WY-TOPP Summative Science — Grade 4

A student rolls two identical wooden balls down a hill. Ball A rolls slowly, while Ball B rolls quickly. Which statement correctly compares their kinetic energy?

• ABall A has more kinetic energy because it is moving slower.
• BBall B has more kinetic energy because it moves at a higher speed.
• CBoth balls have the same kinetic energy because they have equal mass.
• DNeither ball has kinetic energy while rolling down a slope.

A toy car rolls down a high ramp and moves faster than a toy car rolling down a low ramp. What evidence does this provide about speed and energy?

• ASpeed decreases as an object gains kinetic energy.
• BFaster moving objects carry more energy of motion.
• CRamp height does not affect how fast a car moves.
• DEnergy disappears when a toy car stops at the bottom.

When a moving bowling ball hits wooden pins, the pins knock backward and make a loud crashing sound. What happens during this collision?

• AEnergy is destroyed when the ball touches the pins.
• BEnergy transfers from the moving ball to the pins and air.
• CThe pins create new energy that stops the bowling ball.
• DNo energy transfer occurs because pins are nonliving.

A student plucks a tight rubber band stretched across an empty shoe box. The rubber band vibrates rapidly and produces a musical sound. What causes the sound?

• AVibrations transfer energy into the air as sound waves.
• BThe shoe box creates electricity when touched.
• CAir inside the box stops all vibrations immediately.
• DRubber bands release light energy when plucked.

A student shines a flashlight onto a smooth wall in a dark room. Which statement best explains how light travels from the flashlight to the wall?

• ALight travels in curved loops through dark air.
• BLight travels in straight paths called light rays until it strikes an object.
• CLight stops moving as soon as it leaves the flashlight lens.
• DLight spreads out only after bouncing off three different walls.

A simple circuit consists of a battery, two copper wires, and a light bulb. When all connections are tight, the bulb lights up. What must be true about this circuit?

• AThe circuit is open and electrical current cannot flow.
• BThe circuit is closed, forming a continuous path for electric current.
• CEnergy flows only when the battery is completely disconnected.
• DCopper wires block electricity from reaching the light bulb.

Why can a student see their clear reflection in a smooth glass mirror but not on a rough wooden tabletop?

• ASmooth mirrors reflect light rays in an orderly, parallel direction.
• BRough wood absorbs all light and produces no reflections at all.
• CMirrors create light rays inside the glass without an external source.
• DWood reflects light rays in perfectly straight lines toward the eyes.

On a chilly Wyoming winter morning, a student rubs their gloved hands together quickly. Their gloves feel warm. What energy transformation is taking place?

• AElectrical energy transforms into chemical energy.
• BMotion energy (kinetic energy) transforms into thermal energy (heat).
• CLight energy transforms into sound energy.
• DThermal energy transforms into stored potential energy.

A student drops a small pebble into a calm pond. Ripples spread outward in expanding circles across the water surface. What do these ripples represent?

• AWater moving permanently away from the center without returning.
• BWaves carrying energy outward across the water surface.
• CHeat energy melting ice at the bottom of the pond.
• DSound particles turning into liquid water droplets.

A student pulls back the elastic string of a toy archer bow and holds it still. When released, the arrow flies forward. What describes the energy before release?

• AThe pulled string holds stored potential energy.
• BThe still arrow has maximum kinetic energy of motion.
• CEnergy is completely absent until the arrow hits a target.
• DThe string creates light energy while held still.

Which main structure of a prairie sunflower absorbs water and essential minerals from the soil?

• AGreen leaves
• BYellow flower petals
• CUnderground roots
• DOuter stem bark

What primary function do broad green leaves serve for a wild lodgepole pine seedling or garden plant?

• AAbsorbing liquid water directly from deep underground aquifers.
• BCapturing sunlight to produce sugar food through photosynthesis.
• CAttracting soil earthworms to protect plant seeds.
• DAnchor the plant firmly against strong mountain winds.

