TCAP Science — Grade 5

A student mixes 10 grams of salt into 100 grams of water until the salt completely dissolves. What is the total mass of the salt water solution?

• A110 grams
• B100 grams
• C90 grams
• D10 grams

Which of the following is an example of a chemical change?

• AMelting an ice cube into liquid water
• BBaking a loaf of bread in an oven
• CCutting a piece of paper into small strips
• DCrushing an aluminum soda can

Why does an iron nail rust when left outside in humid air for several weeks?

• AThe iron evaporates into oxygen gas.
• BThe iron absorbs sunlight and changes color.
• CThe iron reacts chemically with oxygen and water to form rust.
• DThe iron breaks apart into smaller physical pieces without changing chemically.

Which downward force causes a dropped ball to fall toward the surface of Earth?

• AFriction
• BMagnetism
• CAir resistance
• DGravity

A student heats 50 grams of ice in a closed, sealed container until all the ice melts into water and then boils into steam. What happens to the total mass inside the sealed container?

• AThe total mass stays exactly 50 grams.
• BThe total mass increases as steam expands.
• CThe total mass decreases because gas has no mass.
• DThe total mass changes randomly during heating.

What microscopic units make up all solids, liquids, and gases?

• ACells
• BParticles or atoms
• COrganelles
• DTissues

What is the primary source of energy for almost all living organisms and food webs on Earth?

• AWind energy
• BGeothermal energy
• CSunlight
• DNuclear energy

Which property of matter can be tested by observing whether a material allows electricity to flow through it?

• ASolubility
• BMagnetism
• CFlexibility
• DElectrical conductivity

What happens to the speed of water particles when liquid water is heated on a stove?

• AThe particles move faster and spread farther apart.
• BThe particles stop moving completely.
• CThe particles move slower and crowd closer together.
• DThe particles change size and grow larger.

A student compares two wooden blocks of identical size and volume. Block A has a mass of 200 grams, while Block B has a mass of 350 grams. Which statement about the blocks is correct?

• ABlock A is denser than Block B.
• BBlock B is denser than Block A.
• CBoth blocks have equal density because their volumes are equal.
• DNeither block has density because wood does not have density.

A heavy box rests on a carpeted floor. A student pushes the box with a force of 40 Newtons to the right, but the box does not move. Why does the box remain still?

• AThere is no force acting on the box at all.
• BThe gravitational force pulling down on the box stopped existing.
• CAn equal and opposite frictional force of 40 Newtons acts to the left.
• DThe student's push destroyed the mass of the box.

A student dissolves 25 grams of sugar in 200 grams of warm tea in a beaker. She leaves the uncovered beaker in a sunny room for five days until all the liquid water evaporates. What will remain in the beaker?

• ANothing, because both sugar and water evaporate into the air.
• B225 grams of liquid water
• C175 grams of tea leaves
• D25 grams of solid sugar crystals

A student tests four unknown solid samples to determine which one is magnetic. Which procedure provides valid scientific evidence?

• ABring a bar magnet near each solid sample and record whether it is attracted.
• BPlace each sample in water to see if it floats or sinks.
• CHeat each sample over a flame to observe its melting point.
• DDrop each sample from a height of one meter to measure its bounce.

Why does a rubber ball bounce back up when dropped onto a hard concrete floor?

• AThe floor destroys the ball's mass.
• BThe ball compresses upon impact and exerts a downward force on the floor, while the floor…
• CGravity reverses direction during the bounce and pushes the ball upward.
• DAir inside the ball turns into helium upon contact with concrete.

A student measures the mass of a whole glow stick as 15 grams. After bending the stick to snap the inner capsule and starting a chemical light reaction, what is the mass of the glowing stick?

• A10 grams, because light energy lost mass
• B20 grams, because glowing adds mass
• C15 grams, because mass is conserved during chemical reactions
• D0 grams, because reaction converted all matter into energy

Which of the following best describes the motion of particles in a solid wooden table compared to liquid water in a cup?

• ASolid particles move freely past each other, while liquid particles are locked in rigid g…
• BSolid particles travel at high speeds in straight lines, while liquid particles do not mo…
• CSolid particles slide around randomly, while liquid particles stay completely still.
• DSolid particles vibrate in fixed positions, while liquid particles slide past one another.

Two toy cars of equal mass are released from rest. Car 1 is pushed with a small force of 2 Newtons, while Car 2 is pushed with a larger force of 8 Newtons. What will happen to the motion of the two cars?

• ACar 2 will accelerate faster and reach a higher speed than Car 1.
• BCar 1 will accelerate faster than Car 2 because it experiences less resistance.
• CBoth cars will move at the exact same speed regardless of push force.
• DCar 2 will move backward because larger forces reverse direction.

Which observation provides the best evidence that a chemical reaction took place when two clear liquids were mixed in a beaker?

• AThe liquid level in the beaker increased slightly.
• BThe mixture rapidly bubbled, produced a gas, and changed color from clear to dark blue.
• CThe liquids mixed together to form a clear solution with the same temperature.
• DThe container remained at room temperature without any change.

