Why is electrical wiring usually made from copper?

Because copper conducts electricity

The electrical wires in many homes are made of copper and covered with plastic. Why are copper and plastic good choices for electrical wires?

Copper is a conductor of electricity, and plastic is an insulator of electricity.

Copper is an insulator of electricity, and plastic is a conductor of electricity.

Copper is a conductor of electricity, and plastic is an insulator of heat.

Copper is an insulator of electricity, and plastic is a conductor of heat.

Which is TRUE about an insulator?

It allows heat to pass through easily.

It provides heat to keep materials warm.

Which of the following is a group of items that can be used to conduct electricity?

rubber-band, eraser, and cotton ball

rubbe- band, paperclip and nail

Grade 5 Conductors and Insulators - practice 4

Quiz

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Science

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5th Grade

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Practice Problem

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Medium

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NGSS

MS-PS2-3, MS-PS3-3

Standards-aligned

Huda Mohamed

Used 287+ times

FREE Resource

About this resource

This quiz focuses on the fundamental science concepts of electrical conductors and insulators, which is core fifth-grade physical science content. Students need to understand that conductors are materials that allow electricity to flow through them easily, while insulators are materials that prevent or slow the flow of electrical current. The questions assess students' ability to define these terms, classify common materials as either conductors or insulators, and apply this knowledge to real-world examples like electrical wiring. Students must demonstrate conceptual understanding by recognizing that metals (copper, iron, steel) are typically good conductors, while materials like plastic, rubber, wood, and glass serve as insulators. The quiz also requires students to understand practical applications, such as why copper wire is covered with plastic insulation in electrical systems - combining the conductive properties of metal with the protective properties of insulators. Created by Huda Mohamed, a Science teacher in Bahrain who teaches grade 5. This quiz serves as an excellent formative assessment tool to gauge student understanding of electrical properties in materials before moving on to more complex circuit concepts. Teachers can use this as a warm-up activity to activate prior knowledge, as guided practice during instruction, or as homework to reinforce classroom learning about electrical safety and basic circuits. The variety of question formats - from definitions to application scenarios - makes it particularly valuable for identifying misconceptions and differentiating instruction based on student needs. This assessment aligns with NGSS standard 5-PS1-3, which requires students to make observations and measurements to identify materials based on their properties, including their electrical conductivity.