Advanced Material Properties · seed 1 · A4, ink-friendly. The answer key prints on its own page for grown-ups.

Testing Materials Like a Scientist

Science · Matter & Materials · ages 9-11
Name ______________________   Date ____________

  1. A small amount of sugar dissolves in room-temperature water. What happens to the sugar?

    • It dissolves and remains in the water.
    • It melts because the water heats it strongly.
    • It leaves the cup and becomes water vapor.

  2. Which statement correctly describes aluminum?

    • It conducts heat and electricity well.
    • It is strongly pulled by a classroom magnet.
    • It readily dissolves when stirred in cold water.

  3. With the same tool and pressure, sample A gets a true scratch and sample B does not. What does this comparison show?

    • Sample A resisted the scratch tool better.
    • Both samples resisted the tool equally well.
    • Sample B resisted the scratch tool better.

  4. Which object is usually strongly attracted to a classroom magnet?

    • A flexible plastic ruler
    • An ordinary steel clip
    • A smooth wooden block

  5. Copper failed to light the reference bulb, but a class still tested A, B and C. After fixing and checking the circuit, how many sample tests must the class repeat?

    Answer: ______________

  6. Which pair belongs together when grouping only by the view through the samples, even though their scratch results differ?

    A: clear, scratchedB: clear, no scratchC: opaque, no scratch
    • A and B
    • A and C
    • B and C

  7. The chart records a water test. How many materials are in the dissolved group?

    Dissolved4Stayedsolid3

    Answer: ______________

  8. An adult provides two safe scrap samples. Which method compares their resistance to scratching?

    • Use the same scratch tool and pressure on both.
    • Stir both in equal amounts of water for a minute.
    • Hold the same magnet equally close to each sample.

  9. Ava's magnet does not pull a glass panel. She concludes that she can see clearly through it. Why is her conclusion unsupported?

    • A magnet test does not measure transparency.
    • No movement proves a clear view is possible.
    • Every sample ignored by a magnet is transparent.

  10. Ben stirs an iron nail in water. It stays unchanged. He concludes that the nail is not magnetic. Why is this conclusion unsupported?

    • Not dissolving proves that the nail is not iron.
    • The water test proved the nail is not magnetic.
    • A water test does not measure magnetic attraction.
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Answer key

For grown-ups. Fold this page away before handing over the rest.

Testing Materials Like a Scientist W1-mt_Ge4Wtg6QMM-s1

  1. It dissolves and remains in the water. · Dissolved sugar remains in the water even though its separate grains are no longer visible.
  2. It conducts heat and electricity well. · Aluminum conducts heat and electricity well.
  3. Sample B resisted the scratch tool better. · B resisted this scratch test better than A.
  4. An ordinary steel clip · An ordinary steel clip is usually strongly attracted. Ordinary plastic and wood are not.
  5. 3 · Repeat all 3 sample tests because the circuit had not passed its working reference check.
  6. A and B · A and B both give a clear view. Their different scratch results do not separate this light-property group.
  7. 4 · The number above the dissolved bar is 4.
  8. Use the same scratch tool and pressure on both. · Using the same tool and pressure lets you compare scratch resistance.
  9. A magnet test does not measure transparency. · Ava must check the view through the panel. A magnet result does not establish transparency.
  10. A water test does not measure magnetic attraction. · The observation concerns dissolving in water. Attraction to a magnet needs its own test.
Worksheet · LightMySky