RISE Science — Grade 6

A student places a sealed air-filled balloon into a freezer. After two hours, the balloon has shriveled and reduced in size. Which statement best explains this phenomenon using the particle model of matter?

• AGas particles escaped through microscopic holes in the balloon rubber.
• BGas particles slowed down, moved closer together, and exerted less pressure on the balloo…
• CGas particles destroyed themselves due to the cold temperature inside the freezer.
• DGas particles condensed into liquid water that filled the bottom of the balloon.

A metal sphere just barely fits through a metal ring at room temperature. After heating the metal sphere over a flame for two minutes, it no longer fits through the ring. What happened to the particles inside the metal sphere?

• AHeating added new metal particles, increasing the total weight of the sphere.
• BHeating caused the metal particles to absorb energy, vibrate faster, and spread further a…
• CHeating melted the outer layer of the sphere into a thicker gas layer.
• DHeating transformed the metal particles into larger non-metal atoms.

A glass of iced water sits on a kitchen table on a humid summer afternoon. After 15 minutes, liquid water droplets form on the outside surface of the glass. Where did this water come from?

• ACold water seeped through microscopic pores in the glass walls.
• BIce cubes inside the glass melted and overflowed down the outer wall.
• CWater vapor particles in the warm air collided with the cold glass, lost energy, and cond…
• DHydrogen and oxygen gases chemically reacted on the glass surface to produce new water mo…

A student measures 100 grams of liquid water and 15 grams of table salt. She stirs the salt into the water until it completely dissolves and disappears from view. What will be the final mass of the saltwater solution?

• A100 grams, because the salt dissolved and lost all its mass.
• B115 grams, because total mass is conserved during physical dissolving.
• C85 grams, because dissolving causes some water to evaporate instantly.
• D130 grams, because salt particles react with water to gain mass.

Three identical containers hold water in solid (ice), liquid, and gas (steam) phases. How do the motion and arrangement of water molecules compare across these three states?

• AGas particles are fixed in rigid rows; liquid particles float freely; solid particles mov…
• BSolid particles vibrate in fixed positions; liquid particles slide past one another; gas…
• CSolid particles move fastest; gas particles are held tightly by strong bonds; liquid part…
• DAll three states have identical particle speeds, but gas particles are smaller than solid…

A closed glass flask containing liquid rubbing alcohol is placed in a bowl of warm water. Students observe the liquid rising up a narrow tube attached to the flask. Why does the liquid level rise?

• AWarm water seeps into the glass flask and adds extra volume.
• BThermal energy transfers to the alcohol, increasing particle motion and spreading the liq…
• CHeat destroys air molecules inside the flask, pulling the liquid upward.
• DThe alcohol chemically decomposes into gas bubbles that push the liquid up.

A scientist mixes 50 mL of vinegar with 5 grams of baking soda in an open beaker. The mixture fizzes violently and produces carbon dioxide gas bubbles. When weighed on a balance, the final mass of the beaker contents is less than the initial combined mass. Why?

• AThe chemical reaction destroyed mass during the fizzing process.
• BCarbon dioxide gas escaped into the surrounding air, carrying mass away from the open bea…
• CBaking soda particles shrank into weightless energy units.
• DThe liquid absorbed gravity, making the remaining product weigh less.

To test conservation of mass during a chemical reaction, a student conducts the same baking soda and vinegar experiment inside a tightly sealed heavy plastic bottle. What will the balance show before and after the reaction?

• AThe mass will decrease because gas weighs less than liquid.
• BThe mass will increase because gas creates extra pressure on the bottom of the bottle.
• CThe mass will remain exactly the same because all atoms and gas product remain inside the…
• DThe mass will drop to zero while the gas bubbles are fizzing.

During a winter cold front in Salt Lake City, water vapor in the atmosphere changes directly into solid frost on car windshields without becoming liquid water first. What is this phase change called and what happens to particle energy?

