Physical Science EOC review
nd
2 semester
Nature of science questions
Kerry made a simple flashlight. She recorded the following statements
in her lab book. Which statement is an inference?
• The wire was 35 cm long.
• The flashlight contained a battery
• The plastic switch was better than the metal switch.
• The bulb was lit for 20 minutes before it burned out.
The diagrams below show five different tests Linda carried out using steel balls of
three different sizes and masses. She used the same ramp for all trials.
What is a question that Linda could test if she used these materials?
• Do balls of different metals roll down the ramp faster?
• Would increasing the friction on the ramp decrease the speed?
• Would increasing the length of the ramp change the speed of the ball?
• Does the size of the steel ball affect the time it takes to reach the bottom of the
ramp?
The diagrams below show five different tests Linda carried out using steel balls of
three different sizes and masses. She used the same ramp for all trials.
Which of these trials would not be valid in her experiment?
Why?
The graph below was
presented to a science class.
An accurate analysis of the data in
the graph could be used to support a
hypothesis that the United States has
• become increasingly dependent
on imported petroleum.
• become more efficient in the
conservation of petroleium.
• regulated production by
prohibiting companies from
producing petroleum.
• increased its reserves while
consuming imported petroleum.
A student places four identically sized metal blocks on a hot plate at 80°C. Then
the student places an identical piece of wax on top of each block, as shown in the
diagram below.
The student measures the time it takes for
the piece of wax on each block to
melt. Which of the following questions is
being studied in this experiment?
• What is the melting point of the wax?
• What is the melting point of each metal?
• Which metal radiates heat the best?
• Which metal conducts heat the best?
Matter questions
Which of the following is NOT an example of a
chemical change?
• A log burning
• A nail rusting
• An ice cube melting
• An apple rotting
Paint applied to an iron surface prevents the iron from
rusting. Which one of the following provides the best
reason?
• It prevents nitrogen from coming in contact with the iron.
• It reacts chemically with the iron.
• It makes the surface of the iron smoother.
• It prevents oxygen and moisture from coming in contact with the iron.
Colored alcohol is used in some glass thermometers. When placed in air of
different temperatures, the column of alcohol rises or falls in the glass
thermometer. Which of the following best explains why the height of the
alcohol column changes?
• The glass contracts when heated.
• The alcohol contracts when heated
• The glass expands more than the alcohol when heated.
• The alcohol expands more than the glass when heated.
Which of the following properties of a substance is
conserved during thermal expansion?
• mass
• volume
• shape
• distance between particles
When a sample of a gas is heated at constant
pressure, the average kinetic energy of its molecules
• decreases, and the volume of the gas increases
• decreases, and the volume of the gas decreases
• increases, and the volume of the gas increases
• increases, and the volume of the gas decreases
Which diagram best represents a gas in a closed
container?
The temperature of a sample of matter is a
measure of the
• average kinetic energy of its particles
• average potential energy of its particles
• total kinetic energy of its particles
• total potential energy of its particles
Four different gases are all observed to have the
same temperature. Which of the following
conclusions is supported by this observation?
• All four gases must have the same mass.
• All four gases must have the same pressure.
• All four gases must have equal numbers of particles.
• All four gases must have equal average kinetic energies.
Which of the following helps explain why honey
dissolves more rapidly in hot water than in cold water?
• The honey and hot water form more covalent bonds.
• The hot water is more chemically reactive with the honey.
• The honey breaks down into free atoms more quickly in the hot
water.
• The greater motion of hot water molecules disperses the honey more
quickly.
What happens to metal railroad tracks during the
heat of a summer day?
• Decrease in weight
• increase in weight
• decrease in length
• increase in length
Chemistry questions
When Magnesium (Mg) metal is burned in the presence of Oxygen (O2),
Magnesium oxide (MgO) is produced. The properties of Magnesium
oxide are different than the individual properties of Magnesium and
Oxygen because Magnesium oxide is
• a solution.
• a mixture.
• a compound.
• an element.
Copper (Cu) reacts with Oxygen (O) to form Copper
oxide (CuO). The properties of CuO are most likely
• different from copper or oxygen.
• similar to both copper and oxygen.
• similar only to copper.
• similar only to oxygen.
Why is Cobalt (Co) placed before Nickel (Ni) on the
periodic table of the elements even though it has a higher
average atomic mass than nickel?
• Nickel has one more proton.
• Cobalt was discovered first.
• Nickel has fewer electrons.
• Cobalt has a lower density.
Iodine would have chemical properties most like
• Manganese (Mn)
• Tellurium (Te).
• Chlorine (Cl).
• Xenon (Xe).
The chemical properties of an element are
determined by its
• atomic mass.
• proton number.
• electron arrangement.
• atomic size.
Different elements are most likely to react in
similar ways when they
• are members of the same period.
• are members of the same group.
• have nearly the same atomic mass.
• have nearly the same atomic mass.
The Periodic Table of the Elements classified all of the known elements into
categories based on their physical and chemical properties. Repeating patterns
within the table are useful in predicting how elements combine to form every kind
of matter.
•
•
•
•
6 protons
6 neutrons
12 electrons
12 electrons
Which of the following is best classified as a
compound?
• Helium (He), because it contains only one type of atom
• Oxygen (O2), because it contains two of the same type of atoms
• Carbon dioxide (CO2), because it contains two different types of atoms
• Manganese (Mn), because it contains a metal and a nonmetal
Oxygen has an atomic number of 8. Which of the
following elements would you expect to be most similar to
oxygen in terms of its chemical properties?
• Nitrogen (N)
• Fluorine (F)
• Sulfur (S)
• Chlorine (Cl)
The two beakers below contain pure water.
Which of the following properties
is the same for both of these
samples?
• mass
• Weight
• volume
• boiling point
Which of the following explains why saltwater
is considered a mixture?
• It is composed of one element.
• It is composed of one compound.
• It is composed of two or more substances and has new chemical
properties.
• It is composed of two or more substances that retain their own
chemical properties.
What is the smallest unit of a chemical compound
that still has the properties of that compound?
• a nucleus
• a molecule
• an element
• an atom
A question on Jamal's homework assignment asked him to
explain why air is matter. Which of the following statements
should Jamal write to answer the question correctly?
• Air is invisible.
• Air takes up space and has mass.
• Air is needed for breathing.
• Air takes the shape of its container.
Anita has a small sample of an unknown element that
she is trying to identify. Anita divides the mass of the
sample by its volume.
Which property of matter is Anita using to identify the element?
• Weight
• Density
• Texture
• Freezing point