5th Grade Science : Conservation of Matter
Study concepts, example questions & explanations for 5th Grade Science
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Example Questions
Example Question #1 : Conservation Of Matter
Lamonte is doing a science experiment. They have a jar full of 10 grams of sugar. They add 5 grams of a mystery chemical. When the two are mixed, they create a new solid and no gases. The container is very hot. How many grams of the new substance should be in the jar at the end of the experiment?
15
5
10
12
15
The answer is 15 grams because 10+5 = 15 and the amount of grams should stay the same since matter is conserved.
The Law of Conservation of Matter says that the amount of 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 simply changes from one form to another.
Example Question #2 : Conservation Of Matter
In which of these situations does the some of the matter disappear, instead of changing forms?
sugar disappears when mixed with water
all of these
water boils away
a large log burns away to a small amount of ash
none of these
none of these
The Law of Conservation of Matter says that the amount of 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 simply changes from one form to another.
Example Question #3 : Conservation Of Matter
The number of water molecules in a small amount of water is a very big number! There are about 1.5 sextillion molecules in a single drop! If you boiled one drop of water until it was completely in gas form, how many molecules would be in the water vapor?
less than 1.5 sextillion molecules
1.5 sextillion molecules
0 molecules
more than 1.5 sextillion molecules
1.5 sextillion molecules
The Law of Conservation of Matter says that the amount of 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 simply changes from one form to another.
Example Question #4 : Conservation Of Matter
The following is a procedure for a scientific experiment:
Material List:
- a balloon
- a narrow necked soda bottle
- a pan of hot water
- a pan of ice water
- a scale
Procedure:
1. Take the balloon and stretch it gently over the lip of the soda bottle and place it on the scale.
2. Place the bottle into the pan of hot water and let it stand for a few minutes.
3. To reverse the outcome, place the bottle into the pan of ice water and let it stand for a few minutes.
Results:
The balloon inflates when it is warm and deflates when it is cold.
If the bottle starts deflated, is warmed up, then cooled down which of these correctly graphs the mass of the bottle and the matter inside it?
The answer is the graph where the mass does not change.
The Law of Conservation of Matter says that the amount of 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 simply changes from one form to another.
Example Question #5 : Conservation Of Matter
A scientist adds a few teaspoons of sugar to a cup of warm water and begins to stir. Eventually the sugar dissolves into the water. Which of the following graphs best represents the amount of matter in the sugar before and after the scientist began stirring?
The Law of Conservation of Matter says that the amount of 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 simply changes from one form to another.
Example Question #1 : Measure And Graph Evidence Of Matter Being Conserved
Which of these terms is a measurement of how much matter is in an object?
Weight
Size
Volume
Mass
Mass
Mass is the measurement of how much matter is in an object. 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. This means that the mass does not change. If I find the mass of a whole cookie and then break it up and put all of the pieces back on the scale, the mass will be the same because the matter has been conserved.
Example Question #2 : Measure And Graph Evidence Of Matter Being Conserved
Meredith'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 a few ice cubes and a cup of water filled about 2/3 of the way. She let the ice cubes melt and then found the mass again. The data table below shows her results.
What evidence from the data table above supports the teacher's claim that matter is conserved?
The mass of liquid water is greater than that of solid ice cubes.
The total mass was the same when the ice cubes were solid or liquid.
There is no evidence of matter being conserved.
The ice cubes melted when placed in the water.
The total mass was the same when the ice cubes were solid or liquid.
During this demonstration, Meredith's teacher collects data regarding the mass of the ice cubes, the water, and then the two when combined and melted. She does provide evidence that matter is conserved. 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 ice cubes and water had a mass of 98.3 grams when combined, and the mass stayed the same when the ice cubes melted. This showed no loss in mass or change in matter when the cubes went from a solid to a liquid.
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.
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?
There is no way to tell what the combined mass will be once the sugar dissolves.
97.1g
88.7g
56.0g
41.6g
97.1g
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 : Conservation Of Matter
Will the mass change when reactants combine to form products in a chemical reaction? Why?
There is no way to know what will happen to the mass of the substances without exact data.
No; The combined mass of the newly formed and existing substances will stay the same.
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.
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 #5 : 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.
True or False: The mass of the paper was conserved throughout the investigation.
False
True
True
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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