• AEvaporation; particles gain thermal energy and speed up.
• BDeposition; particles lose thermal energy and slow down into a rigid lattice.
• CSublimation; particles lose mass and transform into pure cold energy.
• DMelting; particles gain kinetic energy and form strong bonds.

A student dissolves 20 grams of sugar into 200 grams of warm water. Which particle model diagram description best represents the resulting sugar-water solution?

• ASugar particles sink to the bottom in a separate solid layer beneath water particles.
• BSugar particles are broken down into individual atoms that disappear from the mixture com…
• CSugar molecules become evenly distributed throughout the space between water molecules.
• DWater particles turn into sugar particles until all liquid becomes solid.

Two identical beakers contain equal volumes of water. Beaker A is at 80°C and Beaker B is at 20°C. A single drop of food coloring is added to both beakers simultaneously without stirring. In which beaker will the dye spread faster, and why?

• ABeaker A, because water particles at 80°C have higher kinetic energy and collide more fre…
• BBeaker B, because cooler water particles are denser and push the dye outward faster.
• CBeaker B, because low thermal energy causes dye particles to dissolve into gas.
• DBoth beakers will spread dye at the exact same rate because water volume is equal.

An engineer heats an iron rod from 25°C to 500°C. Which graph characteristic best describes how the total thermal energy and average particle speed change during this heating process?

• AThermal energy decreases while average particle speed increases.
• BBoth total thermal energy and average particle speed increase steadily.
• CTotal thermal energy stays constant while particle speed drops to zero.
• DAverage particle speed decreases because heat makes iron atoms heavier.

A block of solid dry ice (solid carbon dioxide) is placed on a counter at room temperature. It transforms directly into carbon dioxide gas without leaving any liquid pool behind. Which statement accurately describes this process?

• ADry ice undergoes condensation by absorbing cold energy from the table.
• BDry ice undergoes sublimation as particles absorb thermal energy and break free into a ga…
• CDry ice undergoes chemical decomposition into carbon and oxygen solid crystals.
• DDry ice undergoes freezing because room air removes all thermal energy from the block.

A sealed glass container holds 50 grams of liquid water. The container is placed in a freezer until all water turns into solid ice. What happens to the mass and volume of the water inside the container?

• AMass remains 50 grams; volume increases slightly because ice crystals form an expanded he…
• BMass increases to 60 grams because ice is heavier than liquid water.
• CMass decreases to 40 grams because freezing destroys liquid particles.
• DBoth mass and volume decrease because cold temperatures shrink all water atoms.

A student pours 100 mL of olive oil into 100 mL of water in a clear graduated cylinder. The oil floats on top of the water in a distinct layer. What can the student infer about the particles and physical properties of these two liquids?

• AWater particles are lighter than oil particles, so water floats.
• BOlive oil is less dense than water because its particles pack less tightly per unit volum…
• COlive oil particles chemically destroyed the top layer of water molecules.
• DWater particles expanded into gas bubbles that lifted the oil layer up.

A sealed metal container of compressed air is placed in a fire. As the temperature rises dramatically, the container ruptures violently. What particle-level explanation accounts for the explosion?

• AAir particles burned up, leaving a vacuum that sucked the container walls inward.
• BIncreased heat caused gas particles to move much faster and hit the inner container walls…
• CAir particles multiplied rapidly in number until they overflowed the container.
• DHeat melted the air particles into solid metal fragments.

When candle wax melts near a flame, it changes from a hard solid to a clear liquid. When the candle is blown out, the liquid pool hardens back into solid wax. Which statement correctly identifies this change?

• AIt is a chemical change because heat permanently destroys the original wax molecules.
• BIt is a physical phase change because the chemical identity of the wax molecules remains…
• CIt is a nuclear change because wax atoms transformed into new elements.
• DIt is an irreversible reaction that converts mass into light energy.

A student measures the temperature of a beaker of pure water as it is heated on a hot plate. Once the water begins boiling vigorously at 100°C, the student continues heating it for 10 more minutes. What happens to the water's temperature while it is actively boiling?

