All 5th Grade Science Resources
Example Questions
Example Question #11 : Identifying Material Properties
In a laboratory experiment, you are given a beaker of liquid and asked to determine what it is. You observe that:
-The liquid is clear
-The liquid is not odorless; it has a distinct smell
Which of the following statements is true?
The liquid must be bleach; it cannot be cola or water
The liquid could be cola or water, but not bleach
The liquid could be bleach but it could not be water or cola
The liquid could be water, but it could not be bleach or cola
The liquid must be either cola or water; it cannot be bleach
The liquid could be bleach but it could not be water or cola
Based on your observation of the liquid, you know a few things to be true:
1) The liquid is clear. Since cola is brown in color and not clear, this eliminates cola.
2) The liquid has an odor. Since water is odorless, this eliminates water.
Given the available answer choices, this means that the liquid COULD be bleach, but of course you haven't proven that, you just haven't eliminated it as a possibility. There are many clear liquids that have an odor, so you can't definitively say it's bleach, but you can rule out odorless or colorful liquids. That's why the answer is that the liquid could be bleach, and cannot be cola or water.
Example Question #1 : Identify Materials Based On Properties With Observation
A student has three jars of powdered chemicals that are not labeled. One is salt, one is sugar, and the last one is baking soda. To figure out which is which, the student pours vinegar over each of them and one of them starts to bubble! What is the substance that reacts with vinegar?
sugar
none of these
salt
baking soda
baking soda
The answer is baking soda. Baking soda is a common household product that is a base. Vinegar is an acid. Acids and bases react chemically when combined.
Example Question #11 : Identifying Material Properties
This is a block of aluminum. Which of the following is NOT a property of this object?
it is silver
it can be used to make other things
it has a density
it is larger than a quarter
it can be used to make other things
The answer is "it can be used to make other things." This is not a property of matter. Some common properties of matter are: color, luster (how shiny it is), texture, inertia, mass, weight, volume, density and specific gravity.
Example Question #21 : Physical Science
Which of the following is an observable property of matter?
all of these
volume
length
weight
none of these
all of these
The answer is "all of these." This is not a property of matter. Some common properties of matter are: color, luster (how shiny it is), texture, inertia, mass, weight, volume, density and specific gravity.
Example Question #1 : Identify Materials Based On Properties With Observation
Jerome is given a list of properties of a mystery substance. The list says:
- The mystery substance exists as a solid at room temperature
- The mystery substance is shiny
- The mystery substance can be bent with your hand
- The mystery substance is about 1 centimeter long.
Which of these is most likely Jerome's mystery substance?
a staple
a metal wagon
a pair of scissors
an ice cube
a staple
The answer is a staple, because a staple has all of the properties listed. An ice cube does not exist as a solid at room temperature. A wagon is not 1 cm long and cannot be bent with your hand. A pair of scissors is also not a centimeter long.
Example Question #1 : Identify Materials Based On Properties With Observation
Which property identifies water vapor as a gas?
It is colorless.
It is very cold.
It spreads through the air.
It is very heavy.
It spreads through the air.
Water vapor is a gas, and you may have heard the term when discussing the water cycle or evaporation. When thinking about the three states of matter that can describe a substance, it can be either a solid, liquid, or gas. These can be hot or cold by definition, colorless, light or heavy, but only one ca spread through their air with no definite shape; that is a gas. A gas has no shape and would spread throughout the air; if it is trapped in a container, it will continue to move about the container and not remain stationary.
Example Question #1 : Identify Materials Based On Properties With Observation
A student compared an ice cube to the liquid water from the ice cube after it melted. Which of the following statements is an observation from the student's comparison?
Both have a definite mass and volume, and both have a definite shape.
Both have a definite mass and volume, but neither has a definite shape.
Both have a definite mass and volume, but only the liquid water has a definite shape.
Both have a definite mass and volume, but only the frozen ice cube has a definite shape.
Both have a definite mass and volume, but only the frozen ice cube has a definite shape.
Two properties that describe both liquids and solids are a definite mass and volume but not a definite shape. The liquid takes the shape of the container it is placed within, while solids have an actual fixed shape. If you put water in a bowl, it will be bowl-shaped. If you put liquid in a bottle, it will be bottle-shaped. If you place an ice cube in these same containers, they will remain an ice cube shape unless they melt into a liquid.
Example Question #8 : Identify Materials Based On Properties With Observation
True or False: The physical properties of matter can only be gathered through observation.
True
False
False
The statement “The physical properties of matter can only be gathered through observation.” is false. The physical properties of matter can be gathered through measurement AND observation. Using the five senses to collect information about the material or matter is just as crucial as taking concrete measures like the mass or volume. Classification and categorization of material are best done through a combination of observation and measurement.
Example Question #1 : Identify Materials Based On Properties With Observation
Which answer choice(s) below are physical characteristics that can be gathered by observation?
None of the answer choices are correct.
Freezing point
Boiling point
Ability to conduct electricity
All of the answer choices are correct.
None of the answer choices are correct.
None of the physical properties listed below can be determined through measurement. A material's freezing point can be determined by keeping track of the temperature the material is exposed to colder and colder temperatures until it freezes. The temperature this happens is decided after multiple trials determine its freezing point. A material's boiling point is discovered by measuring a rising temperature until the material comes to a rolling boil. Both of these physical properties are measured with a thermometer. Finally, whether a material conducts electricity depends on what the sample is made up of. Things like wood, plastic, and cloth do not conduct electricity well, while metal and copper do. The electrical conductivity can be calculated by measuring the resistance, area, and length of the test material. You can also use a four-terminal ohmmeter for greater accuracy. All of these physical properties require testing and the use of measurement to determine.
Example Question #10 : Identify Materials Based On Properties With Observation
True or False: Color is a physical property that is determined through observation.
False
True
True
The statement "Color is a physical property that is determined through observation." is true. Color cannot be measured with a tool but is a physical property that is gathered using one of the five senses. Our sense of sight allows us to see color and make determinations about what we are observing. We would not use a ruler or thermometer to determine a material's color.
All 5th Grade Science Resources
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