Here are some science questions to help you test your general science knowledge. They will also show you which of the Florida, Utah, and NGSS science standards each question is testing.
The questions are chosen randomly, so this quest will be different each time.
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When you break the mineral calcite, it breaks into shapes with flat, smooth sides. This is an example of:
-
Cleavage
Yes! A mineral has cleavage when it breaks to form flat, smooth surfaces. -
Fracture
No. There are different kinds of fractures, but none of them form flat, smooth surfaces. -
Conchoidal
No. A conchoidal fracture is the shell-shaped break that is commonly seen when glass breaks. A conchoidal fracture is not flat.
-
Hardness
No. Hardness tells us how easily a mineral can be scratched, not how it breaks.
Click to see which state standards this question tests, and which of my videos, experiments, and other resources support that topic.
Florida
SC.4.E.6.2 Identify the physical properties of common earth-forming minerals, including hardness, color, luster, cleavage, and streak color, and recognize the role of minerals in the formation of rocks.
| Definition of a Mineral | video |
| What is a Mineral? | video |
| Identifying Minerals | video, learnalong |
| Minerals Around You | text page, learnalong |
| Review Minerals-8 | practice |
| Review Minerals-1 | practice |
| Review Minerals-2 | practice |
| Review Minerals-3 | practice |
| Review Minerals-4 | practice |
| Review Minerals-5 | practice |
| Review Minerals-6 | practice |
| Review Minerals-7 | practice |
Utah
UT.4.III.1.b Observe rocks using a magnifying glass and draw shapes and colors of the minerals.
| Definition of a Mineral | video |
| What is a Mineral? | video |
| Identifying Minerals | video, learnalong |
| What is a Rock? | video, learnalong |
| Review Minerals-4 | practice |
| Review Minerals-5 | practice |
| Review Minerals-6 | practice |
| Review Minerals-7 | practice |
| Review Minerals-8 | practice |
| Review Minerals-3 | practice |
UT.8.III.1.b Observe and describe the minerals found in rocks (e.g., shape, color, luster, texture, hardness).
| Definition of a Mineral | video |
| What is a Mineral? | video |
| Identifying Minerals | video, learnalong |
| What is a Rock? | video, learnalong |
| Review Minerals-2 | practice |
| Review Minerals-3 | practice |
| Review Minerals-4 | practice |
| Review Minerals-5 | practice |
| Review Minerals-6 | practice |
| Review Minerals-7 | practice |
| Review Minerals-8 | practice |
| Review Minerals-1 | practice |
NGSS
5-PS1-3 Make observations and measurements to identify materials based on their properties.
| Iron Cereal | video, ClosedCaptions |
| Density: Ice, Oil, and Water | video |
| Wax and Wood, part 1 | video |
| Wax and Wood, part 2 | video |
| What is a Mineral? | video |
| Identifying Minerals | video, learnalong |
| Raw Egg or Boiled? | video |
| Making Turmeric Paper | video |
| Testing for Tannic Acid | video |
| Definition of a Mineral | video |
| Floating Bubbles | video |
| Finding Fat in Foods | video, ClosedCaptions |
| Fireworks Colors | video |
| A Cool Change | text page |
| Acid Hunt | text page |
| Review Minerals-2 | practice |
| Review Minerals-3 | practice |
| Review Minerals-4 | practice |
| Review Minerals-5 | practice |
| Review Minerals-6 | practice |
| Review Minerals-7 | practice |
| Review Minerals-8 | practice |
I used this piece of calcite to scratch this penny. Then I used the penny to scratch the piece of calcite. What does that tell us?
-
It tells us that I did the test wrong.
No. The test was done correctly. -
It tells us that they both have the same hardness.
Yes! You test the hardness of a mineral by testing to see what will scratch it. If two substances scratch each other, they have the same hardness. -
It tells us that calcite is not a mineral.
No. Scratching a specimen will not tell you if it is a mineral. -
It tells us that calcite has cleavage.
No. You do not test for cleavage by scratching a mineral.
Click to see which state standards this question tests, and which of my videos, experiments, and other resources support that topic.