• AThe temperature continues rising rapidly to 150°C.
• BThe temperature stays constant at 100°C while added heat energy breaks intermolecular bon…
• CThe temperature drops to 0°C because boiling removes heat from the liquid.
• DThe temperature fluctuates wildly between 50°C and 200°C.

Which of the following substances represents a pure substance rather than a mixture?

• ASaltwater collected from the Great Salt Lake.
• BPure distilled water containing only H2O molecules.
• CA bowl of trail mix containing raisins, nuts, and chocolate.
• DAir collected from a park containing nitrogen, oxygen, and argon gases.

A glow stick glows brightly when snapped. A student snaps two identical glow sticks and places one in a thermos of hot water and the other in a thermos of ice water. Why does the glow stick in hot water glow much brighter than the one in ice water?

• AHot water adds extra light particles directly through the plastic casing.
• BHigher temperature increases reactant particle speed and collision rate, speeding up the…
• CCold water destroys the chemical dye inside the cold glow stick.
• DHeat turns the liquid inside the glow stick into a radioactive solid.

A 10-gram ice cube at -10°C is heated until it becomes steam at 110°C in a closed container. How does the total mass of the water substance change across solid, liquid, and gas phases?

• AMass decreases as liquid turns into weightless gas.
• BMass increases because steam takes up far more container space.
• CMass remains exactly 10 grams throughout all phase changes.
• DMass disappears completely during the liquid phase.

A student compresses the plunger of a sealed syringe filled with air. The volume of air inside decreases from 50 mL to 20 mL. What happened to the air particles inside the syringe?

• AAir particles were forced closer together into a smaller space without changing particle…
• BAir particles shrank down to less than half their original physical size.
• CHalf of the air particles leaked out through the solid plastic walls.
• DAir particles merged together to form solid rock crystals.

Which evidence best indicates that a chemical change—rather than a physical change—has occurred when two clear liquids are mixed in a beaker?

• AThe total volume of the mixture equals the sum of the two starting liquids.
• BAn unexpected color change occurs, a solid precipitate forms, and gas bubbles are produce…
• CThe mixture can be easily separated back into two liquids using a paper filter.
• DThe liquid takes the shape of the container holding it.

A block of wood floats in water, while an iron bolt of identical size and shape sinks to the bottom. What accounts for this difference in behavior?

• AThe wood block contains more total mass than the iron bolt.
• BThe iron bolt has a higher density than water, while the wood block has a lower density t…
• CWater exerts an upward magnetic force on wood but repels iron.
• DThe iron bolt absorbs water particles until it becomes heavy.

A student observes wet clothes drying on a laundry line outside in St. George, Utah, on a warm sunny day. What particle process explains why the clothes dry?

• ALiquid water molecules absorb thermal energy, gain kinetic energy, overcome liquid bonds,…
• BWater particles soak into the cotton cloth fibers until they turn into solid cotton.
• CSunlight breaks water molecules apart into flammable hydrogen gas and oxygen solid.
• DGravity pulls liquid water particles upward into outer space.

A student leaves a metal spoon and a wooden spoon in a pot of hot soup at 90°C. Five minutes later, the handle of the metal spoon feels burning hot, while the handle of the wooden spoon feels barely warm. Why?

• AMetal is a good thermal conductor that easily transfers kinetic energy between colliding…
• BWood generates cold energy that neutralizes heat from the soup.
• CMetal attracts radiation from sun lamps in the kitchen.
• DWood absorbs all soup liquid into its center, keeping the outside handle cool.

Which mechanism of heat transfer is responsible for heating your hands when you hold them 6 inches above a burning campfire without touching the flames or embers?

• AConduction through solid wooden logs.
• BConvection as warm, less-dense air currents rise above the fire.
• CSublimation of smoke particles into infrared light.
• DMagnetic attraction pulling heat directly down.

How does energy from the Sun travel through 93 million miles of empty space (vacuum) to reach Earth's surface?