Wild wildflowers produce brightly colored blossoms during summer. What is the primary biological purpose of these flower structures?

• AProtecting root tips from freezing winter snow.
• BAttracting insect pollinators to assist in seed reproduction.
• CStoring excess water inside underground bulbs.
• DFiltering dust particles out of mountain air.

A Wyoming bighorn sheep has a rigid internal bony skeleton. How does this internal structure support the animal's survival?

• AIt converts sunlight directly into body heat.
• BIt provides body support, structural shape, and organ protection.
• CIt absorbs liquid water through the animal's hooves.
• DIt manufactures oxygen gas inside the stomach.

Pronghorn antelopes in Wyoming have thick, hollow-haired winter coats. How does this external adaptation help them survive harsh winter temperatures?

• AIt reflects all sunlight away so the animal stays cold.
• BIt traps insulating air near the body to retain thermal energy.
• CIt allows cold river water to soak directly into their skin.
• DIt helps them absorb minerals from snowy prairie soils.

When a mountain lion hunts in dim twilight, the pupils in its eyes widen (dilate). What function does this eye adaptation serve?

• AIt reduces the amount of light entering the eye.
• BIt allows more ambient light to reach light receptors in the eye.
• CIt blocks all sound vibrations from entering the ears.
• DIt changes the color of prey animals in the dark.

A jackrabbit swivels its large outer ears toward a sudden rustling noise in the brush. What type of sensory information are its ears detecting?

• AChemical scents floating in mountain breezes.
• BSound vibrations traveling through the surrounding air.
• CTemperature changes in the prairie soil.
• DLight reflection patterns from distant pine trees.

What key role does the stem of a sagebrush plant play in its overall survival?

• AIt absorbs sunlight underground during winter snowstorms.
• BIt holds leaves up toward light and transports water and nutrients.
• CIt produces seeds without needing flowers or cones.
• DIt traps soil moisture by turning into leaf litter.

During autumn, snowshoe hares shed their brown summer fur and grow bright white winter coats. How does this coat color change aid survival?

• AIt helps them blend into snowy surroundings to hide from predators.
• BIt makes them easier for coyotes to spot from long distances.
• CIt increases their body weight so they can run faster.
• DIt prevents their bones from growing during cold months.

A rattlesnake has pit organs located between its eyes and nostrils that detect infrared heat signatures. How does this specialized sense help the snake?

• AIt allows the snake to locate warm-bodied prey in complete darkness.
• BIt helps the snake hear high-pitched bird calls overhead.
• CIt lets the snake absorb drinking water through its nostrils.
• DIt prevents the snake's scales from shedding in summer.

A scientist examines an undisturbed cliff face made of horizontal sedimentary rock layers. Where are the oldest rock layers located?

• AAt the very top layer near the mountain summit.
• BIn the middle layers halfway up the cliff face.
• CAt the bottom layer deep below the upper layers.
• DRock layers do not have age differences.

Which process describes the physical or chemical breaking down of solid rocks into smaller fragments called sediment?

• AEvaporation
• BWeathering
• CDeposition
• DPhotosynthesis

Wind blows loose prairie sand across a desert canyon, moving sand grains miles away from their original spot. What geological process is occurring?

• AErosion
• BCondensation
• CEarthquake uplift
• DFossilization

A hiker finds a fossilized sea clam shell imbedded in a rock layer near the top of a Wyoming mountain peak. What does this fossil evidence indicate?

• AClams once lived on dry mountain pine trees.
• BThe mountain area was once covered by an ancient ocean long ago.
• CHikers dropped fresh clam shells on the mountain top last year.
• DMountain rocks were formed inside active erupting volcanoes.

On a topographic map, contour lines connect points of equal elevation. What does it mean when contour lines are drawn very close together?

• AThe land surface is flat with no elevation changes.
• BThe land surface has a very steep slope or cliff.
• CAn underground cave is located directly below.
• DA large body of standing water covers the region.

Which energy source is considered renewable because natural processes constantly replenish it faster than humans consume it?

