Grade 5: Matter Basics
What is matter?
Anything that has mass and takes up space.
What two things (other than planets) make up the solar system?
Moons, asteroids, comets, meteoroids, dwarf planets (any two).
Which state of matter has a definite shape?
Solid.
What is a moon?
A celestial body that orbits a planet.
Air pushes with pressure because it has what?
Mass.
Name the three states of matter.
Solid. liquid and gas.
Why is the Sun important in the solar system?
Everything orbits around it.
Which state of matter has NO definite shape, even in a container?
Gas.
What happens when a meteoroid enters Earth’s atmosphere?
It burns up and becomes a meteor (“shooting star”).
What happens to air pressure when air is heated?
It increases.
Moving.
Earth has one moon. Name a planet with no moons.
Mercury or Venus.
Ice melting on the counter is what kind of change?
Physical change.
What is a meteorite?
A meteor that hits Earth’s surface.
In the jar experiment, the balloon sinks when cold water is used. Why?
Cold air decreases pressure.
You pour juice into a new container and its shape changes. What state of matter is juice?
Liquid.
What are asteroids mostly made of?
Rock and metal.
Water turns to gas when heated. What is this process called?
Evaporation.
Comets form a glowing tail because of what?
Ice heating up near the Sun.
If the balloon moves up and down, what does this show about air pressure?
It changes with temperature.
Explain why air, something we cannot see, is considered matter.
It has mass and takes up space.
Why do you think inner planets are smaller and rocky while outer planets are larger and gaseous?
Higher heat near the Sun means lighter gases couldn’t stay; outer planets kept their gases.
A student freezes water into ice and says a new substance was formed. Explain why the student is wrong.
It’s still water—no new substance formed.
Explain the difference between an asteroid and a comet using two facts.
Asteroids are rock/metal; comets are ice/rock/dust and have long orbits with tails.
A student claims that since air is invisible, it cannot push on things. Use the experiment to prove them wrong.
The balloon moved, showing air pressure acting on it.