• ABy conduction through space dust particles.
• BBy convection currents carried through space air winds.
• CBy electromagnetic radiation in the form of light and infrared waves.
• DBy gravitational pulling of hot solar water drops.

Students design an insulated cup to keep hot chocolate warm as long as possible. Which design combination will minimize thermal energy loss most effectively?

• AA thin single-walled copper cup with an open top.
• BA thick double-walled foam container with an airtight insulated lid.
• CA solid iron mug painted black with no lid.
• DA aluminum foil cup with holes punched in the sides.

When a hot aluminum block at 90°C is placed in direct contact with a cool copper block at 10°C in an insulated box, what direction will thermal energy flow, and when will heat flow stop?

• AHeat flows from copper to aluminum until copper reaches 0°C.
• BHeat flows from aluminum to copper until both blocks reach the exact same temperature (th…
• CHeat flows back and forth continuously without ever stopping.
• DHeat flows from both blocks into the surrounding air until both drop to absolute zero.

A bar magnet is brought near an iron paperclip resting on a wooden desk. Before the magnet physically touches the paperclip, the paperclip leaps across the gap to attach to the magnet. What type of force caused this motion?

• AContact friction force.
• BNon-contact magnetic field force acting across a distance.
• CGravitational buoyancy force.
• DConvective air pressure force.

Two bar magnets are pushed toward each other on a smooth table. When the north pole of Magnet A approaches the north pole of Magnet B, what force interaction occurs?

• AThe magnets attract each other and snap together tightly.
• BThe magnets exert a repulsive force on each other, pushing apart without touching.
• CThe magnets lose all magnetic properties and become non-magnetic iron.
• DThe magnets create an electrical current that melts the table.

A student rubs a plastic balloon against a wool sweater and holds it near small pieces of paper. The paper pieces jump up and stick to the balloon. What phenomenon is demonstrated?

• AGravitational field repulsion.
• BElectrostatic non-contact field attraction caused by transferred electric charges.
• CThermal energy conduction through the air.
• DMagnetic pole alignment inside the paper fibers.

An astronaut drops a hammer and a feather on the Moon, where there is no atmospheric air. Both objects fall at the exact same rate and hit the lunar surface at the same instant. Why?

• AThe Moon has zero gravity, so both objects float slowly downward.
• BLunar gravitational fields exert an equal acceleration on all objects regardless of mass…
• CThe hammer lost all its mass in outer space.
• DLunar dust creates a magnetic field that pulls feathers faster than iron.

How does the gravitational force between Earth and a satellite change as the satellite moves further away into a higher orbit?

• AGravitational force increases because space energy pushes objects down.
• BGravitational force decreases as distance between the centers of mass increases.
• CGravitational force becomes negative and pushes the satellite into deep space.
• DGravitational force remains completely unchanged regardless of distance.

A student builds an electromagnet by wrapping copper wire around an iron nail and connecting the wire ends to a 1.5V battery. Which modification will increase the strength of the magnetic field generated by the electromagnet?

• ARemoving the iron nail core and leaving hollow plastic.
• BIncreasing the number of wire coils wrapped around the iron nail.
• CReplacing the battery with a piece of wood.
• DCooling the nail in water to stop electricity.

A pot of vegetable soup is heated on a glass-top electric stove burner. Which sequence correctly describes the primary modes of thermal energy transfer from burner to soup liquid to circulating vegetables?

• ARadiation from burner to pot base → Conduction through metal pot floor → Convection curre…
• BConvection through burner → Sublimation through pot floor → Conduction of vegetables.
• CConduction through burner → Radiation through soup → Evaporation of pot floor.
• DRadiation through pot floor → Conduction through air → Sublimation of soup.

Why does a metal park bench feel icy cold to sit on in winter, while a nearby wooden park bench at the exact same temperature (0°C) feels much less cold?

• AThe metal bench is actually 20 degrees colder than the wooden bench.
• BMetal conducts heat away from your body much faster than wood does.
• CWood produces its own internal thermal energy from photosynthesis.
• DMetal absorbs cold energy from snow and injects it into skin.

