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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. How many different ways can waves be created by instruments?

2. What makes waves different from molecules?

3. What is one thing an electrical current can measure?

4. How are signals and messages created out of light and radio waves?

5. How are positive and negative electrons similar to positive and negative poles?

Short Essay Questions

1. Discuss sound waves.

2. Discuss the two types of lens, concave and convex.

3. Describe how the author illustrates a chemical reaction.

4. What topic does Part 5 cover?

5. Explain how electromagnets keep machines running.

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

7. What is a CPU and how is it illustrated by Macaulay?

8. How do liquid crystal displays work?

9. Briefly describe the binary system.

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

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

Discuss the following:

1) Why is a screw an inclined plane? Explain the basic design of a screw. How does it work as a wedge? What is the value of understanding the principle upon which a screw works?

2) What is an auger? How does an auger work according to the principle of a wedge?

3) Upon what principle of physics is a drill designed? What is another tool that works upon the same principle? How are the two tools alike? How are they different?

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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