SCIENCE STAAR BENCHMARK

Students perform an investigation to determine which of four materials will keep a hot drink warm for the longest period of time. The students gather four different cups, each made of a different material. The cups are the same size. The teacher pours equal amounts of heated water into the cups. The students record the temperature of the water in each cup every minute for 4 minutes. The results are shown in the table.

Part A: Which material kept the drink warm for the longest period of time?

• Material A

• Material B

• Material C

• Material D

Which statement BEST supports the answer to Part A from the previous question?

• The material that will keep the drink warm longest insulates thermal energy inside the cup.

• The material that will keep the drink warm longest conducts thermal energy into the cup.

• The material that will keep the drink warm longest conducts thermal energy away from the cup.

• The material that will keep the drink warm longest insulates thermal energy from entering the cup.

Which option shows the correct order of the materials from lowest(floats) to highest(sinks) density?

• Object X, Object Y, Water, Liquid 2

• Water, Liquid 2, Object X, Object Y

• Water, Object X, Liquid 2, Object Y

• Object X, Water, Object Y, Liquid 2

A student makes a mixture of gravel(rocks), iron filings, and water. Which table correctly identifies the tools that can be used to separate each substance from the mixture?

• A

• B

• C

• D

A person heats 500 milliliters of water in a beaker. Then the person stirs 10 grams of table sugar into the water. Which property will the sugar keep AFTER it has DISSOLVED in the water?

• Its grainy texture

• Its whitish color

• Its temperature

• Its sweetness

Which statement BEST describes what happens as water changes from one state to another?

• A) As water is cooled, it freezes and changes from a solid to a liquid.

• B) As water is cooled, it condenses and changes from a gas to a liquid.

• C) As water is heated, it evaporates and changes from a liquid to a solid.

• D) As water is heated, it melts and changes from a gas to a solid.

A student builds the circuit shown. The student closes Switch 1 and Switch 3. Which lightbulb will glow? Select ONE correct answer.

• A) L1

• B) L2

• C) L3

• D) L4

Students create the circuit shown. What do the lightbulb and the bell do when the switch is left open?

• The lightbulb glows, and the bell rings.

• The lightbulb glows, and the bell does not ring.

• The lightbulb does not glow, and the bell rings.

• The lightbulb does not glow, and the bell does not ring.

What explains why a coin at the bottom of a pool of water seems closer to the surface than it really is?

• Light reflects from the surface of the water.

• Light reflected from the coin changes direction as it leaves the water.

• Light travels only in straight lines after being reflected.

• Light reflected from the coin is absorbed by the water.

A student looks at the picture shown. Which statement BEST explains why the trees appear on the surface of the lake?

• The trees produce light that reflects off the water.

• Light reflects off the trees and reflects off the water.

• The trees refract light that then reflects off the water.

• Light refracts from the water and is reflected off the trees.