• ACoal
• BPetroleum crude oil
• CWind energy
• DNatural gas

Why is coal classified as a nonrenewable energy resource?

• ACoal forms in cloud layers during spring thunderstorms.
• BCoal takes millions of years to form from ancient plant remains.
• CCoal can be recreated in laboratories in a few hours.
• DCoal burns without producing any heat or ash.

A massive mountain glacier slowly crawls down a rock valley over hundreds of years. How does the glacier alter the shape of the valley floor?

• AIt fills the valley with liquid volcanic lava.
• BIt scours and carves the steep valley into a wide U-shape.
• CIt prevents all weathering from occurring on surrounding peaks.
• DIt builds tall sand dunes across the valley floor.

Tree roots growing inside a crack in a large granite boulder gradually expand over time, breaking the boulder into two separate rocks. What type of weathering is this?

• APhysical (mechanical) weathering
• BChemical weathering by acid rain
• CVolcanic lava weathering
• DAtmospheric solar weathering

Over many thousands of years, blowing wind carrying fine sand particles wears away soft sandstone rock layers, forming natural arches in southern Wyoming. What process formed these arches?

• AVolcanic eruptions melting solid rock
• BWind weathering and erosion
• CEarthquake faulting breaking mountain peaks
• DUnderground ocean tides

Two identical toy cars are launched down a track. Car 1 travels at 2 meters per second, while Car 2 travels at 4 meters per second. Both cars crash into identical foam blocks. Which result is most likely?

• ACar 1 will push its foam block twice as far as Car 2.
• BCar 2 will push its foam block farther because it has greater kinetic energy.
• CBoth cars will push their foam blocks the exact same distance.
• DNeither car will move its foam block because foam is soft.

A student releases a heavy steel marble down a ramp. It strikes a stationary plastic marble. The plastic marble shoots forward quickly while the steel marble slows down. What energy change occurred?

• AKinetic energy was lost completely from both marbles.
• BKinetic energy transferred from the steel marble to the plastic marble.
• CThe plastic marble generated potential energy out of nothing.
• DFriction stopped all energy transfer during the collision.

When a bread toaster is plugged into a wall outlet and switched on, metal wires inside glow bright red and radiate heat to toast the bread. What sequence of energy transformations takes place?

• AThermal energy -> Electrical energy -> Light energy
• BElectrical energy -> Thermal energy and Light energy
• CChemical energy -> Motion energy -> Sound energy
• DNuclear energy -> Sound energy -> Potential energy

A student builds an electric circuit with a battery, light bulb, wire, and a plastic switch. When the switch lever is lifted (opened), the light bulb turns off immediately. Why does the bulb turn off?

• AOpening the switch creates a break in the circuit path, stopping electric current flow.
• BOpening the switch drains all electrical energy out of the battery instantly.
• COpening the switch reverses the direction of current so the bulb burns out.
• DPlastic switches absorb all light rays inside the bulb.

A music student strikes a bass drum gently, producing a soft quiet sound. Next, the student strikes the same drum forcefully, producing a loud booming sound. How do the sound waves differ?

• AThe loud sound wave has a higher wave amplitude than the quiet sound wave.
• BThe quiet sound wave travels three times faster through air than the loud sound wave.
• CThe loud sound wave has a shorter wavelength and higher pitch.
• DThe quiet sound wave carries more total energy across the room.

A student plucks two strings on a wooden acoustic guitar. String 1 is short and thin, producing a high-pitched note. String 2 is long and thick, producing a low-pitched note. What wave property determines this difference in pitch?

• AFrequency of vibrations (number of wave cycles per second).
• BThe bright color of the guitar body.
• CThe amount of light reflected off the metal strings.
• DThe thickness of the wooden guitar pick.

A student reads a printed book inside a bright classroom. Which step correctly describes how the student's eyes are able to see the printed words on the page?

• ALight rays travel from the student's eyes to illuminate the book page.
• BLight rays from room lamps bounce off the book page and enter the student's eyes.
• CThe book page generates its own light rays that travel directly into the brain.
• DLight rays bounce off the walls and travel around the book without touching it.

