Think-Pair-Share FCAT Practice

Think-Pair-Share FCAT Practice During this activity, students will have individual time to think about a question related to FCAT 2.0. They will then pair up with a partner to share their thoughts. Finally, the pairs will select one major explanation to share with the entire class.

Think Think about the answer options. Decide which answer you believe is correct and explain why the other options might be possible but incorrect. Write your explanations in your science journal: __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Pair Start a discussion with your partner(s) by asking him/her to explain their response to the “Think” part of this sheet (above). Combine your ideas and summarize your discussion in your science journal: __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Share Share with the whole class the most important points from your "Paired" discussion. To prepare for sharing, list below the most important point you would like to share with the entire class in your science journal: __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Practice Problems SC.6.P.13.1 Investigate and describe types of forces including contact forces and forces acting at a distance, such as electrical, magnetic, and gravitational.

Luis is pushing a box of new soccer balls across the floor. In the following picture, the arrow on the box is a vector representing the force Luis exerted. What do the length and direction of the arrow represent? • the distance and direction of the motion of the box • the strength and direction of the force applied to the box • the motion of the box and the direction of the force applied to it • the strength and direction of the unbalanced force applied to the box √heck the answer

ANS: B • is incorrect because a vector arrow indicates force, not motion. • is correct because a vector arrow indicates the size of the force as well as the strength and direction in which it is applied. • is incorrect because the force does not necessarily cause motion. A vector arrow describes the size and direction of the force. • D is incorrect because although the vector indicates one of the forces applied to the box, it does not indicate whether it is balanced or unbalanced.

A rocket burns fuel to create hot gases that explode violently out of the rocket engine. This explosion creates thrust. Thrust is a force that pushes the rocket upward. What force must thrust overcome in order to send a rocket up into space? • gravity acting on the rocket • gravity acting on the exploding gases • friction between the rocket and the ground • friction between the rocket and the exploding gases √heck the answer

ANS: A • is correct because the explosion of the burning fuel exerts an upward force to overcome Earth’s gravity on the rocket and send it into space. • is incorrect because the exploding gases are what create thrust. • is incorrect because the friction between the rocket and the ground is not what prevents the rocket from going into space; gravity is what holds it to Earth. • is incorrect because friction is not a force that must be overcome in order to propel the rocket into space. Friction would be a force to consider if the rocket were being moved along the ground.

In order for a space shuttle to leave Earth, it must produce a great amount of thrust. Its rocket boosters create this thrusting force by burning great amounts of fuel. However, once in space, the shuttle needs very little fuel. It circles Earth while gravity pulls it toward Earth What term describes the circular path the shuttle makes in space? • orbit • gravity • free fall • weight √heck the answer

ANS: A • is correct because the term orbit describes both the act of an object circling in space because of the object’s gravitational pull and the path that the orbiting object takes. • is incorrect because gravity is the force that keeps an object in orbit, not the path the object takes. • is incorrect because the term free fall describes the conditions under which an object is in orbit, not the path the object takes. • is incorrect because the term weight is the measure of the gravitational force on an object.

Justin drew the following diagram of the orbits of several objects in space. What keeps object A in orbit around object B? • the force of gravity between objects A and B • the force of gravity between objects A and C • the force of gravity between objects A and E • the force of gravity between objects B and X √heck the answer

ANS: A • is correct because the force of gravity between objects A and B keeps object A in orbit. • is incorrect because the force of gravity between objects A and C may affect each of their orbits around object B, but it is not the force that keeps object A in orbit. • is incorrect because the force of gravity between objects A and E may affect each of their orbits, but it is not the force that keeps object A in orbit. • is incorrect because the force of gravity between objects B and X is the force that keeps object B in orbit around object X.

The diagram shows the components of motion that affect an object in orbit around a planet. How is the dotted arrow related to the two solid arrows? • It shows the path the object would take if it had no inertia. • It shows the path the object would take if there were no gravity. • It shows the path the object would take if the object were not in motion. • It shows the path the object takes because of its motions from inertia and gravity. √heck the answer

ANS: D • is incorrect because the solid line labeled Gravity would be the path the object would take if it had no inertia. • is incorrect because the solid line labeled Inertia would be the path the object would take if there were no force of gravity acting on it. • is incorrect because the solid line labeled Gravity would be the path the object would take if the object were not moving in space. • is correct because the curved orbit path is a result of the combined effects of inertia and gravity on the object.

Let’s Play: In this game, you will investigate the very different behavior of electrical and magnetic forces.

Practice ProblemsSC.6.P.13.3 Investigate and describe that an unbalanced force acting on an object changes its speed, or direction of motion, or both.

Elizabeth is a wildlife biologist. She traveled by boat in the Everglades to observe alligators. The following graphs show the motion of her boat at several times during the trip. Which graph shows her boat traveling when it is not accelerating? • graph A • graph B • graph C • graph D √heck the answer

ANS: A • is correct because a flat graph indicates no change in velocity, and therefore no acceleration is taking place. • is incorrect because an upward slope indicates positive acceleration. • is incorrect because a downward slope indicates negative acceleration (slowing down, or deceleration). • is incorrect because an upward slope, although less pronounced than graph B, still indicates positive acceleration.

Imagine a box floating in space. The following picture shows all the forces acting on this box. What is the vertical force on this box? • –100 N upward • –50 N upward • 50 N upward • 100 N upward √heck the answer

ANS: C • is incorrect because the upward force is greater than the downward force, so the net force is positive 50 N up. • is incorrect because the upward force is greater than the downward force, so the net force is positive 50 N up. • is correct because the net force is determined by calculating the difference between the downward and upward forces, 100 N – 50 N = 50 N. • is incorrect because to determine the net force, the downward force must be subtracted from the upward force.

Two balls are falling from the same ledge. One ball falls straight down. The other ball is moving horizontally when it leaves the ledge. Which of the following statements describes the amount of time needed for the balls to reach the ground? • The balls hit the ground at the same time because gravity is the only unbalanced force acting on them. • The ball that is falling straight down from the ledge hits the ground first because it does not travel as far. • The ball with more mass will hit the ground first because it experiences more acceleration due to gravity. • The ball that is moving horizontally away from the ledge hits the ground first because it experiences acceleration in both directions. √heck the answer

ANS: A • is correct because both balls accelerate downward at the same rate because gravity is the only force that affects their fall. • is incorrect because the force of gravity affects the downward motion of each ball the same way, no matter how it is moving horizontally. • is incorrect because the acceleration due to gravity is independent of the mass of the ball. • is incorrect because the only unbalanced force on the ball is the pull of gravity.

For an airplane to get airborne or climb in flight, the overall downward force of air on its wing surfaces must be less than the upward force. In this interactive activity from the NOVAWeb site, learn how wing shape, angle of attack, and speed of the wing through the air each influence how air moves in relation to a wing. Then see how these factors in turn influence a plane's speed, maneuverability, and fuel economy.

Think-Pair-Share FCAT Practice