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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 makes waves different from molecules?

2. In which direction do electrons always travel?

3. What is the type of electricity when electrons travel through a conductor such as metal?

4. In the illustration of binary code, what represents the "on" number?

5. What do sensors and detectors measure?

Short Essay Questions

1. Briefly describe the binary system.

2. Describe how the author illustrates a chemical reaction.

3. How is artificial light created?

4. Discuss sound waves.

5. Define the two types of waves that are discussed.

6. Explain how electromagnets keep machines running.

7. How is magnetism caused?

8. What are sensors and detectors? What do they measure?

9. What is current electricity? What is required to generate it?

10. What is the input?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

1) Define the term airfoil and state where you are likely to find one of them.

2) What does an airfoil create? How does it do so?

3) What are the two opposing pairs of forces at work in an airplane? Explain how those two forces work together to make a plane fly.

4) Explain how a helicopter differs from an airplane in the way it uses the principles of lift and thrust.

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

In Part One, The Mechanics of Movement, states that to understand the way things work, one needs to understand the underlying principles. Discuss the following:

1) Discuss the principles/laws of physics that underpin all of the various tools and machines presented in The New Way Things Work.

2) Thoroughly discuss the wedge. How is it used? Upon what principles of physics is it based? What are some common wedges? What is the most complex wedge that is discussed?

3) How often do you think you use a wedge during the course of your everyday life? Do you think it is important to understand the underlying principles of a wedge? Why or why not? Do you think it is interesting to understand upon what basis something such as a zipper was created?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 861 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample