5th Grade Science : 5th Grade Science
Study concepts, example questions & explanations for 5th Grade Science
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Example Questions
Example Question #91 : Earth And Space Science
The chart below lists the major constellations in the Northern Hemisphere during each season.
Why do the constellations change in each column?
You can see new constellations as the length of the night changes.
As the Earth rotates, the constellations move across the sky.
The stars have to change locations so they can form new constellations.
People see different parts of the night sky as the Earth revolves around the Sun.
People see different parts of the night sky as the Earth revolves around the Sun.
The Earth completes its orbit around the Sun or its revolution in about 365 days total. As the Earth revolves around the Sun, the position of the Earth changes, and this creates the different views of the night sky. Day and night are caused by the Earth's rotation or spin on its axis. This rotation is what causes daylight and nighttime. As the Earth changes its position, the stars appear to move in the sky as well. The stars are stationary but seem to move in the sky. Each day the Earth travels further in its orbit, and a different part of the night sky is visible.
Example Question #4 : Reveal Patterns Of Change In Graphical Displays
Why is half of the Earth dark and the other half white in this diagram?
Source of diagram: The Victoria State Education and Training Department
Day and night are due to the Earth revolving around the Sun, not its rotation on its axis.
Day and night are due to the Earth rotating on its axis and its revolution around the Sun.
Day and night are due to the Earth rotating on its axis, not its orbit around the Sun.
Day and night are due to the Earth revolving on its axis, not its orbit around the Sun.
Day and night are due to the Earth revolving on its axis, not its orbit around the Sun.
The Victoria State Education and Training department explains why half of the Earth is in nighttime and the other daytime, "The Earth is one of several planets that orbit the sun, and the moon orbits the Earth. The Earth is essentially a sphere, and the sun is a nearby star, which is an unimaginably large ball of gas that radiates light and heat as products of nuclear reactions. The Earth orbits the sun once every 365 days and rotates about its axis once every 24 hours. Day and night are due to the Earth rotating on its axis, not its orbit around the sun. The term 'one day' is determined by the time the Earth takes to rotate once on its axis and includes both day time and night time."
At any one time, half of the Earth's sphere is in sunlight while the other half is in darkness. The Earth's rotation causes this change to take place every day. It is a predictable pattern that we can count on.
Example Question #1 : Interactions Of The Four Spheres Of Earth
The model shows a venn diagram comparing three of Earth's four spheres. Which of these Earth events belongs in position D because it is influenced by all three?
A volcano erupts and lava flows down the mountain side. The rock below melts.
Heavy rain and flooding causes a landslide. A home is destroyed.
An earthquake causes a tsunami. Several people are injured.
A farmer uses a tractor to till soil and grow crops. It releases Carbon into the air.
A farmer uses a tractor to till soil and grow crops. It releases Carbon into the air.
The Lithosphere- contains all of the solid land of the planet's crust, the semi-solid land underneath the crust, and even the molten part of Earth’s core.
The Hydrosphere- contains all the water of the planet, which exists in solid, liquid, and gas forms. Water flows as precipitation from the atmosphere down to Earth's surface, as rivers and streams along Earth's surface, and as groundwater beneath Earth's surface. Most of Earth's freshwater, however, is frozen.
The Biosphere - contains all the planet's living things. This sphere includes all of the microorganisms, plants, and animals of Earth. Within the biosphere, living things form ecological communities based on the physical surroundings of an area. These communities are referred to as biomes. Deserts, grasslands, and tropical rainforests are three of the many types of biomes that exist within the biosphere.
The Atmosphere-contains all the air in Earth's system. The upper portion of the atmosphere protects the organisms of the biosphere from the sun's ultraviolet radiation. It also absorbs and emits heat. This sphere is also where weather occurs.
Most Earth events involve interaction between multiple spheres. For example, rain is the movement of water (the hydrosphere) from the atmosphere to the lithosphere where it collects in lakes, rivers, or streams. Water is an important resource for inhabitants of the biosphere.
Example Question #2 : Interactions Of The Four Spheres Of Earth
The model shows a venn diagram comparing three of Earth's four spheres. Which of these answer choices does NOT belong in the model?
oxygen in the air
the oceans
Earth's crust
plants and animals
the oceans
The Lithosphere- contains all of the solid land of the planet's crust, the semi-solid land underneath the crust, and even the molten part of Earth’s core.
The Hydrosphere- contains all the water of the planet, which exists in solid, liquid, and gas forms. Water flows as precipitation from the atmosphere down to Earth's surface, as rivers and streams along Earth's surface, and as groundwater beneath Earth's surface. Most of Earth's freshwater, however, is frozen.