Engineers designing winter jackets select goose down feather lining because down contains millions of tiny trapped air pockets. How do trapped air pockets prevent heat loss?

• ATrapped air pockets reflect sunlight into the body.
• BStill air is a poor thermal conductor, preventing heat loss by restricting conduction and…
• CFeathers generate electric currents that create microwave heat.
• DAir pockets absorb weight from heavy snow.

A solar water heater installed on a home rooftop in Moab, Utah, uses a black painted metal panel beneath a clear glass sheet. Why is the panel painted black?

• ABlack surfaces reflect electromagnetic radiation better than shiny surfaces.
• BBlack surfaces absorb a wide spectrum of solar radiation energy and convert it to heat ef…
• CBlack paint prevents water from freezing into solid iron.
• DBlack paint generates gravitational fields that attract heat.

Which setup demonstrates energy transfer by electric fields without direct physical contact?

• APushing a heavy wooden crate across a concrete floor.
• BA charged plastic rod causing small aluminum foil balls to swing toward it from 2 cm away.
• CBoiling water in a kettle on a gas flame.
• DCutting paper with metal scissors.

A student holds a compass near a copper wire connected to a battery circuit. When the switch is closed and current flows, the compass needle deflects sideways. What does this observation prove?

• AElectric currents generate magnetic fields around conductors.
• BCopper wire loses all mass when connected to batteries.
• CCompass needles are made of wood that burns in electricity.
• DBatteries generate gravitational waves that tilt compasses.

During hot summer days in Utah, hot air balloons launch early in the morning when ambient air is cool. Burners heat the air inside the balloon envelope. Why does the hot air balloon rise?

• AHeated air particles expand, reducing air density inside the envelope so outside denser c…
• BHeat destroys the mass of air particles inside the envelope until they become weightless.
• CBurners create magnetic field repulsion against the ground.
• DHot air creates a vacuum that pulls the ground upward.

Which scenario describes thermal energy transfer occurring predominantly through radiation?

• AMelting an ice cube held in your warm hand.
• BWarming your face under a infrared heat lamp at a restaurant outdoor patio.
• CCooling a hot boiled egg in a bowl of ice water.
• DWarming soup by stirring it with a hot metal spoon.

Two iron balls are suspended by strings. Ball A has a mass of 5 kg and Ball B has a mass of 10 kg. Both are dropped from the same height of 2 meters. How do the gravitational forces acting on each ball compare?

• AEarth exerts a greater gravitational force on Ball B because gravitational force is propo…
• BEarth exerts a greater gravitational force on Ball A because lighter objects attract grav…
• CEarth exerts zero gravitational force on Ball B because it is heavier.
• DGravitational force is identical on both balls regardless of mass.

A homeowner installs double-pane glass windows filled with argon gas to lower heating bills during Utah winters. Why are double-pane windows superior to single-pane glass windows?

• AArgon gas conducts heat 10 times faster than solid glass.
• BThe trapped argon gas layer acts as an insulator that significantly reduces heat conducti…
• CDouble-pane glass magnifies sunlight into electric heat.
• DGlass panes reflect cold energy into the neighbor's yard.

What energy transformation occurs when solar radiant energy heats the surface of a asphalt parking lot?

• ARadiant electromagnetic energy is absorbed and transformed into thermal energy (kinetic e…
• BThermal energy is transformed into nuclear electrical energy.
• CRadiant energy is destroyed and converted into solid gravitational mass.
• DChemical potential energy turns into cold sound waves.

A steel paperclip is placed on top of a thin wooden table. A strong neodymium magnet is moved along the underside of the table. The paperclip follows the exact movement of the magnet above. How does the magnet move the paperclip through solid wood?

• AThe magnetic field extends through non-magnetic materials like wood to exert a force on m…
• BThe magnet heats the table until wood turns into liquid magnetic liquid.
• CWood conducts electric current that pushes the paperclip.
• DStatic gravity pulls the paperclip sideways.