Engineers send digital messages across long distances using light pulses (flashes) through fiber-optic cables. Why are digitized signals (using binary patterns of 1s and 0s) reliable for communication?

• ADigital signals can easily clear obstacles by bending through solid rock.
• BPatterns of high and low pulses can be sent and decoded clearly without losing informatio…
• CDigital light pulses travel faster than the speed of light.
• DAnalog sound waves automatically turn into light without electronic equipment.

Wyoming generates electricity using both wind turbine farms and coal-burning power plants. What is one environmental advantage of using wind turbines over coal plants?

• AWind turbines burn natural gas to produce heavy black smoke.
• BWind energy produces electricity without generating greenhouse gas air pollution.
• CCoal power plants replenish underground coal beds every spring.
• DWind turbines function only when buried deep underground.

A remote mountain weather station in Wyoming uses a rooftop solar panel connected to a storage battery. What energy conversion takes place in the solar panel during daytime?

• ANuclear energy converts into sound energy.
• BLight energy from the Sun converts into electrical energy.
• CMotion energy from rain converts into coal fuel.
• DThermal energy converts into gravitational potential energy.

A student places small paper confetti dots on top of a speaker membrane. When music plays, the speaker vibrates and the confetti dots bounce up and down. What does this demonstrate about sound?

• ASound waves carry light energy through solid glass.
• BSound energy is produced by physical vibrations that travel through matter.
• CConfetti dots generate electricity when touched by air.
• DVibrations stop sound waves from traveling across a room.

Electrician safety tools use thick rubber handles over copper metal pliers. Why is rubber used on tool handles?

• ARubber is a good electrical conductor that speeds up current flow.
• BRubber is an electrical insulator that prevents electric current from passing into a pers…
• CRubber converts electric current into cold water.
• DCopper metal blocks all electrical current from moving.

A cyclist applies the handbrakes while riding down a steep hill. The bike slows down, and the rubber brake pads feel hot to the touch. What happened to the bike's kinetic energy?

• AKinetic energy was converted into thermal energy by friction between brake pads and wheel…
• BKinetic energy doubled as the bike slowed down.
• CKinetic energy disappeared without transforming into any other energy form.
• DThe brake pads absorbed gravity to create magnetic energy.

A student tests three materials: clear window glass, frosted bathroom glass, and a solid sheet of cardboard. Which material is transparent, allowing almost all light rays to pass straight through?

• ASolid sheet of cardboard
• BFrosted bathroom glass
• CClear window glass
• DDark wooden board

Before modern telephones, telegraph operators transmitted messages using Morse code—patterns of short dots and long dashes sent over wires. How does Morse code represent digitized communication?

• AIt converts human voices into liquid ink on paper.
• BIt uses structured patterns of two distinct signals (dots and dashes) to encode text info…
• CIt sends heat energy through wooden posts across prairies.
• DIt relies on light reflections from mountain snowcapped peaks.

A student lines up six identical wooden blocks in a straight row touching each other. The student taps the first block in line with a wooden mallet. What happens to the last block in line?

• AThe last block moves forward because kinetic energy transferred through the row of blocks.
• BAll blocks melt instantly into liquid water.
• CThe last block moves backward toward the mallet.
• DNo blocks move because energy cannot pass through wood.

Inside a pine tree trunk, narrow specialized tubes called xylem transport liquid from roots up to needles, while phloem tubes transport sugar food down from needles. What system do these structures form?

• ASensory nervous system
• BVascular transport system
• CRespiratory lung system
• DSkeletal joint system

A red fox smells a rodent hidden under deep snow. Olfactory sensory receptors inside the fox's nose detect scent molecules. What happens next in the fox's body?

• ASensory receptors send nerve signals to the brain to process the smell and locate prey.
• BThe nose immediately digests the rodent without moving.
• CScents turn into light rays inside the fox's ears.
• DNerve signals travel down to the hooves to freeze body motion.