Florida Teacher Certification Examinations (FTCE) Subject Area Practice Test

A 2nd grade teacher wants to understand the principles of invisible energy. What material will she need?

1. Wire spool

2. Magnet and iron filings

3. Battery and light bulb

4. Prism and light source

The correct answer is: Magnet and iron filings

To understand the principles of invisible energy, specifically magnetic energy, the use of a magnet and iron filings is particularly effective. This combination allows students to visualize magnetic fields, which are not visible to the eye. By sprinkling iron filings around a magnet, the filings will align along the lines of the magnetic field, making the concept of invisible forces more tangible and understandable for young learners. This choice emphasizes hands-on exploration, which is beneficial at the 2nd grade level, helping students grasp this fundamental scientific principle through direct observation. Other options, like a wire spool or a prism and light source, focus on different areas of energy or physics but do not directly illustrate the concept of invisible magnetic energy in such an engaging manner. Meanwhile, the battery and light bulb relate to electrical energy, which is also important but does not pertain to the invisible energy context as effectively as the magnet and iron filings do.