A flashlight uses batteries to power a small light bulb. What energy transformation occurs inside the flashlight when it is turned on?

• ALight energy converts directly into nuclear energy.
• BThermal energy converts into mechanical movement energy.
• CStored chemical energy in the battery converts into electrical energy, which converts int…
• DGravitational energy converts into sound energy.

How does increasing the temperature of water affect the rate at which sugar cubes dissolve?

• ASugar dissolves slower because warm water particles move slower.
• BSugar does not dissolve at all in hot water.
• CTemperature has zero effect on dissolving rates.
• DSugar dissolves faster because warm water particles move faster and collide more frequent…

A student holds a heavy rock in her hand 1.5 meters above the ground. Which form of energy is stored in the rock due to its position above Earth?

• AGravitational potential energy
• BKinetic motion energy
• CElectrical energy
• DChemical potential energy

What happens when two bar magnets are placed near each other so that their North poles face each other?

• AThey attract and stick tightly together.
• BThey push away from each other (repel).
• CThey lose all magnetic properties immediately.
• DThey generate an electric spark and melt.

A student places an ice cube on a warm aluminum plate and another ice cube of the same size on a wooden cutting board. The ice on the aluminum plate melts much faster. What property explains this observation?

• AWood is a better conductor of heat than aluminum.
• BIce reacts chemically with aluminum but not wood.
• CAluminum is a better thermal conductor than wood, transferring heat to the ice more quick…
• DAluminum has more mass than wood.

Why does a stone sink to the bottom of a pond while a wooden stick floats on the water's surface?

• AThe stone is lighter than the wooden stick.
• BThe wooden stick absorbs water until it becomes weightless.
• CWater exerts zero buoyant force on submerged objects.
• DThe stone has a higher density than water, while the wooden stick has a lower density tha…

A student mixes 15 grams of baking soda with 100 grams of vinegar in an open beaker. She observes violent fizzing and gas bubbles escaping into the air. After the reaction stops, the remaining mixture weighs 108 grams. Why is the final mass less than the starting mass of 115 grams?

• ACarbon dioxide gas was produced during the chemical reaction and escaped into the surroun…
• BThe chemical reaction destroyed 7 grams of matter permanently.
• CBaking soda shrank in density without forming any new substances.
• DLiquid vinegar evaporated due to room humidity.

An astronaut drops a heavy hammer and a light feather inside a vacuum chamber on Earth where all air has been removed. What will happen to their falling speeds?

• AThe hammer falls faster because gravity pulls harder on heavy objects.
• BBoth the hammer and the feather fall at the exact same rate and hit the ground together.
• CThe feather falls faster because it experiences no gravity.
• DThe feather floats in mid-air because light objects cannot fall without air.

A student places 50 mL of water in a sealed plastic bottle and freezes it overnight. The next day, the ice has expanded and bulged the bottle walls, but the mass remains exactly 50 grams. Which statement explains these observations?

• AFreezing added extra particles from outside the bottle.
• BThe mass increased because solid ice weighs more than liquid water.
• CThe number of water particles stayed the same, but the particles arranged into a crystall…
• DWater particles grew larger in size when cooled below freezing.

A bicycle rider coasting along a flat sidewalk slowly comes to a complete stop without applying the brakes. Which set of forces caused the bicycle to slow down and stop?

• AGravitational pull pulling the bike sideways.
• BEngine force running out of fuel.
• CMagnetic force from the concrete sidewalk.
• DFriction between the tires and sidewalk combined with air resistance opposing forward mot…

A student tests four unknown liquids by measuring their masses and volumes to calculate density. Liquid A: Mass 20 g, Volume 20 mL. Liquid B: Mass 30 g, Volume 20 mL. Liquid C: Mass 15 g, Volume 20 mL. Liquid D: Mass 25 g, Volume 20 mL. If liquid water has a density of 1.0 g/mL, which liquid will sink when poured into a container of water?

• ALiquid B
• BLiquid A
• CLiquid C
• DLiquid D

A closed copper pipe containing 100 grams of liquid water is heated until all the water vaporizes into high-pressure steam. What happens to the mass and volume of the water inside the pipe?

• AMass increases and volume decreases.
• BMass stays exactly 100 grams while volume of the steam expands to fill the entire pipe.
• CMass decreases to zero while volume stays constant.
• DBoth mass and volume decrease by half.

Where do green plants in Tennessee forests obtain most of the matter needed to build their trunks, leaves, and stems?

• ADirectly from dark soil minerals
• BFrom fertilizer added by humans
• CFrom water and carbon dioxide gas in the air
• DFrom eating smaller plants

Which organism in a Great Smoky Mountains forest food web acts as a primary producer by converting sunlight into food?

• ABlack bear
• BRed-tailed hawk
• CTimber rattlesnake
• DOak tree

What is the main role of decomposers, such as mushrooms and soil bacteria, in a forest ecosystem?

