Seeds of Life

Diversity of Life – Investigation 5

Energy Transfer

After completing the lima bean investigation, students let some of the lima bean seeds continue to grow into bean plants using the system diagrammed in the box below. Describe two energy transfers that happen in the system shown in the diagram.

In your description, be sure to:

  • Identify the forms of energy before and after each transfer.
  • Describe whereeach energy transfer happened.

You may use words, labeled pictures, and/or labeled diagrams on the diagram below.

One transfer:
Another transfer:

Scoring Guide - Seeds of Life

Diversity of Life – Investigation 5

Inquiry Scenario

A 2-point response demonstrates the student understands the GLE: Energy Transfers and Transformations (Analyze how the parts of a system interconnect and influence each other BY the flow of matter and energy through a system
The response describes two energy transfers that happened in the system shown in the diagram by:
Identifying the forms of energy before and after each energy transfer.
AND
Describing where each energy transfer happened.
Example:
One transfer: Heat energy is transferred from the lamp to the air.
Another transfer: Light energy is changed into chemical energy in the plants.
Other examples of energy transfers in this system:
Identifies form(s) of energy before and after / Describes where the energy transfers happened
Electrical energy to heat energy / In the lamp/cord
Electrical energy to light energy / In the lamp
Light energy to chemical energy / In the plants
Light energy to heat energy / In the plants/soil/air/container/table top
Heat energy to heat energy /
  • Any two objects with different temperatures that are touching: From the lamp to the air
  • During a phase change: From water in the soil to the air when the water evaporates

Heat energy to kinetic energy / In any warming object if the response indicates the molecules of the object: From the lamp to the molecules in the air
Kinetic energy to kinetic energy / Between any two colliding objects: From the molecules of air to the molecules of water
A 1-point response demonstrates the student has partial understanding of the GLE.
A 0-point response demonstrates the student has little or no understanding of
the GLE.
Description
One transfer:Heatenergy …
Attribute Note: This attribute may only be credited with an attempt to describe where the transfer happened (e.g. Heat energy moves through the system).
Where transfer happened:… lamp to the air.
Attribute Notes:
1This attribute may only be credited when the response attempts to identify the energy forms involved (e.g. energy increased in the air).
2This attribute may only be credited when the response describes a plausible location
(e.g. kinetic energy increased in the system cannot be credited unless the response indicates molecular motion).
Another transfer: Light energy … into chemical energy …
Attribute Note: This attribute may only be credited with an attempt to describe where the transfer happened (e.g. Light energy is transferred in the system).
Where transfer happened: … in the plants.
Attribute Notes:
  1. This attribute may only be credited when the response attempts to identify the energy forms involved (e.g. energy increased in the bean plants).
  2. This attribute may only be credited when the response describes a plausible location.

Item 8: Energy Transfers (continued)
General Notes:
  1. Incorrect Transfers/Transformations: Responses describing a correct and an incorrect energy transfer or transformation may not receive credit for the corresponding attribute, transfer or where transfer happened (e.g. light changes to heat and chemical energy in water, no credit for transfer). However, responses may use the terms transfer and transformation interchangeably.
  2. Transfers: Responses may be credited as correctly describing energy being transferred from one object to another by identifying the two objects and the energy form (e.g. Heatenergy is transferred from the lamp to the air.)
  3. Transformations: Responses may be credited as correctly describing energy being transformed from one form to another by identifying one object, and identifying the energy forms before and after the transformation (e.g. Light energy is transformed into chemical energy in the bean plants.).
  4. Energy Terms as Verbs: Responses using a verb when describing an object’s energy change may not be credited as identifying the energy form (e.g. the lamp heats the aircannot be credited as identifying heat energy).
  5. Synonyms for Energy Forms: Responses may be credited as correctly identifying an energy form when the following acceptable terms are used.
a)heat energy: heat, thermal energy
b)light energy: light, sunlight,light waves, light beams, radiant heat, light rays, solar/Sun energy, gamma rays, x-rays, ultraviolet, infrared, microwaves, radio waves, electromagnetic waves
c)electrical energy: electricity, voltage, electric current, electric charge, electrical power
d)kinetic energy: energy of motion, mechanical energy (work may be credited for mechanical energy when used appropriately)
e)potential energy: energy of position, elastic energy, gravitational energy, mechanical energy (work may be credited for mechanical energy when used appropriately)
f)chemical energy: bond energy, food energy, food, glucose, ATP, energy-rich molecules, sugar,starch, protein, fat, carbohydrate
  1. Naming an Energy Form: Responses identifying an energy form in an object without describing a transfer or transformation may not be credited any attributes for that transfer (e.g. the lamp has electrical energy and the plant has chemical energy cannot be credited).

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Draft June 2009