The Biosphere - contains all the planet's living things. This sphere includes all of the microorganisms, plants, and animals of Earth. Within the biosphere, living things form ecological communities based on the physical surroundings of an area. These communities are referred to as biomes. Deserts, grasslands, and tropical rainforests are three of the many types of biomes that exist within the biosphere.
The Atmosphere-contains all the air in Earth's system. The upper portion of the atmosphere protects the organisms of the biosphere from the sun's ultraviolet radiation. It also absorbs and emits heat. This sphere is also where weather occurs.
Most Earth events involve interaction between multiple spheres. For example, rain is the movement of water (the hydrosphere) from the atmosphere to the lithosphere where it collects in lakes, rivers, or streams. Water is an important resource for inhabitants of the biosphere.
Example Question #3 : Interactions Of The Four Spheres Of Earth
The model shows the direction of effects on 3 of Earth's spheres.
In the scenario, a herd of cattle grazes on a patch of grass. When the grass is gone, the dirt beneath becomes loose and soft. What belongs in the blanks?
Hydrosphere, Biosphere, Lithosphere
Biosphere, Lithosphere, Hydrosphere
Biosphere, Biosphere, Lithosphere
Biosphere, Lithosphere, Biosphere,
Biosphere, Biosphere, Lithosphere
The Lithosphere- contains all of the solid land of the planet's crust, the semi-solid land underneath the crust, and even the molten part of Earth’s core.
The Hydrosphere- contains all the water of the planet, which exists in solid, liquid, and gas forms. Water flows as precipitation from the atmosphere down to Earth's surface, as rivers and streams along Earth's surface, and as groundwater beneath Earth's surface. Most of Earth's freshwater, however, is frozen.
The Biosphere - contains all the planet's living things. This sphere includes all of the microorganisms, plants, and animals of Earth. Within the biosphere, living things form ecological communities based on the physical surroundings of an area. These communities are referred to as biomes. Deserts, grasslands, and tropical rainforests are three of the many types of biomes that exist within the biosphere.
The Atmosphere-contains all the air in Earth's system. The upper portion of the atmosphere protects the organisms of the biosphere from the sun's ultraviolet radiation. It also absorbs and emits heat. This sphere is also where weather occurs.
Most Earth events involve interaction between multiple spheres. For example, rain is the movement of water (the hydrosphere) from the atmosphere to the lithosphere where it collects in lakes, rivers, or streams. Water is an important resource for inhabitants of the biosphere.
Example Question #1 : Model Ways The Four Spheres Of Earth Interact
What two spheres are represented in the image?
the biosphere and the lithosphere
the lithosphere and the hydrosphere
the hydrosphere and the atmosphere
the atmosphere and the biosphere
the hydrosphere and the atmosphere
The Lithosphere- contains all of the solid land of the planet's crust, the semi-solid land underneath the crust, and even the molten part of Earth’s core.
The Hydrosphere- contains all the water of the planet, which exists in solid, liquid, and gas forms. Water flows as precipitation from the atmosphere down to Earth's surface, as rivers and streams along Earth's surface, and as groundwater beneath Earth's surface. Most of Earth's freshwater, however, is frozen.
The Biosphere - contains all the planet's living things. This sphere includes all of the microorganisms, plants, and animals of Earth. Within the biosphere, living things form ecological communities based on the physical surroundings of an area. These communities are referred to as biomes. Deserts, grasslands, and tropical rainforests are three of the many types of biomes that exist within the biosphere.
The Atmosphere-contains all the air in Earth's system. The upper portion of the atmosphere protects the organisms of the biosphere from the sun's ultraviolet radiation. It also absorbs and emits heat. This sphere is also where weather occurs.
Most Earth events involve interaction between multiple spheres. For example, rain is the movement of water (the hydrosphere) from the atmosphere to the lithosphere where it collects in lakes, rivers, or streams. Water is an important resource for inhabitants of the biosphere.
Example Question #5 : Interactions Of The Four Spheres Of Earth
Which sequence of events shows the hydrosphere effecting the biosphere, then the biosphere effecting another part of the biosphere?
A: people breathe in oxygen
B: people breathe out carbon dioxide
C: the air is full of carbon dioxide
A: it rains
B: animals drink water
C: animals get eaten by people
A: rain clouds form
B: rain washes trash into the sewers
C: people have to clean it up
A: a tornado forms
B: the tornado rips up trees
C: trees are in the air
A: it rains
B: animals drink water
C: animals get eaten by people
The Lithosphere- contains all of the solid land of the planet's crust, the semi-solid land underneath the crust, and even the molten part of Earth’s core.
