STAAR Release Questions

Which of these is the best conductor of electricity? (5.5A)

• Glass rod

• Cotton string

• Plastic tubing

• Copper penny

A teacher mixes a white powder into a beaker of water. The powder cannot be seen in the water. The teacher then heats the mixture until the water evaporates and the powder can be seen again. Which property of the powder is the teacher demonstrating? (5.5A)

• Solubility

• Relative density

• Conductivity

• Mass

A teacher sets up an experiment using five jars. The teacher keeps one jar unwrapped, and the other four jars are wrapped with equal thicknesses of four different materials. Which property of the materials wrapping the jars are the students most likely investigating? (5.5A)

• State of matter

• Thermal energy insulation

• Thermal energy production

• Ability to conduct electricity

A student reads the label on the bottle of salad dressing shown here. Why would the student shake the salad dressing well before using it? (5.5A)

• Vinegar and oil have different densities.

• Vinegar and oil easily form a solution.

• Vinegar and oil both contain water.

• Vinegar and oil are both liquids.

Objects that blow into a swimming pool or that are dropped into the pool by swimmers need to be removed. These objects include foam cups, keys, and coins. Which of the following explains a useful method for removing some of these objects? (5.5A)

• The keys and coins are less dense than water, so they can be easily picked up off the bottom of the pool by divers.

• The foam cups have the same density as water, so they can crumbled up for removal by the pool filter.

• The foam cups are less dense than water, so they can be removed from the surface with a pool cleaning net.

• The keys and coins have the same density as water, so they can washed away when the pool is drained.

A cook uses the ingredients listed to prepare a meal. Which table correctly show the physical properties of these ingredients when placed in hot water? (5.5A)

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A teacher gives a student four clear sealed containers. Each container holds a different substance. The student records some observations about the substance in each container. Based on these observations, which container most likely holds only gas? (5.5A)

• Container 1

• Container 2

• Container 3

• Container 4

Some students investigate the properties of four objects using a hand lens, a magnet, and a beaker containing water. Their observations are recorded in the table. Which statement identifies a property that could be used to classify these objects into two different groups? (5.5A)

• Density can be used to separate objects that sink in water from objects that do not.

• Magnetism can be used to separate objects that are attracted by a magnet from objects that are not.

• Solubility can be used to separate objects that dissolve in water from objects that do not.

• Physical state can be used to separate objects that are solids from objects that are not.

A student classifies the objects shown based on their physical properties. Which property cannot be used to classify these objects into more than one group? (5.5A)

• Magnetism

• Mass

• Electrical conductivity

• Solubility in water

A science class tested three properties of different materials. The results are shown in the table. Based on the table, which material would be best to use to insulate electrical wires? (5.5A)

• Wood

• Plastic

• Copper

• Steel