5th Grade Science : Earth and Space Science
Study concepts, example questions & explanations for 5th Grade Science
All 5th Grade Science Resources
Example Questions
Example Question #1 : Reveal Patterns Of Change In Graphical Displays
Mrs. Sweeterman's class is investigating shadows today in the science lab. She hands out a task card, a sheet of large white paper, a cup, and a flashlight to each group. They take turns holding the flashlight in various positions to observe the shadow made by the cup on paper. When all of the students finished their observations, the class discussed the shadows they made and how the amount of light impacted the size of the shadows. Their observations are documented below.
What caused the shadow to change during the investigation?
The cup changed when the position of the shadow changed.
The shadow changed when the position of the shadow changed.
The shadow changed when the position of the cup changed.
The cup changed when the size of the shadow changed.
The shadow changed when the position of the cup changed.
Data tables are a great way to organize and analyze information from an investigation or experiment. Analyzing data can often lead to patterns being recognized, and predictions about future measurements can be made. Based on the investigation that Mrs. Sweeterman's class conducted, it can be concluded that there is a relationship between the position of the cup and the position, length, and angle of the shadow. As the cup (Earth) moved positions, the shadow changed as well. The angle and length of the shadow also vary when the position of the cup (Earth) changes.
Example Question #2 : Reveal Patterns Of Change In Graphical Displays
Antwon researched the lengths of day and night in different parts of the world on the same day. He created a data table to display the number of daylight hours a specific latitude received on the same day (November 8th). What pattern(s) does the data table reveal about the length of day and night?
The more Northern the latitude, the fewer daylight hours there are on November 8th.
The more Southern the latitude, the more nighttime hours there are on November 8th.
The more Southern the latitude, the fewer daylight hours there are on November 8th.
The more Northern the latitude, the more daylight hours there are on November 8th.
The more Northern the latitude, the fewer daylight hours there are on November 8th.
Antwon using a data table to present the information is a clear and organized way to help others understand what his research revealed. Based on the data, it can be seen that as the number of daylight hours increases, the number of nighttime hours decreases the further south traveled. At a latitude of 90o South, there are 24 hours of sunlight and 0 minutes/hours of daylight compared to a latitude of 90o North where there is absolutely no daylight. Analyzing data can reveal patterns that help us understand the natural world and make predictions about future events.
The Victoria State Education and Training department explains why this change takes place, "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."
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.
All 5th Grade Science Resources
