MS-PS3-5 | Work and Energy Transfer · NYS standard · Grade 8 test questions

Construct, use, and present an argument to support the claim that when work is done on or by a system, the energy of the system changes as energy is transferred to or from the system.

Clarification statement: Examples of empirical evidence used in arguments could include an inventory or other representation of the energy before and after the transfer in the form of temperature changes or motion of object.

Assessment boundary: Assessment could include calculations of work and energy.

Grade 8 Science Test Questions

Released New York State Grade 8 science test questions that assess MS-PS3-5 are listed here by test and question cluster. Each link opens the question with its answer key.

Exam	Cluster	Question
Spring 2025 Grade 8 Test	Practical Applications of Magnetism	Question 46
Spring 2025 Grade 8 Test	Energies of Dropped Marbles	Question 54

Vocabulary

Terms from the Middle School Science Glossary that come from this standard or from the released Grade 8 Science Test questions that assess it.

From this standard

argument
calculation
change in temperature
claim
conservation of energy
empirical evidence
energy
energy inventory
energy of a system
energy transfer
evidence
kinetic energy
motion
motion energy
scientific reasoning
system
work

From released test questions

data table – Spring 2025
drop height – Spring 2025
electromagnetic crane – Spring 2025
model – Spring 2025
potential energy – Spring 2025
speed – Spring 2025
thermal energy – Spring 2025

Performance Level Descriptions

Every Grade 8 Science Test question on MS-PS3-5 is written to match one of the performance level descriptions (PLDs) below.

Level 1: Using evidence, identify the argument that best supports the claim that when work is done on or by a system, the energy of the system changes as energy is transferred to or from the system. Spring 2025 · Q46

Level 2: Identify the evidence that supports the argument that when work is done on or by a system, the energy of the system changes as energy is transferred to or from the system. Spring 2025 · Q54

Level 3: Construct, use, and present an argument to support the claim that when work is done on or by a system, the energy of the system changes as energy is transferred to or from the system.

Level 4: Construct, use, and present an argument, using multiple pieces of evidence, calculations and reasoning, to support the claim that when work is done on or by a system, the energy of the system changes as energy is transferred to or from the system.

Resources

Examples and discussion of resources for the learning, teaching, and assessment of MS-PS3-5.

This section could be expanded upon. You can help out by adding to this section.

NGSS Dimensions

Performance expectation MS-PS3-5 was developed using the following elements from the NRC document A Framework for K-12 Science Education:

Science and Engineering Practices

Engaging in Argument from Evidence
- Construct, use, and present oral and written arguments supported by empirical evidence and scientific reasoning to support the claim that when the kinetic energy of an object changes, energy is transferred to or from the object.

Disciplinary Core Ideas

PS3.B: Conservation of Energy and Energy Transfer
- When the motion energy of an object changes, there is inevitably some other change in energy at the same time.

Crosscutting Concepts

Energy and Matter
- Energy may take different forms (e.g., energy in fields, thermal energy, energy of motion).

Page contributors: Caroline Leonard, Conrad Richman, Shirley Shameen

MS | MS. Energy