Florida
SC.4.E.6.2 Identify the physical properties of common earth-forming minerals, including hardness, color, luster, cleavage, and streak color, and recognize the role of minerals in the formation of rocks.
| Definition of a Mineral | video |
| What is a Mineral? | video |
| Identifying Minerals | video, learnalong |
| Minerals Around You | text page, learnalong |
| Review Minerals-8 | practice |
| Review Minerals-1 | practice |
| Review Minerals-2 | practice |
| Review Minerals-3 | practice |
| Review Minerals-4 | practice |
| Review Minerals-5 | practice |
| Review Minerals-6 | practice |
| Review Minerals-7 | practice |
Utah
UT.4.III.1.b Observe rocks using a magnifying glass and draw shapes and colors of the minerals.
| Definition of a Mineral | video |
| What is a Mineral? | video |
| Identifying Minerals | video, learnalong |
| What is a Rock? | video, learnalong |
| Review Minerals-4 | practice |
| Review Minerals-5 | practice |
| Review Minerals-6 | practice |
| Review Minerals-7 | practice |
| Review Minerals-8 | practice |
| Review Minerals-3 | practice |
UT.8.III.1.b Observe and describe the minerals found in rocks (e.g., shape, color, luster, texture, hardness).
| Definition of a Mineral | video |
| What is a Mineral? | video |
| Identifying Minerals | video, learnalong |
| What is a Rock? | video, learnalong |
| Review Minerals-2 | practice |
| Review Minerals-3 | practice |
| Review Minerals-4 | practice |
| Review Minerals-5 | practice |
| Review Minerals-6 | practice |
| Review Minerals-7 | practice |
| Review Minerals-8 | practice |
| Review Minerals-1 | practice |
NGSS
5-PS1-3 Make observations and measurements to identify materials based on their properties.
| Iron Cereal | video, ClosedCaptions |
| Density: Ice, Oil, and Water | video |
| Wax and Wood, part 1 | video |
| Wax and Wood, part 2 | video |
| What is a Mineral? | video |
| Identifying Minerals | video, learnalong |
| Raw Egg or Boiled? | video |
| Making Turmeric Paper | video |
| Testing for Tannic Acid | video |
| Definition of a Mineral | video |
| Floating Bubbles | video |
| Finding Fat in Foods | video, ClosedCaptions |
| Fireworks Colors | video |
| A Cool Change | text page |
| Acid Hunt | text page |
| Review Minerals-2 | practice |
| Review Minerals-3 | practice |
| Review Minerals-4 | practice |
| Review Minerals-5 | practice |
| Review Minerals-6 | practice |
| Review Minerals-7 | practice |
| Review Minerals-8 | practice |
You have probably seen patterns of light like this in a pool of water. What causes it?
-
Absorption
No. If the light was being absorbed, the pattern would be dark instead of bright. -
Diffusion
No. Diffusion is the scattering of light as it is reflected in many different directions. Diffusion would make the entire area brighter, not a specific pattern. -
Reflection
No. While the light has to reflect back to your eye for you to see it, reflection does not cause this pattern. -
Refraction
Yes! Refraction bends light. Waves and ripples on the surface of the water act just like the curved surface of a lens. This bends the light into patterns that have shapes similar to the ripples on the water's surface.
Click to see which state standards this question tests, and which of my videos, experiments, and other resources support that topic.
Florida
SC.3.P.10.3 Demonstrate that light travels in a straight line until it strikes an object or travels from one medium to another.
| Changing the Speed of Light | video |
| Why is Foam White? | video |
| Microscopes: Growing Crystals | video, learnalong |
| Sunglass Science: Birefringence | video |
| Sunglass Science: Polarized Light | video |
| Mirage | video, ClosedCaptions |
| Pinhole Eyeglasses | video |
| Why Wet Things Turn Dark | video |
| A Long Lens | text page |
| Review Light-2 | practice |
| Review Light-3 | practice |
| Review Light-4 | practice |
| Review Light-5 | practice |
| Review Light-1 | practice |
| Growing Crystals Under the Microscope | learnalong |
SC.3.P.10.4 Demonstrate that light can be reflected, refracted, and absorbed.
