Energy: Forms and Changes – Test
Name Date Period
Multiple Choice
Identify the letter of the choice that best completes the statement or answers the question.
____ 1. When you turn on a radio, what type of energy transformation takes place?
a. sound energy to chemical energy
b. chemical energy to sound energy
c. electrical energy to sound energy
d. sound energy to electrical energy
____ 2. A student rolls these four items on the same surface and at the same speed. Which item will have
the greatest kinetic energy?
a. marble
b. basketball
c. beach ball
d. table tennis ball
3. When a firecracker explodes, stored chemical energy turns into sound and light energy. What
. other type of energy is also released during this transformation?
a. thermal
b. nuclear
c. electrical
d. Mechanical
4. The energy of blowing wind can be harnessed to create electricity. Why is wind considered a
renewable energy source?
a. Wind does not cause destruction of the environment.
b. Wind turns the blades of a windmill that creates electricity.
c. Wind provides only a very small amount of electricity to the United States.
d. Wind comes from atmospheric conditions that are available indefinitely.
5. This is the ability to do work or cause a change.
A. Motion B. Energy C. Friction D. Momentum
6. Potential energy is sometimes called ____ energy.
A. stored B. moving C. stationary D. translational
7. The following steps describe the process of generating electricity by burning coal in a power
plant: 1. The coal fire converts liquid water to steam.
2. The steam rotates fanlike blades of a mechanical
turbine.
3. The shaft of the turbine spins an
electric generator.
4. The electric power is delivered to the consumer
over long-distance power lines.
Which energy transformation occurs during this process?
a. Nuclear energy of the steam is converted to thermal energy of the turbine. in the generator.
b. Mechanical energy from the turbine is converted to electric energy
c. Electric energy from the generator is converted to chemical energy in the power lines.
d. Chemical energy from the generator is converted to electric energy in the power lines.
8. Look at the picture below.
At which point will the roller coaster have the greatest amount of potential energy?
a. A
b. B
c. C
d. D
9. A ball is released from rest at position 1. The diagram shows the ball in four positions as it
rolls along a track from left to right.
In which position does the ball have its minimum gravitational potential energy and maximum
kinetic energy?
A. 1
B. 2
C. 3
D. 4
_____ 10. This is energy due to motion.
A. Kinetic energy B. Potential Energy C. Geothermal D. Electrical
_____ 11. This is energy that is not moving. It is energy that is not causing any changes now.
A. Kinetic energy B. Potential energy C. Chemical D. Frictional
_____ 12. This energy is energy of electrons that form the bonds between atoms in molecules.
A. Chemical B. Nuclear
C. Thermal D. Electromagnetic
13. Potential energy is sometimes called ____ energy.
A. stored B. moving C. stationary D. translational
14. This energy holds the protons together in the nucleus.
A. Chemical B. Nuclear
C. Thermal D. Electromagnetic
15. Electricity is produced in a hydroelectric plant when moving water turns a turbine.
Which describes this energy transformation from the turning turbine to electricity.
A. kinetic energy into electric energy
B. nuclear energy into electric energy
C. thermal energy into electric energy
D. chemical energy into electric energy
______17. This is a form of electromagnetic radiation. It can travel through a vacuum.
A. Sound B. Light
19. The diagram below shows a pendulum in motion. Which describes the potential and
kinetic energy of the pendulum at position X?
A. Potential energy is at its lowest and kinetic energy is at its lowest.
B. Potential energy is at its highest and kinetic energy is at its lowest.
C. Kinetic energy is at its highest and potential energy is at its lowest.
D. Kinetic energy is at its highest and potential energy is at its highest.
