Exploring Physical Properties of Matter

Compare the physical properties of a metal spoon and a wooden spoon. Which property would best help you determine which spoon is a better conductor of thermal energy?

• Mass

• Magnetism

• Ability to conduct thermal energy

• Solubility in water

Tags

NGSS.MS-PS3-3

NGSS.MS-PS3-4

NGSS.MS-PS3-5

A student has a rock and a piece of cork. Both objects are placed in a container of water. The rock sinks while the cork floats. What property of matter is being demonstrated by this observation?

• Mass

• Relative density

• Volume

• Solubility in water

You have a solid block of ice and a cup of water. Both are at 0°C. How would you compare their physical states and what evidence supports your reasoning?

• Both are liquids because they are at the same temperature.

• The ice is a solid and the water is a liquid because of their different physical states.

• Both are solids because they are at the freezing point.

• The ice is a liquid and the water is a gas because of their temperature.

Tags

NGSS.MS-PS1-4

A student is given a mixture of sand and salt. Which method would best separate the salt from the sand, and what property of matter does this method utilize?

• Use a magnet; utilizes magnetism

• Add water and filter; utilizes solubility in water

• Heat the mixture; utilizes mass

• Use a sieve; utilizes volume

Which of the following materials would be the best insulator of electric energy, and why?

• Copper, because it conducts electricity well

• Rubber, because it does not conduct electricity

• Aluminum, because it is lightweight

• Iron, because it is magnetic

A student observes that a metal ball sinks in water while a plastic ball of the same size floats. What reasoning can explain this observation?

• The metal ball has a greater mass than the plastic ball.

• The metal ball has a greater relative density than the plastic ball.

• The metal ball is magnetic, while the plastic ball is not.

• The metal ball is a solid, while the plastic ball is a liquid.

How would you determine if a substance is a good conductor of thermal energy using a simple experiment?

• Measure its mass and compare it to water.

• Place it in water and observe if it sinks or floats.

• Heat one end and observe how quickly the other end becomes warm.

• Check if it is magnetic.

Tags

NGSS.MS-PS3-3

A student is given a liquid and a gas at the same temperature. How can the student compare their physical states using observable properties?

• By measuring their mass

• By observing their volume

• By noting that the liquid has a definite volume and the gas does not

• By checking their solubility in water

Which property would you use to determine if a material is a good insulator of thermal energy?

• Mass

• Volume

• Solubility in water

• Ability to conduct thermal energy

Tags

NGSS.MS-PS3-3

A student has a piece of metal and a piece of wood of the same size. How can the student determine which one is more dense?

• By measuring their mass and comparing it to their volume

• By checking if they are magnetic

• By observing if they float in water

• By testing their solubility in water