Practice Test 1 - Middle School Physical Science

20 questions. Answer them in any order, then submit to see your score and every explanation.

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1. A student investigates: How does mass affect how fast a cart rolls down a ramp? The student changes only the mass by adding washers. Which variable should be placed on the x-axis of a graph? Independent variable is usually on the x-axis. Dependent variable is usually on the y-axis.
2. A particle model shows a methane molecule, CH₄: one black circle labeled C in the center connected by single lines to four small white circles labeled H around it. Based on the model, what is the total number of atoms in one methane molecule?
3. A maglev train can float above its track instead of rolling on wheels. How do magnetic forces help the train float?
4. A student observes two changes: 1) An ice cube left on the counter turns into a puddle of water. 2) A small piece of wood is lit with a match and turns into ash and smoke. Which option correctly classifies BOTH changes using the evidence (new substance vs same substance)?​
5. A student stacked magnets to change magnetic strength and tested each setup at the same distance (1 cm) above paper clips. What pattern does the data show?
6. A ball is thrown straight upward. It slows down as it rises, stops for an instant at the top, and then speeds up downward. What role does gravity play in this motion?​
7. Why are sound waves (not radio waves) commonly used for sonar to detect objects underwater?
8. Which statement best describes a key difference between a molecular substance (like $\mathrm{CO_2}$) and an extended crystal structure (like diamond)?
9. A particle model shows $2\text{CO} + \text{O}_2 \rightarrow 2\text{CO}_2$. Which set of atom counts is correct, and are atoms conserved?
10. Three containers were tested with the same hot water starting at $70^\circ\text{C}$ in a $22^\circ\text{C}$ room. After 1 hour, the temperatures were: Container A (no insulation): $30^\circ\text{C}$ Container B (foam insulation): $55^\circ\text{C}$ Container C (thick foam + sealed lid): $63^\circ\text{C}$ Criterion: after 1 hour, temperature must be $\ge 60^\circ\text{C}$. Which container(s) meet the criterion?
11. A student stands on a chair and drops a ball. Another student claims, "The ball falls because gravity turns on after you let go." Which statement best corrects this idea? Gravity near Earth: continuous downward force $F = mg$ producing downward acceleration $a = g$​
12. A hot food container uses 3 cm foam walls and a sealed lid. In a test it maintained $61^\circ\text{C}$ for 5 hours. The requirement is $\ge 60^\circ\text{C}$ for 5 hours, so it barely passed (only a 1°C margin). The student wants a small, easy improvement to increase the safety margin without changing the lid or wall thickness. Which change is most appropriate?
13. Cold drink cooler design challenge: Keep drinks at or below 10°C for 4 hours in 30°C weather and hold 12 cans. Constraints include budget $50, portability, durability, and materials (foam/plastic/ice packs). Which requirement is most critical to prioritize as a temperature-control performance goal (criterion) for this application?
14. A student writes: "Does a charged rod attract paper?" The teacher says this is not a strong investigable question about factors affecting force strength. Which revision makes it more specific and testable?
15. A student compares diamond (C) and sugar (C$_{12}$H$_{22}$O$_{11}$). Diamond does not dissolve in water and is extremely hard. Sugar dissolves in water and is much softer. Which statement best explains these differences using atomic structure?
16. A student wants to show that a field can affect objects in a region of space without direct contact. Which investigation would best provide this kind of evidence?
17. A particle model shows water decomposing: Reactants (before): 2H₂O (each molecule is H–O–H) Products (after): 2H₂ (H–H) and O₂ (O=O) Which statement correctly describes the bond changes?
18. Design challenge: You are designing a hot lunch container (like a thermos) for a student. The goal is to keep soup hot from 7:00 AM until noon (5 hours). It must hold 500 mL of soup and keep the soup at at least $60^\circ\text{C}$ at noon. Constraints: total cost must be under $20, the container must fit in a backpack (maximum 15 cm tall), and the outside must be safe to touch (no burn risk). Materials available: plastic, foam, and metal. Which option lists the criteria (performance goals) for the design?
19. A student sprinkles iron filings on a sheet of paper placed over a bar magnet. The filings form smooth, curved lines and the filings are packed more tightly near the ends of the magnet than far away. What do these observations show about the magnetic field?
20. A clothing company makes athletic shirts from polyester (a synthetic fiber). The shirts are durable and dry quickly, but scientists have found tiny plastic fibers in rivers downstream from washing machines. Which evidence best supports the claim that synthetic fibers can contribute to water pollution?

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