5th Grade Science : Physical Science

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for 5th Grade Science

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Example Questions

Example Question #3 : Measure And Graph Evidence Of Matter Being Conserved

Kaitlyn's class watched the teacher perform a demonstration in class today. She claimed that she could provide evidence that matter is conserved. She found the mass of sugar and a cup of water filled about 2/3 of the way. She let the sugar dissolve in the water and then found the mass again. The data table below shows her results.

Screen shot 2020 09 22 at 9.58.42 am

The mass of the dissolved sugar and water is missing. Following the Law of Conservation of Matter, what should the mass of the two substances be?

Possible Answers:

56.0g

88.7g

There is no way to tell what the combined mass will be once the sugar dissolves.

41.6g

97.1g

Correct answer:

97.1g

Explanation:

During this demonstration, Kaitlyn's teacher collects data regarding the mass of the sugar, the water, and then the two when combined and dissolved.  The Law of Conservation of Matter says that matter stays the same, even when matter changes form. Sometimes it may seem that matter disappears during a science experiment, but this law tells us that matter cannot magically appear or disappear; it merely changes from one form to another. The sugar has a mass of 41.6g, and the water has a mass of 56.0g. When these are combined, and the sugar dissolves, there will be no change in the amount of matter so the mass will be 97.6g. The mass of the substances would be the same, so you add them together to find the total.

Example Question #1 : Measure And Graph Evidence Of Matter Being Conserved

Will the mass change when reactants combine to form products in a chemical reaction? Why?

Possible Answers:

Yes; A new substance is bring formed, so the mass will increase.

No; The combined mass of the newly formed and existing substances will stay the same.

There is no way to know what will happen to the mass of the substances without exact data.

Correct answer:

No; The combined mass of the newly formed and existing substances will stay the same.

Explanation:

The total mass should be the same as the sum of the individual masses recorded before the contents were combined, and the reaction took place. The reactants have been transformed into a new substance, but that all the individual atoms making up the reactants are still present in the products. That’s why the mass stays the same. The Law of Conservation of Matter says that matter remains the same, even when matter changes form. Sometimes it may seem that matter disappears during a science experiment, but this law tells us that matter cannot magically appear or disappear; it merely changes from one form to another.

Example Question #2 : Measure And Graph Evidence Of Matter Being Conserved

Danielle's class was investigating the Law of Conservation of Matter in science today. They found the mass of a piece of construction paper and then ripped it in half, into quarters, and then eighths. They found the mass at each stage and recorded it on the graph below.

Screen shot 2020 09 22 at 10.23.34 am

True or False: The mass of the paper was conserved throughout the investigation.

Possible Answers:

False

True

Correct answer:

True

Explanation:

The mass of the paper was conserved throughout the investigation because of the conservation of matter. Even though the paper was ripped, the amount of matter (mass) stayed the same. The Law of Conservation of Matter says that matter remains the same, even when matter changes form. Sometimes it may seem that matter disappears during a science experiment, but this law tells us that matter cannot magically appear or disappear; it merely changes from one form to another.

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