Science STAAR Release Questions

Which forms of energy are being compared in the student's investigation?

• Light energy and electrical energy

• Mechanical energy and electrical energy

• Light energy and thermal energy

• Mechanical energy and thermal energy

What is the energy sourc for these objects?

• Light energy

• Mechanical energy

• Sound energy

• Electrical energy

A class is learning about states of matter. The teacher shows the students how to set up the investigation shown in the diagram.

What kinds of energy are needed in this investigation to change the state of matter of the candle?

• Light, mechanical, and thermal

• Electrical and thermal

• Mechanical, light, and electrical

• Thermal and mechanical

Tags

NGSS.MS-PS1-4

NGSS.MS-PS3-4

When a bat searches for prey at night, it makes sounds as it flies, and it uses the sounds' echoes to find its prey. When the bat flies and listens to echoes to locate prey, it is using --

• thermal energy and light energy

• sound energy and thermal energy

• mechanical energy and sound energy

• light energy and mechanical energy

Tags

NGSS.MS-PS4-2

Many people ride a bicycle for fun and exercise. Some people ride a bicycle to work because ti saves money and benefits the environment by reducing the use of fossil fuels.

Which of these is NOT an example of the bicycle using mechanical energy?

• The pedals, gears, and chain help turn the wheels.

• The wheels turn when the bicycle moves.

• The front wheel guides the bicycle as it moves.

• The reflector allows the bicyle to be seen at night.

Which kind of energy is used by the portable lamp to produce light?

• Mechanical energy, because the lamp is clamped on to the counter.

• Thermal energy, because the lamp increases the temperature of the water.

• Electrical energy, because the lamp is battery-operated.

• Sound energy, because the lamp vibrates when clicked on.

Students design an experiment to determine how much force is needed to move blocks of wood of different masses slowly across a lab table. Which procedure should students include in their design?

• Conduct 5 trials, using a different scale to pull each block of wood.

• Conduct 5 trials, using a different table for each trial.

• Conduct 5 trials, pulling a different side of each block each time.

• Conduct 5 trials, pulling each block of wood in the same way for each trial.

Tags

NGSS.MS-PS2-1

NGSS.MS-PS2-2

The diagram (picture) shows two trials of an experiment in which a spring scale was used to measure force.

This experiment can determine (figure out) -

• how mass affects (changes) the force needed to move objects

• how force affects (changes) the mass of two objects

• how the force used to pull a dictionary affects (changes) the mass of a box of marbles

• how the mass of a box of marbles affects (changes) the mass of a dictionary

Tags

NGSS.MS-PS2-2

The diagram (picture) shows two trials of an experiment in which a spring scale was used to measure force. Which statement is a reasonable conclusion?

• It takes more force to pull a load with more mass.

• It takes less force to move a load with more mass.

• The force needed to move a heavier load is the same as the force needed to move a lighter load.

• The mass of the marbles changes the mass of the dictionary.

Tags

NGSS.MS-PS2-2

Students drop the same heavy ball onto identical blocks of soft clay from different heights. For each height they measure the depth of the dent the ball makes in the clay.

Why is the depth of the dent different in each trial?

• The size of the ball changes.

• The material (type of matter) of the ball changes.

• The mass of the ball changes.

• The force of the ball when it hits the clay changes.

Tags

NGSS.MS-PS2-1

NGSS.MS-PS2-2

NGSS.MS-PS3-5