Choose the best and answer from the list provide for each statement or question.

1. A rollercoaster car at the top of the hill, an archer preparing to release an arrow, and a lake that sits above a dam are all examples of what kind of energy?

A. potential energy B. kinetic energy C. gravitational energy D. consumption of energy

2. What does the author describe in the passage?

A. the history of human energy use in the United States B. the ways in which potential energy is converted to kinetic energy C. the best reasons to build new dams in the American Southwest D. the consequences of drought for people who rely on dams

3. The conversion of stored potential energy into kinetic energy can also be harnessed to power homes, factories and entire cities. Which example from the text supports this conclusion?

A. the softball pitcher B. the slingshotting comet C. the archer D. the Hoover Dam

4. Which of the following conclusions is supported by the text?

A. Nuclear power is the most efficient kind of energy for powering cities. B. Professional athletes should study the science of energy to play better. C. Dams power cities by converting stored potential energy into kinetic energy. D. Drought is a serious problem for farmers in the American Southwest.

5. What is this passage mainly about?

A. The movement of comets through our solar system. B. The scientific forces behind our favorite roller-coasters. C. The unusual properties of water molecules in rivers. D. The conversion of potential energy into kinetic energy.

6. Read the following sentences: “The Arizona and Nevada spillways are two means by which the waters of Lake Mead can escape the dam. As the lake water tumbles over the walls into a spillway, potential energy is instantly converted into kinetic energy.” As used in the passage, what does the word “spillway” mean?

A. A place where water flows over the top of a dam, creating energy. B. A place where water accidentally spills, causing problems for engineers. C. A place where water flows underground, into tunnels. D. A place where water flows into nearby farms, watering crops.

7. Choose the answer that best completes the sentence below. “The conversion of stored potential energy into kinetic energy can be harnessed to power homes, factories and entire cities. __________, the Hoover Dam provides power to California, Nevada and Arizona.

A. Even though B. Initially C. For instance D. However

8. How does the Hoover Dam provide power to California, Nevada and Arizona?

9. What two factors determine the energy production of the Hoover Dam?

10. Explain why the prolonged period of drought (a time where there is little rain, and little water flowing into rivers and lakes) would cause the Hoover Dam to generate much less energy since 2009. Use evidence from the text to support your answer.

Calculating Work:

As stated earlier, work has a special meaning in science. It is the product of the force applied to an object and the distance the object moves. The unit of work is the called the joule (J). Here is the formula for calculating the amount of work done. This is a formula you may need to use on the GED science test.

Solve the following problems with the formula for work. The first one is done for you

1) Aimee uses 20N of force to push a lawn mower 10 meters. How much work does she do?

Work = Force X Distance Work = 20N X 10m Work = 200 J

2) How much work does an elephant do while moving a circus wagon 20 meters with a pulling force of 200N? Work = Force X Distance Work =

3) A 900N mountain climber scales a 100m cliff. How much work is done by the mountain climber? Work = Force X Distance Work =

4) Shawn uses 45N of force to stop the cart 1 meter from running his foot over. How much work does he do? Work = Force X Distance Work =

5) How much work is done when a force of 33N pulls a wagon 13 meters? Work = Force X Distance Work =

6) How much work is required to pull a sled 5 meters if you use 60N of force? Work = Force X Distance Work =

7) Derrick does 15 Joules of work to push the pencil over 1 meter. How much force did he use? (hint: solve the problem with division) Force = Work / Distance Force =

8) Angela uses a force of 25 Newtons to lift her grocery bag while doing 50 Joules of work. How far did she lift the grocery bags? Distance = Work / Force Distance =

9) The baseball player does 1234 Joules of work when hitting a baseball into left field. Assuming the baseball landed 100 meters away from home plate, how much force did the player use to hit the ball? Force = Work / Distance Force =