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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 are large fins which adjust their tilt to compensate for waves?

2. What are two things that can happen to light rays?

3. What does the Mechanics of Movement explore?

4. What is another type of wedge the author mentions?

5. What is a wheel and rod attacked by a hinge?

Short Essay Questions

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

2. What is the most common form of inclined plane in machines? How does it work?

3. What is an internal combustion engine? Cite several examples of such engines.

4. Discuss the four types of gears.

5. How is nuclear power generated? What is one naturally occurring nuclear fusion?

6. What is a vacuum? What is one invention that uses this principle?

7. How do power crafts control their direction?

8. Discuss the concept of floating.

9. How can electric heat keep things cold?

10. What does the principle of the conservation of energy state? How does Part 1 relate to that principle?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

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 2

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?

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)

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