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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 do compound levers contain?

2. What is a fulcrum?

3. What is the transfer of heat through infrared rays?

4. What does one have to understand in order to understand the way things work?

5. What happens if the edges of the two wheels touch?

Short Essay Questions

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

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

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

4. How does the inclined plane require less strength for a task?

5. Discuss fulcrum points as pertaining to levers.

6. Discuss the two principles upon which propellers and rudders work in a boat.

7. Discuss what happens when a driving force initiates movement.

8. Explain thermal radiation.

9. Discuss the relation of effort to distance.

10. Discuss how sails are used on a boat.

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Discuss the following:

1) Define nuclear fission.

2) Define nuclear fusion.

3) Describe how nuclear power is produced inside a reactor.

4) What is a chain reaction and how is the principle of a chain reaction important in producing nuclear power?

5) How can the principle of a chain reaction be dangerous? Research and see if there have been any instances when a nuclear chain reaction was not controlled and the consequences of such an event.

Essay Topic 2

Discuss the following:

1) What is friction and where will you find friction?

2) Is friction ever useful? Explain your answer using examples from the book and your own experience.

3) How do engineers reduce friction? Do you think friction can be totally eliminated? Why or why not?

4) When in your own life do you think it would be important to understand about friction? Discuss with examples.

5) Research a disaster that has happened in human history that could be directly or indirectly attributed to the presence of friction. Write an essay summarizing the event.

Essay Topic 3

Discuss the following:

1) How is the principle of combustion related to atomic energy?

2) Describe the basic principles and design of an atom bomb. Of a hydrogen bomb.

3) What are some negative side effects of an atomic bomb?

4) Is there any way to keep irresponsible groups/countries from using a nuclear bomb? How? Should the world work to control access to materials that are necessary to build an atomic bomb? Why or why not.

5) Research the atomic bombs dropped on Nagasaki and Hiroshima and discuss one aspect of those events.

(see the answer keys)

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