| Why Wet Things Turn Dark | video |
| Onion Crystals | video |
| Changing the Speed of Light | video |
| Why is Foam White? | video |
| Microscopes: Growing Crystals | video, learnalong |
| Sunglass Science: Birefringence | video |
| Sunglass Science: Polarized Light | video |
| Mirage | video, ClosedCaptions |
| Pinhole Eyeglasses | video |
| Looking for Rainbows | video |
| Sunlight, Energy, and Crayons | text page, free |
| A Long Lens | text page |
| Review Light-2 | practice |
| Review Light-3 | practice |
| Review Light-4 | practice |
| Review Light-5 | practice |
| Review Light-1 | practice |
| Growing Crystals Under the Microscope | learnalong |
SC.7.P.10.2 Observe and explain that light can be reflected, refracted, and/or absorbed.
| Why Wet Things Turn Dark | video |
| Onion Crystals | video |
| Finding Fat in Foods | video, ClosedCaptions |
| Changing the Speed of Light | video |
| Why is Foam White? | video |
| Microscopes: Growing Crystals | video, learnalong |
| Sunglass Science: Birefringence | video |
| Sunglass Science: Polarized Light | video |
| Mirage | video, ClosedCaptions |
| Pinhole Eyeglasses | video |
| A Long Lens | text page |
| Sunlight, Energy, and Crayons | text page, free |
| Review Light-2 | practice |
| Review Light-3 | practice |
| Review Light-4 | practice |
| Review Light-5 | practice |
| Review Light-1 | practice |
| Growing Crystals Under the Microscope | learnalong |
Utah
UT.8.IV.1.b Compare the transfer of energy (i.e., sound, light, earthquake waves, heat) through various mediums.
| Noisy String | video |
| Mirage | video, ClosedCaptions |
| About Microwaves | video |
| Microwave Chocolate | video |
| Spoon Bells | video |
| The Singing Glass | video |
| Why Wet Things Turn Dark | video |
| The Science of Pizza | video |
| Heating a Balloon | video, ClosedCaptions |
| Changing the Speed of Light | video |
| Doppler Effect | video |
| Solar Power | video |
| Sunglass Science: Birefringence | video |
| Sunglass Science: Polarized Light | video |
| Comparing How Sound Moves Through Liquids and Gases | text page |
| Review Light-1 | practice |
| Review Light-2 | practice |
| Review Light-4 | practice |
| Review Light-5 | practice |
NGSS
1-PS4-3 Plan and conduct an investigation to determine the effect of placing objects made with different materials in the path of a beam of light.
| Sunglass Science: Polarized Light | video |
| Mirage | video, ClosedCaptions |
| A Color You Can't See | video, free |
| Pinhole Eyeglasses | video |
| Why Wet Things Turn Dark | video |
| Onion Crystals | video |
| Sunprints | video |
| Changing the Speed of Light | video |
| Why is Foam White? | video |
| Microscopes: Growing Crystals | video, learnalong |
| Sunglass Science: Birefringence | video |
| A Long Lens | text page |
| Review Light-1 | practice |
| Review Light-2 | practice |
| Review Light-3 | practice |
| Review Light-4 | practice |
| Review Light-5 | practice |
| Growing Crystals Under the Microscope | learnalong |
MS-PS4-2 Develop and use a model to describe that waves are reflected, absorbed, or transmitted through various materials.
| Sunglass Science: Polarized Light | video |
| Mirage | video, ClosedCaptions |
| About Microwaves | video |
| Microwave Chocolate | video |
| Why Wet Things Turn Dark | video |
| Onion Crystals | video |
| Sunprints | video |
| Finding Fat in Foods | video, ClosedCaptions |
| Changing the Speed of Light | video |
| Why is Foam White? | video |
| Sunglass Science: Birefringence | video |
| A Long Lens | text page |
| Sunlight, Energy, and Crayons | text page, free |
| Review Light-1 | practice |
| Review Light-2 | practice |
| Review Light-4 | practice |
| Review Light-5 | practice |
Which part of the food web does this mushroom fit into?
