The picture below shows a pinwheel that Bobby has in his front yard.
Often Bobby sees his pinwheel spinning, but other times it does not spin. Which statement best explains what makes his pinwheel spin?
(1 point)
Responses
The Sun heats up the pinwheel, causing it to turn.
The Sun heats up the pinwheel, causing it to turn.
The colors on the wheel repel one another, causing it to turn.
The colors on the wheel repel one another, causing it to turn.
Energy from the ground shakes the wheel causing the pinwheel to move.
Energy from the ground shakes the wheel causing the pinwheel to move.
Energy from the wind pushes on the wheel causing the pinwheel to move.
Energy from the wind pushes on the wheel causing the pinwheel to move.
The statement that best explains what makes Bobby's pinwheel spin is:
"Energy from the wind pushes on the wheel causing the pinwheel to move."
To determine which statement best explains what makes Bobby's pinwheel spin, we need to examine each option and evaluate it based on our understanding of physics.
Option 1: The Sun heats up the pinwheel, causing it to turn.
This statement suggests that the heat from the Sun is responsible for the pinwheel's movement. However, unless the pinwheel is made of a material that expands or reacts to heat in a way that results in spinning, this statement is unlikely to be true. Moreover, pinwheels are often located in shaded areas, making it less likely that the Sun's heat alone is responsible for the spin.
Option 2: The colors on the wheel repel one another, causing it to turn.
This statement doesn't accurately describe how pinwheels work. The colors on the wheel are primarily for aesthetics and do not produce any physical force to cause the pinwheel to spin.
Option 3: Energy from the ground shakes the wheel causing the pinwheel to move.
This statement is also unlikely to be true as there is no direct evidence or scientific principle that explains how energy from the ground can shake a pinwheel enough to cause it to move. The ground vibrations would need to be significant and focused, which is not commonly observed.
Option 4: Energy from the wind pushes on the wheel causing the pinwheel to move.
This statement aligns with our understanding of how pinwheels work. Pinwheels have a design that allows them to spin when wind blows against the propeller-like blades. The force exerted by the wind transfers energy to the pinwheel, causing it to rotate. This option is the most plausible explanation for why Bobby's pinwheel spins.
Therefore, the correct answer is:
Energy from the wind pushes on the wheel causing the pinwheel to move.