Released STAAR

In 1859, Henry Bursill published a book of hand shadows. The picture below shows one of these hand shadows. Which property of light makes it possible to produce hand shadows?

• Light can be refracted.

• Light is a form of energy.

• Light travels in straight lines.

• Light can be separated into different colors.

Some students are feeding a crab in an aquarium. They use tongs to place food directly in front of the crab. The students look through the side of the aquarium. They notice that the image of the tongs appears to break as the tongs enter the water. Which property of light are the students observing in this situation?

• Light can be refracted and separated into different colors as it moves from air to a different medium.

• Light is refracted as it moves from one medium to another medium.

• Light travels in a straight line and can be reflected off the surface of water.

• Light is absorbed by water and reflected off glass.

Tags

NGSS.MS-PS4-2

A thin beam of light is show in this picture. What does the picture demonstrate about light?

• Light and its reflections travel in straight lines.

• Light cannot reflect from more than one surface.

• Light that goes through water cannot travel in straight lines.

• Light can travel in a circular path.

Tags

NGSS.MS-PS4-2

The student is observing part of a plant with a microscope. Which statement describes a behavior of light in the microscope?

• Light travels through the microscope lens without changing direction.

• Moving in straight lines causes light to increase in brightness.

• Light refracts through the lens of the microscope.

• Moving in straight lines keeps light from reflecting.

Tags

NGSS.MS-PS4-2

A teacher takes the top and side off a box. She cuts a whole in another side and puts a candle outside the box as shown below. When the teacher lights the candle in a dark room, some of the candlelight shines through the hole. Which diagram best shows how the light appears on the opposite wall of the box?

• 
• 
• 
• 

Tags

NGSS.MS-PS4-2

A group of students is building the circuit represented in the diagram. What object can be used a Position X for the buzzer to sound when Switch K is closed?

• a power source

• another bulb

• an insulated wire

• another switch

Tags

NGSS.3-5-ETS1-1

A student builds a circuit allowing the lightbulbs to light, the buzzers to make sound, and the motors to turn. Which two switches can be open and still allow all of the parts to work?

• Switches 1 and 3

• Switches 1 and 4

• Switches 2 and 3

• Switches 3 and 4

Tags

NGSS.MS-ETS1-1

What is the primary gas found in Earth's atmosphere?

• Oxygen

• Nitrogen

• Carbon Dioxide

• Hydrogen

Which of the following is a chemical change?

• Melting ice

• Boiling water

• Burning wood

• Breaking glass

Tags

NGSS.MS-PS1-2

NGSS.MS-PS1-5

What is the formula for calculating force in physics?