-
Producer.
No. A producer captures energy from sunlight, and stores it as food. To do that, the organism needs to contain chlorophyll. This mushroom cannot use the energy of sunlight to produce its own food. -
Primary Consumer.
No. Primary consumers eat producers. This mushroom does not eat living plants. -
Secondary Consumer
No. Secondary consumers eat other consumers. This mushroom does not eat living animals. -
Decomposer
Yes! Decomposers break down dead and decaying organisms. This mushroom gets its energy from decaying organisms in the soil.
Click to see which state standards this question tests, and which of my videos, experiments, and other resources support that topic.
Florida
SC.4.L.17.3 Trace the flow of energy from the Sun as it is transferred along the food chain through the producers to the consumers.
| Scavengers and Decomposers | video, ClosedCaptions |
| Secondary Consumers | video, ClosedCaptions |
| Producers | video |
| Primary Consumers | video, ClosedCaptions |
| Food Web Tag | text page |
| What is a Food Web? | text page |
| Review Food Web-4 | practice |
| Review Food Web-5 | practice |
| Review Food Web-6 | practice |
| Review Food Web-7 | practice |
| Review Food Web-8 | practice |
| Review Food Web-9 | practice |
| Review Food Web-10 | practice |
| Review Food Web-2 | practice |
| Review Food Web-1 | practice |
| Review Food Web-3 | practice |
SC.7.L.17.1 Explain and illustrate the roles of and relationships among producers, consumers, and decomposers in the process of energy transfer in a food web.
| Scavengers and Decomposers | video, ClosedCaptions |
| Secondary Consumers | video, ClosedCaptions |
| Producers | video |
| Primary Consumers | video, ClosedCaptions |
| Measuring Calories | video, ClosedCaptions |
| Food Web Tag | text page |
| What is a Food Web? | text page |
| Review Food Web-1 | practice |
| Review Food Web-3 | practice |
| Review Food Web-4 | practice |
| Review Food Web-5 | practice |
| Review Food Web-6 | practice |
| Review Food Web-7 | practice |
| Review Food Web-8 | practice |
| Review Food Web-9 | practice |
| Review Food Web-10 | practice |
| Review Food Web-2 | practice |
Utah
UT.8.II.2.a Categorize the relationships between organisms (i.e., producer/consumer/decomposer, predator/prey, mutualism/parasitism) and provide examples of each.
| Secondary Consumers | video, ClosedCaptions |
| Producers | video |
| Primary Consumers | video, ClosedCaptions |
| What is a Food Web? | text page |
| Review Food Web-1 | practice |
| Review Food Web-3 | practice |
| Review Food Web-4 | practice |
| Review Food Web-5 | practice |
| Review Food Web-6 | practice |
| Review Food Web-7 | practice |
| Review Food Web-8 | practice |
| Review Food Web-9 | practice |
| Review Food Web-10 | practice |
| Review Food Web-11 | practice |
| Review Food Web-12 | practice |
| Review Food Web-2 | practice |
NGSS
5-PS3-1 Use models to describe that energy in animals’ food (used for body repair, growth, motion, and to maintain body warmth) was once energy from the sun.
| Primary Consumers | video, ClosedCaptions |
| Measuring Calories | video, ClosedCaptions |
| Scavengers and Decomposers | video, ClosedCaptions |
| Secondary Consumers | video, ClosedCaptions |
| Producers | video |
| Measuring Photosynthesis | video |
| Calories: Measuring the Energy | text page, free |
| What is a Food Web? | text page |
| Review Food Web-2 | practice |
| Review Food Web-1 | practice |
| Review Food Web-3 | practice |
| Review Food Web-4 | practice |
| Review Food Web-5 | practice |
| Review Food Web-6 | practice |
| Review Food Web-7 | practice |
| Review Food Web-8 | practice |
| Review Food Web-9 | practice |
| Review Food Web-10 | practice |
5-LS2-1 Develop a model to describe the movement of matter among plants, animals, decomposers, and the environment.
