6th grade · Science · Unit 4 of 9
Thermal Energy & Insulation
Heat flow, temperature and keeping things warm or cold.
What your child practices
Practices how thermal energy moves from warmer to cooler objects, how mass and material affect temperature change, and how to design a device that slows heat transfer.
California Content Standards learning standard: MS-PS3-3; MS-PS3-4 · designing to reduce heat transfer, and how mass and material affect temperature change
Sample questions
A taste of this unit. In the app, questions change every time and get easier or harder to match your child.
Question 1
A thermos keeps soup hot by…
- reducing heat transfer
- adding heat
- making soup
- cooling the soup
reducing heat transfer
Hint: Vacuum walls.
Question 2
Double-pane windows save energy because…
- they block all light
- they make heat
- the gap between panes slows heat transfer
- they are heavier
the gap between panes slows heat transfer
Hint: Trapped gas insulates.
Question 3
Heat moving by flowing liquids or gases is…
- conduction
- reflection
- radiation
- convection
convection
Hint: Warm air rises.
Question 4
Which is a good insulator?
- Copper
- Iron
- Aluminum
- Foam
Foam
Hint: Trapped air slows heat.
Question 5
Heat moving as waves through space is…
- condensation
- conduction
- convection
- radiation
radiation
Hint: Sunlight warms you.
Question 6
You design a cup to keep cocoa hot. Which test is fair?
- Start each cup at a different temperature
- Same amount of cocoa at the same start temperature in each cup
- Test one cup only
- Different amounts in each cup
Same amount of cocoa at the same start temperature in each cup
Hint: Control the variables.