Milestones Practice Test

Which of these BEST describes an atom?  

• A particle of matter that carries an overall positive charge. 
• A particle of matter that is formed by the bonding of two or more molecules.
• The smallest particle of an element that shows all the properties of that element. 
• The smallest particle of an element that can be broken down further to form molecules. 

Light bulbs on a string of lights are connected using parallel circuits. Which of these BEST explains why parallel circuits are used instead of series circuits?

• Parallel circuits use less energy
• Parallel circuits are easier to make.
• If one light goes out on a parallel circuit, no other lights go out.
• If one light goes out on a parallel circuit, all the other lights will go out.

Many movies have shown scenes where explosions can be seen and heard in outer space. Which statement BEST describes why these scenes are not correct? 

• Sound waves are unable to travel in outer space.
• Light waves travel too slowly to be seen in outer space.
• Light and sound travel at different speeds in outer space.
• Light and sound travel in different directions in outer space.

The three jars show the movement of particles in three states of matter. Dry ice is solid carbon dioxide. As dry ice is heated, it goes directly from a solid to a gas through a process called sublimation.Which sequence of jars shows the change in the motion of particles of dry ice as it sublimes?

• From a solid to a liquid
• From a solid to a gas
• From a liquid to a gas
• From a gas to a liquid

A student is heating water to make hot chocolate. He begins thinking about the effect of heating on the particles of water. Which of these statements correctly describes how the particles of water are affected as the water is heated?

• The particles start moving faster.
• The particles start moving slower.
• The particles start vibrating in fixed positions.
• The particles start expanding to take up more space.

When a roller-coaster car reaches the top of a hill and starts going downward, there is a change in thedirection and speed of the car.Which of these can also be concluded about the roller-coaster car as it is going downward?

• Its kinetic energy decreases as its potential energy proportionally increases
• Its potential energy decreases as its kinetic energy proportionally increases.
• Both its potential and kinetic energy proportionally increase.
• Both its potential and kinetic energy proportionally decrease.

.A student performs an investigation to determine the properties of an iron nail. The list shows her findings: 
The nail can rust.
The nail is denser than water
The nail is very hard.
The nail can be bent.
Which statement is correct about the student's findings?

• Rusting is a physical property of iron.
• Hardness is a chemical property of iron.
• Rusting and bending are chemical properties of iron.
• Density and hardness are physical properties of iron.

In order to boil an egg, a student puts the egg in a pan of water and heats the pan on the stove.Which methods of heat transfer are used to transfer the majority of the heat to the water and to the egg?

• radiation and convection
• radiation and conduction
• conduction and convection
• conduction, convection, and radiation

Student 1 claims that energy can only be transferred by particles inside a medium. Student 2 does notagree with Student 1.Which statement should Student 2 use as evidence that Student 1 is INCORRECT?

• Light energy can travel without a medium.
• Sound energy can travel without a medium.
• All types of energy can travel without a medium.
• Mechanical energy can travel without a medium.

A cart is being pushed over a smooth surface with a constant force. After five seconds, the cart starts moving over a rough surface.How will the cart be affected once the surface changes?

• The cart's inertia will increase.
• The cart's velocity will increase.
• The cart's friction will decrease.
• The cart's acceleration will decrease.