• AThey break down dead plants and animals and recycle nutrients back into the soil.
• BThey hunt live animals for energy.
• CThey absorb sunlight to produce oxygen for consumers.
• DThey protect plant roots from absorbing too much water.

Which trait of a domestic dog is inherited from its biological parents rather than learned from its environment?

• AKnowing how to sit when given a verbal command
• BHaving black fur with brown spots
• CBegging for food at the dinner table
• DWalking on a leash without pulling

A scientist discovers a fossil of a sea shell embedded in a rock layer high up on a mountain in East Tennessee. What does this fossil evidence indicate about the area's ancient past?

• AThe mountain was formed by a giant glacier last year.
• BSea shells used to crawl up high mountains to lay eggs.
• CThe area was once covered by an ocean millions of years ago.
• DAncient humans carried millions of ocean shells to the top of mountains for food.

Which internal structure in fish allows them to extract dissolved oxygen directly from water?

• ALungs
• BStomach
• CBladder
• DGills

What would most likely happen to a rabbit population in a Tennessee meadow if all fox and hawk predators were removed from the area?

• AThe rabbit population would initially increase rapidly because fewer rabbits are being ea…
• BThe rabbit population would instantly die out completely.
• CThe rabbits would start eating meat instead of plants.
• DThe rabbit population would stay exactly the same forever.

Which plant structure absorbs water and dissolved mineral nutrients from the surrounding soil?

• ALeaves
• BRoots
• CFlowers
• DPetals

Why do many Tennessee trees, such as maples and oaks, drop their leaves during late autumn?

• ATo attract leaf-eating insects during winter
• BTo make room for growing flowers in December
• CTo prevent water loss and survive cold winter weather when ground water freezes
• DTo store extra sunlight inside the bare branches

A food chain in a Tennessee river includes: Algae -> Mayfly Nymphs -> Bluegill Fish -> Great Blue Heron. Which organism receives energy indirectly from the sun by eating primary consumers?

• AAlgae
• BMayfly Nymphs
• CSunlight
• DBluegill Fish

A student places two identical potted bean plants in the same room. Plant X receives 10 hours of sunlight daily and is watered with 50 mL of water every two days. Plant Y is kept in a completely dark closet and watered with 50 mL of water every two days. After three weeks, Plant Y turns yellow, droops, and stops growing. Why did Plant Y fail to thrive?

• APlant Y lacked sunlight, so it could not perform photosynthesis to create sugar for food.
• BPlant Y received too much oxygen gas from the dark closet air.
• CPlant Y was destroyed by soil bacteria because of dark conditions.
• DPlant Y absorbed too much water through its leaves.

Which of the following is a behavioral adaptation that helps Tennessee black bears survive harsh winter months when food is scarce?

• AGrowing sharp claws for climbing trees
• BEntering a period of deep winter sleep (torpor) in a den to conserve energy
• CDeveloping thick black fur to camouflage in green summer grass
• DChanging their diet to eat only rocks and soil

Which statement best explains why offspring born to the same white-tailed deer parents in Tennessee look similar to their parents but not completely identical?

• AOffspring inherit all traits from only one parent chosen at random.
• BDeer change their genetic traits every season depending on grass supply.
• COffspring inherit a unique combination of genetic traits from both the mother and the fat…
• DEnvironment rewrites all genetic traits immediately after birth.

How do pollinators like bumblebees and butterflies benefit flowering plants in Tennessee ecosystems?

• AThey eat harmful plant roots so the plant grows taller.
• BThey shade the flower petals from getting sunburned.
• CThey carry water from ponds directly into flower stems.
• DThey transfer pollen from one flower to another, enabling seed production.

A severe drought strikes a Tennessee forest during summer, causing small streams and berry bushes to dry up. How will this environmental change most likely affect the local bird population that relies on berries for food?

• AThe bird population will decrease because less food and water are available to support th…
• BThe bird population will double in size because birds prefer hot dry weather.
• CThe birds will immediately transform into mammals to survive.
• DThe drought will have zero effect on any living organisms in the forest.

What primary advantage does a green praying mantis have over a brightly colored insect when living on green plant leaves?

• AIt can absorb more water from rain.
• BIts green camouflage helps it hide from predators and sneak up on prey.
• CIt can fly twice as fast as bright insects.
• DIt generates its own internal heat energy from sunlight.

Which group of organisms in a food web converts nitrogen and carbon stored in dead oak trees back into inorganic nutrients for soil?

• APrimary consumers like caterpillars
• BApex predators like coyotes
• CDecomposers like fungi and beetles
• DHerbivores like white-tailed deer

A student compares two fossils of ancient fish found in Tennessee limestone. Fossil X has wide, flat grinding teeth, while Fossil Y has sharp, pointed needle-like teeth. What can the student infer about their diets?

• AFossil X ate smaller swimming fish, while Fossil Y ate water plants.
• BBoth fish ate the exact same food because all fish have identical diets.
• CFossil X was a flying bird, while Fossil Y was a land mammal.
• DFossil X likely ate tough aquatic plants or shelled creatures, while Fossil Y was a preda…