ironing clothes with an iron
J
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renewable energy sources are better for the
environment than using nonrenewable
resources
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10 During science class, a student was comparing a
solar powered calculator to a battery powered
calculator. The student concluded that —
F both calculators convert light and heat
energy into electrical energy
G the calculators convert different forms of
energy into electrical energy
H solar powered calculators convert electrical
energy to solar energy
J
battery powered calculators convert nuclear
energy into electrical energy
7 A science teacher is conducting a demonstration
in her classroom. This demonstration requires
the use of a hot plate to heat a beaker of water.
What transformation of energy occurs in order
for the temperature of the water to increase?
A Solar energy to heat energy
Electricity Production by Energy Source
B Electrical energy to light energy
Type of Energy
Source
C Heat energy to light energy
D Electric energy to heat energy
8
A piece of pizza is placed in a toaster oven to
warm up. The energy conversion that takes
place in a toaster oven is —
F light energy to electrical energy
G chemical energy to thermal energy
H thermal energy to electrical energy
J electrical energy to thermal energy
Coal
Nuclear
Hydroelectric
Natural Gas
Petroleum
0
20
40
Percentage
60
11 According to the data displayed on the graph
above and the pattern observed from this
information, what would happen if coal were no
longer available to produce electricity?
A The primary source of electricity would no
longer be available.
B The lack of coal would not affect the
production of electricity.
9
To heat water using a renewable energy source,
you would use —
C The use of petroleum for producing
electricity would decrease.
A oil
D Nuclear power would no longer be used to
generate electricity.
B solar energy
C natural gas
D coal
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Use the pie graph and your knowledge of energy types to answer questions 12 and 13.
The pie graph below compares the amounts of energy from different sources used in the United States each
year.
Hydropower
5%
Other 1%
(wind, solar,
geothermal)
Nuclear 4%
Coal
23%
Oil
42%
Natural gas
25%
12 Which of the following energy sources when
combined together provide more than 50% of
the energy needs in the United States?
F Nuclear and natural gas
G Hydropower and oil
H Oil and coal
J
Natural gas and coal
13 Most of the resources used to produce energy
are from fossil fuels. Why is it important that
society stop relying so heavily on fossil fuels?
A Oil, coal, and natural gas are non-renewable
resources.
B Fossil fuels are more expensive to process
and use.
C Fossil fuels can only be used to generate
electricity.
D Oil, coal, and natural gas provide only a
small amount of energy.
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Energy Consuming Countries
(Percent of Worlds Energy Usage)
United States
(1)
Russia
(2)
China
(3)
Japan
(4)
All others
(5)
24.6%
18.0%
7.8%
4.9%
44.7%
14 Information can often be best presented in a graph. Which graph correctly displays the energy consumption
data found in the chart above?
F
5
5
4
4
3
3
H
2
1
1
0
G
10
20
30
Percent
40
50
5
5
4
4
3
3
J
2
1
0
10
20
30
Percent
40
50
0
10
20
30
Percent
40
50
2
1
0
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2
10
20
30
Percent
40
50
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Energy
Resource
Fossil Fuels
Nuclear
Solar
Water
Advantages
Disadvantage
 Fossil fuels provide a large
amount of thermal energy per
unit of mass.
 Fossil fuels are easy to
transport.
 Fossil fuels can be used to
generate electrical energy
and to make products, such
as plastics.
 Nuclear resources are very
concentrated forms of energy.
 Nuclear power plants do not
produce smog.
 Solar energy provides an
almost limitless source of
energy.
 Solar energy does not
produce pollution.
 Water is renewable.
 Water does not produce
smog.
 Fossil fuels are nonrenewable.
 Fossil fuels produce smog when
burned.
 Burning coal releases
substances that can cause acid
precipitation.
 Fossil fuels cause damage if
spilled in transport.
 Nuclear resources produce
radioactive waste.
 Radioactive elements are
nonrenewable.
 Solar energy is expensive to use
for large-scale energy
production.
 Solar energy is practical only in
sunny areas.
 Dams disrupt a river's
ecosystem.
 Water as an energy resource is
available only in areas that have
rivers.
15 According to the information in the chart, which of the following would be the best energy resource to use
because it is a limitless resource and does not harm the environment?
A Fossil fuels
B Nuclear
C Solar
D Water
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