5th Grade Science : Physical Science

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

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Example Questions

Example Question #1 : Creating Something New Via Mixture

Which answer choice(s) is an example of a mixture?

Possible Answers:

All of the answer choices are correct

Smoke

None of the answer choices are correct

Trail mix

A closet of clothes

Correct answer:

All of the answer choices are correct

Explanation:

All of the answer choices are examples of mixtures. Smoke is a mixture of ash and air, trail mix is a mixture of all of the different ingredients (raisins, peanuts, chocolate chips, etc.), and a closet of clothes is a mixture of varying clothing types (pants, dresses, skirts, shirts, hats, etc.). All of these answer choices have at least two substances that are mixed to form something new.

Example Question #9 : Creating Something New Via Mixture

Students in a science class mix together pepper and water. What type of change is made to materials when they are mixed?

Possible Answers:

A physical change

A chemical change

Correct answer:

A physical change

Explanation:

The students in the class created a new substance when they mixed the water and pepper, but the change is only physical. The pepper can be separated from the water, and there is no permanent change to either substance. There was no change in smell or color, and no new substance was formed as in a chemical change.

Example Question #1 : Investigate Whether Mixing Substances Creates Something New

Edmund wants to separate a mixture back into its original parts. Which answer choice describes an action that separates the components of a mixture?

Possible Answers:

Sifting sand from rocks

Cutting paper

Burning a log

Sharing a drink with friends

Correct answer:

Sifting sand from rocks

Explanation:

Separating a mixture is a way to reverse the creating of something new. If sand and rocks were mixed, a mixture was made with the two substances. It can be changed, and the mixture separated if the stones and sand are sifted. The small grains of sand will fall through the sifter leaving the rocks on top and separated.

Example Question #1 : Identify Materials Based On Properties With Measurement

You have two round objects that are both roughly the size of a basketball. One of them weighs 50 pounds, and the other weighs 2 pounds. One is made of rubber and one is made of iron. Which object is more likely to be made of iron?

Possible Answers:

the 50 pound object

not enough information

the 2 pound object

Correct answer:

the 50 pound object

Explanation:

Iron has a higher density than rubber, meaning that it's weight or mass will be greater even if it's the same size. Standard units are used to measure and describe physical quantities such as weight, time, temperature, and volume.

Example Question #1 : Identifying Material Properties

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You measure the temperature of a substance. The thermometer shows the results. How would you record the temperature of the substance?

Possible Answers:

30 degrees F

-50 degrees F

50 degrees F

-30 degrees F

Correct answer:

-30 degrees F

Explanation:

The answer is "-30 degrees Fahrenheit"

Standard units are used to measure and describe physical quantities such as weight, time, temperature, and volume. The standard unit for temperature is degrees Fahrenheit. Volume is measured in Liters, weight in pounds, and time is measured in minutes, seconds, or hours.

Example Question #2 : Identifying Material Properties

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There are three different liquids layered in the graduated cylinder pictured. If we know that vegetable oil is more dense than water but less dense than honey, which of the liquids is most likely vegetable oil?

 

Possible Answers:

liquid number 2

liquid number 3

not enough information

liquid number 1

Correct answer:

liquid number 2

Explanation:

The answer is liquid number 2. Density is a measure of the amount of "stuff" in a given volume. More dense objects sink and less dense objects float.

Example Question #4 : Identify Materials Based On Properties With Measurement

1 1

How many millimeters are being measured at the point where the red arrow is shown?

Possible Answers:

450 mm

45 mm

4.5 mm

40 mm

Correct answer:

45 mm

Explanation:

The answer is 45 because there are 10 millimeters in a centimeter and the ruler is measuring 4.5 centimeters.

Example Question #11 : Physical Science

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At which number should the volume of this liquid be measured?

Possible Answers:

at number 3

at number 4

at number 1

at number 2

Correct answer:

at number 3

Explanation:

The answer is "at number 3" because you measure volume at the meniscus.

Example Question #11 : Physical Science

Dev and Matt are comparing two samples of matter. They made a table of the properties of each sample.

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Which property provides the best evidence that both samples are solids rather than liquids?

Possible Answers:

Mass

Color

Shape

Volume

Correct answer:

Shape

Explanation:

This data table provides observations and measurements of two mystery samples. Properties of materials can be used to determine what objects are or the qualities of them. In this case, we are looking for the property that would allude to these samples being solids instead of liquids, and that property is the shape of the samples. Liquids or solids can be measured for mass and volume and described by color, but cannot be characterized by shape. Liquids take the form of the container that they are in, whereas solids maintain a specific shape. These samples are solids because they are a cube and pyramid.

Example Question #2 : Identifying Material Properties

Four students in a science class observed and collected data about the properties of a different material. The data table below shows the student observations.

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Based on this data chart, which statement correctly describes one of the materials?

Possible Answers:

Dolly observed a liquid.

Betsy observed a liquid.

Mildred observed a gas.

Edmund observed a solid.

Correct answer:

Betsy observed a liquid.

Explanation:

This data table lists what each student observed when they were looking at their material. Some of the properties that describe this material can be gathered through observation, while others are through measurement. In this case, what type of matter the student is looking at comes down to the shape. A gas, liquid, or solid can be any color, mass, or volume, so those characteristics are less helpful in identifying what these materials are. Gases have no shape, liquids take the form of the containers they are in, and solids have a definite figure. Mildred and Dolly look at solids because the material is described as a pyramid and a sphere, which are definite shapes. Edmund and Betsy look at materials with no shape, which means they are gas or liquid, so the only answer choice that matches is "Betsy observed a liquid.".

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