The Hydrosphere- contains all the water of the planet, which exists in solid, liquid, and gas forms. Water flows as precipitation from the atmosphere down to Earth's surface, as rivers and streams along Earth's surface, and as groundwater beneath Earth's surface. Most of Earth's freshwater, however, is frozen.
The Biosphere - contains all the planet's living things. This sphere includes all of the microorganisms, plants, and animals of Earth. Within the biosphere, living things form ecological communities based on the physical surroundings of an area. These communities are referred to as biomes. Deserts, grasslands, and tropical rainforests are three of the many types of biomes that exist within the biosphere.
The Atmosphere-contains all the air in Earth's system. The upper portion of the atmosphere protects the organisms of the biosphere from the sun's ultraviolet radiation. It also absorbs and emits heat. This sphere is also where weather occurs.
Most Earth events involve interaction between multiple spheres. For example, rain is the movement of water (the hydrosphere) from the atmosphere to the lithosphere where it collects in lakes, rivers, or streams. Water is an important resource for inhabitants of the biosphere.
Example Question #2 : Model Ways The Four Spheres Of Earth Interact
What sphere interactions can you infer from this photograph?
Plants (lithosphere) draw water (biosphere) and nutrients from the soil and release water vapor into the atmosphere.
Plants (biosphere) draw water (hydrosphere) and nutrients from the soil and release water vapor into the atmosphere.
Plants (atmosphere) draw water (hydrosphere) and nutrients from the soil and release water vapor into the atmosphere.
Plants (hydrosphere) draw water (biosphere) and nutrients from the soil and release water vapor into the atmosphere.
Plants (biosphere) draw water (hydrosphere) and nutrients from the soil and release water vapor into the atmosphere.
Four spheres are all independent parts of a system. The spheres interact with each other, and a change in one area can cause a change in another. Plants (biosphere) draw water (hydrosphere) and nutrients from the soil and release water vapor into the atmosphere. The biosphere contains all the planet's living things. This sphere includes all of the microorganisms, plants, and animals of Earth. The hydrosphere contains all the water of the planet, which exists in solid, liquid, and gas forms.
Example Question #3 : Model Ways The Four Spheres Of Earth Interact
What sphere interactions can you infer from this photograph?
Humans (hydrosphere) use farm machinery manufactured from geosphere materials to plow the fields, and the atmosphere brings precipitation (biosphere) to water the plants.
Humans (lithosphere) use farm machinery manufactured from geosphere materials to plow the fields, and the atmosphere brings precipitation (biosphere) to water the plants.
Humans (biosphere) use farm machinery manufactured from geosphere materials to plow the fields, and the atmosphere brings precipitation (hydrosphere) to water the plants.
Humans (atmosphere) use farm machinery manufactured from geosphere materials to plow the fields, and the atmosphere brings precipitation (hydrosphere) to water the plants.
Humans (biosphere) use farm machinery manufactured from geosphere materials to plow the fields, and the atmosphere brings precipitation (hydrosphere) to water the plants.
Four spheres are all independent parts of a system. The spheres interact with each other, and a change in one area can cause a change in another. Humans (biosphere) use farm machinery manufactured from geosphere materials to plow the fields, and the atmosphere brings precipitation (hydrosphere) to water the plants. The biosphere contains all the planet’s living things. This sphere includes all of the microorganisms, plants, and animals of Earth. The hydrosphere contains all the water of the planet, which exists in solid, liquid, and gas forms.
Example Question #4 : Model Ways The Four Spheres Of Earth Interact
What sphere interactions can you infer from this photograph?
Energy from the sun is stored by plants (biosphere). When humans or animals (lithosphere) eat the plants, they acquire the energy originally captured by the plants.
Energy from the sun is stored by plants (lithosphere). When humans or animals (geosphere) eat the plants, they acquire the energy originally captured by the plants.
Energy from the sun is stored by plants (biosphere). When humans or animals (biosphere) eat the plants, they acquire the energy originally captured by the plants.
Energy from the sun is stored by plants (atmosphere). When humans or animals (biosphere) eat the plants, they acquire the energy originally captured by the plants.
Energy from the sun is stored by plants (biosphere). When humans or animals (biosphere) eat the plants, they acquire the energy originally captured by the plants.
Four spheres are all independent parts of a system. The spheres interact with each other, and a change in one area can cause a change in another. Energy from the sun is stored by plants (biosphere). When humans or animals (biosphere) eat the plants, they acquire the energy originally captured by the plants. The biosphere contains all the planet’s living things. This sphere includes all of the microorganisms, plants, and animals of Earth.
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