| Primary Consumers | video, ClosedCaptions |
| Scavengers and Decomposers | video, ClosedCaptions |
| Secondary Consumers | video, ClosedCaptions |
| Producers | video |
| What is a Food Web? | text page |
| Review Food Web-1 | practice |
| Review Food Web-3 | practice |
| Review Food Web-4 | practice |
| Review Food Web-5 | practice |
| Review Food Web-6 | practice |
| Review Food Web-7 | practice |
| Review Food Web-8 | practice |
| Review Food Web-9 | practice |
| Review Food Web-10 | practice |
| Review Food Web-2 | practice |
This is the mineral galena. What type of luster does it have?
-
Vitreous
No. A vitreous luster means that the mineral looks glassy. Galena does not look like it is made of glass. -
Shiny
No. Shiny is not a type of luster. -
Metallic
Yes! A metallic luster means that the mineral looks like it is made of metal. Galena reflects light in the same way that a piece of metal does. If a mineral looks like it is made of metal, it has a metallic luster. -
Silver
No. Silver is a color, not a type of luster. Luster is the way that a mineral reflects light, not is color.
Click to see which state standards this question tests, and which of my videos, experiments, and other resources support that topic.
Florida
SC.4.E.6.2 Identify the physical properties of common earth-forming minerals, including hardness, color, luster, cleavage, and streak color, and recognize the role of minerals in the formation of rocks.
| Definition of a Mineral | video |
| What is a Mineral? | video |
| Identifying Minerals | video, learnalong |
| Minerals Around You | text page, learnalong |
| Review Minerals-8 | practice |
| Review Minerals-1 | practice |
| Review Minerals-2 | practice |
| Review Minerals-3 | practice |
| Review Minerals-4 | practice |
| Review Minerals-5 | practice |
| Review Minerals-6 | practice |
| Review Minerals-7 | practice |
Utah
UT.4.III.1.b Observe rocks using a magnifying glass and draw shapes and colors of the minerals.
| Definition of a Mineral | video |
| What is a Mineral? | video |
| Identifying Minerals | video, learnalong |
| What is a Rock? | video, learnalong |
| Review Minerals-4 | practice |
| Review Minerals-5 | practice |
| Review Minerals-6 | practice |
| Review Minerals-7 | practice |
| Review Minerals-8 | practice |
| Review Minerals-3 | practice |
UT.8.III.1.b Observe and describe the minerals found in rocks (e.g., shape, color, luster, texture, hardness).
| Definition of a Mineral | video |
| What is a Mineral? | video |
| Identifying Minerals | video, learnalong |
| What is a Rock? | video, learnalong |
| Review Minerals-2 | practice |
| Review Minerals-3 | practice |
| Review Minerals-4 | practice |
| Review Minerals-5 | practice |
| Review Minerals-6 | practice |
| Review Minerals-7 | practice |
| Review Minerals-8 | practice |
| Review Minerals-1 | practice |
NGSS
5-PS1-3 Make observations and measurements to identify materials based on their properties.
| Iron Cereal | video, ClosedCaptions |
| Density: Ice, Oil, and Water | video |
| Wax and Wood, part 1 | video |
| Wax and Wood, part 2 | video |
| What is a Mineral? | video |
| Identifying Minerals | video, learnalong |
| Raw Egg or Boiled? | video |
| Making Turmeric Paper | video |
| Testing for Tannic Acid | video |
| Definition of a Mineral | video |
| Floating Bubbles | video |
| Finding Fat in Foods | video, ClosedCaptions |
| Fireworks Colors | video |
| A Cool Change | text page |
| Acid Hunt | text page |
| Review Minerals-2 | practice |
| Review Minerals-3 | practice |
| Review Minerals-4 | practice |
| Review Minerals-5 | practice |
| Review Minerals-6 | practice |
| Review Minerals-7 | practice |
| Review Minerals-8 | practice |
The questions are chosen randomly, so this quest will be different each time.
