Physical Properties STAAR Questions

Students observe a copper penny, iron filings, and a tin can lid on a lab tray. Based on their common physical properties, how should these objects be classified?

• -insulate thermal energy

  -bendable

  -attract to magnets

• -soluble in water

  -attract to magnets

  -conduct thermal energy

• -conduct electrical energy

  -bendable

  -soluble in water

• -conduct thermal energy

  -conduct electrical energy

  -not soluble in water

Answer explanation

Copper, iron, and tin are metals. Metals conduct thermal and electrical energy. They are not soluble in water.

Tags

NGSS.MS-PS3-3

A group of students is given four small cubes of the same size and instructed to place them in a beaker of water. One cube floats to the surface of the water. Two of the cubes float in the middle of the beaker under the surface of the water. The last cube sinks to the bottom of the beaker.

Which conclusion is best supported by what the students observed?

• Two of the four cubes are soluble in water.

• All four cubes have different masses.

• Each cube is made of a different type of solid material.

• One of the cubes is more dense than the other three.

Answer explanation

The cubes are floating or sinking in water because of their density compared to water.

A student created a table listing the properties of a sample of matter. Based on the table, the student collected data on a sample of which of the following types of matter?

• Vinegar

• Salt

• Iron Fillings

• Sand

Tags

NGSS.MS-PS1-2

A cook uses the ingredients listed below to prepare a meal.
Salt, Cooking oil, Carrots, Butter
All the ingredients are placed in boiling water and the results are listed below.
∎Salt- Solid that dissolves
∎Cooking oil-Liquid that floats
∎Carrots- Solid that does not dissolve
∎Butter- Solid that becomes a liquid and floats
Which objects are considered soluble in water?

• Carrot
• Cooking Oil
• Butter
• Salt

Tags

NGSS.MS-PS1-2

The diagram above shows one container with oil and water and another with oil and a cork. Which diagram below shows what most likely would happen if oil, water, and the cork were all put in the same container?

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Tags

NGSS.MS-PS1-2

A cook uses the ingredients listed above. Which table below shows the physical properties of these ingredients when placed in hot water?

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• 
• 

Tags

NGSS.MS-PS1-2

NGSS.MS-PS1-4

A science class tested 3 properties of different materials. The results are shown in the table above. Based on the table, which material would be best to use to insulate electrical wire?

• wood

• plastic

• copper

• steel

Tags

NGSS.MS-PS1-2

A science class tested three properties of different materials. The results are shown below.

Based on the table, which material would be best to insulate electrical wires?

• wood

• plastic

• copper

• steel

Tags

NGSS.MS-ETS1-2

A student is asked to design a sleeve for a cup that will insulate thermal energy and not feel hot to the touch when the cup is filled with hot liquid.

The student has four materials to choose from. Which of these materials is least useful as an insulator?

• cardboard

• plastic

• rubber

• aluminum

Tags

NGSS.MS-ETS1-1

NGSS.MS-ETS1-2

NGSS.MS-PS3-3

Which of these is the best conductor of electricity?

• glass rod

• copper penny

• plastic tubing

• cotton string