Science STAAR Practice

A balance and a graduated cylinder are used to determine the density of a mineral sample. The sample has a mass of 14.7 g and a volume of 2.2 cm³. What is the density of the mineral sample?

• 0.15 g/cm³

• 32 g/cm³

• 13 g/cm³

• 6.7 g/cm³

Tags

NGSS.MS-PS1-2

A teacher asks a student to write the chemical equation for photosynthesis. The student's response is shown. The equation is not balanced correctly. Which of these is a balanced equation for photosynthesis?

• 12CO₂ + H₂O ------> C₆H₁₂O₆ + O₂

• CO₂ + 9H₂O ------> C₆H₁₂O₆ + O₂

• CO₂ + H₂O ------> 3C₆H₁₂O₆ + O₂

• 6CO₂ + 6H₂O ------> C₆H₁₂O₆ + 6O₂

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS1-6

NGSS.MS-LS2-3

Nitrogen dioxide is a gas that can be generated by emissions from vehicles and factories. It can also be generated by natural sources, such as forest fires, lightning, and microbial activity win soil. The equation for producing nitrogen dioxide is shown. Which of these provides evidence that a chemical reaction occurs?

• A gas is present

• The total number of atoms remains unchanged.

• The state of matter remains the same.

• A brown gas is produced.

Tags

NGSS.MS-PS1-2

An energy pyramid is shown. Which sentence best describes how energy flows through this pyramid?

• Energy is transferred down each level of the energy pyramid.

• The energy lost at each level is consumed by organisms in the top level.

• Energy is transferred from organisms in one level to those in the level above.

• The organisms at the bottom level provide energy directly to organisms in all the other levels.

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS2-3

The diagram shows two different forces acting on a cyclist riding a bicycle. The total mass of the cyclist and the bicycle is 100.0 kg. Based on this information, what is the acceleration of the cyclist?

• 0.66 m/s² backward, because the force of the air slows the cyclist down.

• 0.66 m/s² forward, because the applied force is greater than the force of the air.

• 2.3 m/s² backward, because the forces are opposite and not equal

• 2.3 m/s² forward, because the cyclist's inertia is greater than the force of the air.

Tags

NGSS.MS-PS2-1

NGSS.MS-PS2-2

Two cars with different masses travel at the same speed down a hill toward a stop sign. What will happen when both cars apply brakes at the same time to stop?

• The car with the smaller mass will require less force to stop than the car with the larger mass.

• The car with the larger mass will maintain its velocity while traveling down the hill.

• The car with the smaller mass will take longer to stop than the car with the larger mass.

• The car with the larger mass will have less inertia than the car with the smaller mass.

Tags

NGSS.MS-PS2-2

A student drew the diagram to show the movement of water through a hydroelectric dam. The student used the diagram to describe changes in the potential and kinetic energy of the water. At which location is the gravitational potential energy of the water the greatest?

• Location W

• Location X

• Location Y

• Location Z

Tags

NGSS.MS-PS2-4

NGSS.MS-PS3-2

A block is pulled 0.90 m to the right in 2.5 s. What is the block's average speed to the nearest hundredth of a m/s?

• 2.78 m/s

• 2.25 m/s

• 0.36 m/s

• 2.78 f/s

Tags

NGSS.MS-PS3-1

The model shows Earth in several positions relative to the Sun. In which position is it winter in North America?

• Position 1, because North America receives the most direct sun

• Position 2, because North America is tilted toward the sun

• Position 3, because North America is parallel to the sun

• Position 4, because North America is tilted away from the sun

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-1

Two stars are identified on the Hertzsprung-Russell diagram. Based on this diagram, how do the characteristics of Star 1 and Star 2 compare?

• Star 1 is cooler and less bright than Star 2.

• Star 1 is hotter and brighter than Star 2.

• Star 1 is cooler and brighter than Star 2.

• Star 1 is hotter and less bright than Star 2.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-3