STAAR Gazing: Matter & Energy: Physical Properties Unit 1 (2025)

A table of different properties of four samples of matter is shown. Which conclusion can be made about the samples based on the table?

• Sample 1 is made of plastic.

• Sample 2 is made of metal.

• Sample 3 is attracted to magnets.

• Sample 4 is less dense than water.

A student is classifying objects. Answering which question will provide the best evidence that an object is a metal?

• What is its mass?

• What is its physical state?

• Does it conduct thermal energy?

• How quickly does it dissolve in water?

Tags

NGSS.MS-PS3-3

Based on the student’s observations in the table, how many of the substances did NOT dissolve in the water?

• F 1 substance

• G 2 substances

• H 3 substances

• J 4 substances

Tags

NGSS.MS-PS1-2

A student wants to classify four different objects based on physical properties. The student uses the questions shown in the table to test each object. Which statement correctly identifies two of the materials based on the classification of properties in the table?

• Material 1 is a rubber ball. Material 2 is a piece of cardboard.

• Material 2 is an aluminum washer. Material 3 is a copper wire.

• Material 3 is a piece of cardboard. Material 4 is an aluminum washer.

• Material 1 is a copper wire. Material 4 is a rubber ball.

Tags

NGSS.MS-PS1-2

A group of students is given four small cubes of the same size and instructed to place them in a beaker of water. One cube floats to the surface of the water. Two of the cubes float in the middle of the beaker under the surface of the water. The last cube sinks to the bottom of the beaker. Which conclusion is best supported by what the students observed?

• Two of the four cubes are soluble in water.

• All four cubes have different masses.

• Each cube is made of a different type of solid material.

• One of the cubes is more dense than the other three.

Students observe some objects on a lab tray. The students will classify the objects based on physical properties common to all of the objects. Based on their common properties, how should these objects be classified?

• Insulate thermal energy, Bendable, Attract to magnets

• Conduct electrical energy, Bendable, Soluble in water

• Soluble in water, Attract to magnets, Conduct thermal energy

• Conduct thermal energy, Conduct electrical energy, Not soluble in water

Students investigate the physical properties of some substances. They draw a table to show how the substances can be grouped. The students need to complete the table with column headings. Which column headings should the students use for their table?

• Good Insulators of Thermal Energy, Is Attracted by Magnets, Same Physical State

• Good Conductors of Electrical Energy, Less Dense than Water, Soluble in Water

• Soluble in Water, Same Physical State, Less Dense than Water

• Is Attracted by Magnets, Good Conductors of Electrical Energy, Good Insulators of Thermal Energy

A student compares the physical properties of the four objects shown. Which of these physical properties do all four objects have in common?

• They all have the same physical state and conduct electricity.

• They all conduct electricity and attract the same metal objects.

• They all attract the same metal objects and are not soluble in water.

• They all are not soluble in water and have the same physical state.

Tags

NGSS.MS-PS1-2

Students conduct an investigation with breakfast cereal. The first four steps of the students’ investigation are in the table shown. The students are trying to determine the presence of which substance in the cereal?

• Sugar

• Iron

• Salt

• Wheat

The table lists the ingredients of five different mixtures. In which mixtures do all the ingredients maintain their physical state?

• Mixtures 3 and 4 only

• Mixtures 1, 3, and 4

• Mixtures 1, 2, and 5

• Mixtures 2 and 5 only