Winter Benchmark 2022

Q6 A child throws a bouncy ball onto the ground. The bouncy ball bounces up and down on the ground until finally coming to a stop.

What can be changed to decrease the amount of time the ball bounces?

• Increase the force used to throw the ball.

• Use a ball with more mass.

• Decrease the size of the ball.

• Use a ball with a different color.

Answer explanation

The more mass an object has, the more force is required to move it. More mass also equals more gravitational attraction between the object and the Earth.

Tags

NGSS.MS-PS2-2

Q9 The diagram shows how sunlight hits Earth’s surface.

Which statement correctly explains which locations will experience the most hours ofdaylight?

• Locations near the North Pole will have the longest hours of daylight because the North Pole continues to be tilted toward the Sun as Earth rotates.

• Locations in the Northern Hemisphere near the equator will have the longest hours of daylight because the Sun shines the brightest near the equator.

• Locations near the South Pole will have the longest hours is farthest from sunlight for the longest amount of time

• Locations in the Southern Hemisphere near the equator will have the longest hours of daylight because the tilt of Earth causes sunlight to shine on the area at a low angle.

Answer explanation

The poles always have the most extreme amounts of daylight and darkness! In this case, the Northern Hemisphere is tilted toward the sun, so the North Pole never crosses the terminator line as the earth rotates from day to night.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-1

Q10 A ball at the end of a string is moved around in a circular motion. Which change will increase the speed of the ball?

• Decrease the height of the ball above the ground.

• Decrease the tension force on the string.

• Increase the height of the ball above the ground.

• Increase the tension force on the string.

Answer explanation

To speed up an object, you must use MORE force!

Tags

NGSS.MS-PS2-2

Q12 A student observes the stars of the Cassiopeia constellation in the night sky and the Sun in the daytime. The student finds that the Sun appears bigger and brighter than the stars of Cassiopeia. Which is a reason for the difference?

• The Sun causes daytime on Earth

• The Sun has planets orbiting it.

• The Sun is much larger than the stars in Cassiopeia.

• The Sun is closer to Earth compared to the stars in Cassiopeia.

Answer explanation

Remember, stars that are closer (our Sun) appear brighter!

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-3

Q19 The highlighted area on the map shows the only locations where people in the United States were able to see a solar eclipse on August 21, 2017.

Why was the solar eclipse only visible from certain locations in the United States?

• The Moon’s shadow during the solar eclipse was only in the highlighted area.

• The path of sunlight during the solar eclipse was only in the highlighted area.

• The only locations experiencing night during the solar eclipse were in the highlighted area.

• The only locations that had cloud cover during the solar eclipse were in the highlighted area.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-1

Q21 The model shows sunlight touching Earth and a location on Earth labeled X. Based on the model, how does the tilt of Earth on its axis affect the amount of heat at location X?

• Location X will receive a large amount of heat because the location will see the Sun low in the sky.

• Location X will receive a small amount of heat because the sunlight will shine on the location for 10 hours.

• Location X will receive a large amount of heat because the location is close to the North Pole.

• Location X will receive a small amount of heat because the Sun’s intensity is less when it touches the location on Earth at an angle.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-1

Q24 A student attaches a spring to the end of a table. A block is attached to the other end of the spring. The student lifts up the block to the height of the table and lets go. The block attached to the spring moves up and down.

Which table best explains why the block continues to move up and down?

• A

• B

• C

• D

Tags

NGSS.MS-PS2-2

Q25 Two groups of students must design a model crane that will be able to lift heavy metal pieces used to build a rocket. Both groups test the strength of their model cranes. The tables show the results of each group’s tests.

Which group’s test provides the most useful information for determining the greatest mass the model crane can hold, and why?

• Group 1; the students know the crane will not break with a mass of 300 grams and that the crane will break with a mass of 500 grams or more.

• Group 1; the students know the crane will break with a mass of 500 grams and that the crane will break with a mass higher than 700 grams.

• Group 2; the students know the crane will not break with a mass of 400 grams.

• Group 2; the students know the crane will not break with a mass less than 400 grams.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ETS1-1

NGSS.MS-ETS1-2

NGSS.MS-ETS1-3

Q27 A group of students use a computer program to study the gravitational force between two planets (A and B). The program keeps the planets a set distance apart but allows he students to change the masses of the planets. The program uses small numbers to represent the large masses of the planets. The table contains the results from the program.

What conclusion about the gravitational force between the two planets does the table support?

• The gravitational force of the planets changes when both planets have the same mass.

• When the mass of the planet increases, the gravitational force of the planet decreases.

• The gravitational force of the planets stays the same even when the mass changes.

• When the mass of the planet increases, the gravitational force of the planet increases.

Tags

NGSS.MS-PS2-2

NGSS.MS-PS2-4

NGSS.MS-PS2-5

Q29 Which two arguments are supported by combining the child’s observations of the streetlamps with the star data?

• The Sun appears to be the brightest because it is closer to Earth than the other stars.

• Canopus appears to be the dimmest because it is farther away from Earth than the other stars.

• Capella appears brighter than Canopus because it is away from other stars.

• Rigil Kentaurus appears dimmer than Capella because it is near other stars.

• Sirius appears brighter than Capella because it is closer to Earth.