Properties of Matter (STAAR Released Questions)

A student reads the label on the bottle of salad dressing shown below. Why would the student shake the salad dressing well before using it?

• Vinegar and oil have different densities.

• Vinegar and oil easily form a solution.

• Vinegar and oil both contain water.

• Vinegar and oil are both liquids.

A teacher mixes a white powder into a beaker of water. The powder cannot be seen in the water. The teacher then heats the mixture until the water evaporates and the powder can be seen again. Which property of the powder is the teacher demonstrating?

• Solubility

• Density

• Conductivity

• Mass

Tags

NGSS.MS-PS1-2

Which of these is the best conductor of electricity?

• Glass rod

• Cotton string

• Plastic tubing

• Copper penny

A cook uses the ingredients listed below to prepare a meal. Which table correctly shows the physical properties of these ingredients when placed in hot water?

• 
• 
• 
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Tags

NGSS.MS-PS1-2

NGSS.MS-PS1-4

Objects that blow into a swimming pool or that are dropped into the pool by swimmers need to be removed. These objects include foam cups, keys, and coins. Which of the following explains a useful method for removing some of these objects?

• The keys and coins are less dense than water, so they can be easily picked up off the bottom of the pool by divers.

• The foam cups have the same density as water, so they can be crumbled up for removal by the pool filter.

• The foam cups are less dense than water, so they can be removed from the surface with a pool cleaning net.

• The keys and coins have the same density as water, so they can be washed away when the pool is drained.

A teacher wears protective gloves to lift a metal pan filled with boiling water from a hot plate. Why are the protective gloves necessary?

• The metal pan creates thermal energy.

• The metal pan insulates thermal energy.

• The metal pan conducts thermal energy.

• The metal pan reduces thermal energy.

Tags

NGSS.MS-PS3-3

A science class tested three properties of different materials. The results are shown in the table below. Based on the table, which material would be best to use to insulate electrical wires?

• Wood

• Plastic

• Copper

• Steel

A student classifies the objects shown based on their physical properties. Which property cannot be used to classify these objects into more than one group?

• Magnetism

• Mass

• Electrical conductivity

• Solubility in water

Some students investigate the properties of four objects using a hand lens, a magnet, and a beaker containing water. Their observations are recorded in the table. Which statement identifies a property that could be used to classify these objects into two different groups?

• Density can be used to separate objects that sink in water from objects that do not.

• Magnetism can be used to separate objects that are attracted by a magnet from objects that are not.

• Solubility can be used to separate objects that dissolve in water from objects that do not.

• Physical state can be used to separate objects that are solids from objects that are not.

Tags

NGSS.5-PS1-3