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This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. What forms a molecule?

2. What causes increased heat in the process of conduction?

3. How does heat travel through heating elements?

4. What controls direction on a ship?

5. What are different level marks for different types of water on the side of a ship called?

Short Essay Questions

1. What rays does the sun emit? How do those rays react to an object?

2. Upon what law of physics are the simple machines that are introduced in Part 1 governed?

3. What is an airfoil and how does it work?

4. Describe how a door wedge works.

5. How does the atom bomb work?

6. What is the main focus of the first section of Part 2, Harnessing the Elements?

7. How do the rotor blades on a helicopter work?

8. Discuss how sails are used on a boat.

9. How does a zipper work?

10. Discuss why the density of water varies.

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Discuss the following:

1) Define the Principle of Action and Reaction and the Principle of Suction.

2) How is the Principle of Action and Reaction related to a propeller? Explain with examples.

3) How is the principle of suction related to propellers? Explain with examples.

4) How does a sailboat use the principle of suction? How does a sailboat with two triangular sails differ from a sailboat with only one triangular sail with regards to the principle of suction?

5) Do you think the principle of suction applies to using a straw to drink? Explain your response.

Essay Topic 2

One of the greatest impacts upon modern society is the invention of the internal combustion engine. Discuss the following:

1) What is an internal combustion engine?

2) Compare an engine that uses gas to one that is used in a jet.

3) Do you think the overall impact of the internal combustion engine in the modern world has been positive or negative? Explain your answer.

4) What engine preceded the internal combustion engine and what did this engine precipitate? Explain how this engine works.

Essay Topic 3

Discuss the following:

1) How does Macaulay use the term wheel and axle?

2) How is the wheel and axle related to a screwdriver? To the Hand Drill? A wrench?

3) Do you think the wheel and axle discussed in The New Way Things Work is an important invention? Why or why not.

4) Research the history of the screwdriver. When was it invented? By whom? Where? How were the first screwdrivers made? How are they made today?

(see the answer keys)

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