Matter and Energy
This property describes how much space matter takes up.
volume
A force that pulls objects toward Earth
gravity
The process where wind or water breaks rocks into smaller pieces
weathering
Organisms that make their own food using sunlight
Producers
A student places a metal spoon and a plastic spoon in hot water. The metal spoon becomes hot faster. Explain why.
Metal is a conductor of heat, while plastic is an insulator.
A student bends a paperclip and then straightens it again. What type of change happened to the paperclip?
physical change
A soccer player kicks a ball across the field. What type of force caused the motion?
push
The movement of rock and soil from one place to another by wind, water, ice, or gravity
erosion
A rabbit eating grass is an example of this type of organism
consumer
A rock breaks into smaller pieces, the pieces move down a hill during a rainstorm, and then settle at the bottom. Name the three processes in order.
Weathering → Erosion → Deposition
What material would be the best conductor of heat? Plastic spoon, wooden stick, metal fork, or rubber band?
metal fork
A toy car rolls down a ramp and speeds up. What caused the change in motion?
gravity pulling the car down the ramp
When sediment is dropped or laid down in a new place, this process is called
deposition
If a drought kills many plants in an ecosystem, what will likely happen to the herbivores?
their population will decrease
If gravity suddenly disappeared on Earth, what would happen to objects that are thrown in the air?
They would continue moving and not fall back down.
Why does a metal spoon in hot soup become hot after a few minutes?
heat energy transfers because metal is a conductor.
Two students push a box from opposite sides with equal force. What will happen to the box?
the box will not move because the forces are balanced
What causes day and night on Earth
Earth rotating on its axis
In a food chain: grass → grasshopper → bird. What is the grasshopper?
primary consumer
Why might removing wolves from an ecosystem cause deer populations to increase?
Wolves are predators, so removing them reduces predation on deer.
A student places a balloon near a charged object and it sticks. What type of energy interaction caused this?
electrical energy or static energy
A magnet pulls a paperclip across a table without touching it. What type of force is this?
magnetic
A river carries sand and drops it where the water slows down. What landform might form?
delta
Why are plants important for almost every ecosystem
they provide energy/ food for other organisms
A student notices that after heavy rain, a hill has small channels where soil has moved downhill into a nearby creek. Explain which Earth processes caused this change and how they worked together.
Weathering broke down the soil and rock, erosion moved the soil downhill with the rainwater, and deposition occurred when the sediment settled in the creek.