Name: ______________________________ #: ________ Date: ____________________
Physical Science – Review and Test Prep
Matter is anything that has mass and takes up space. Heat, light and sound are not matter – they are examples
of energy. They do not take up space. Air may seem like it is nothing, but it is made up of matter and takes up
space.
A physical change describes when a substance changes shape, size, or state of matter (solid, liquid, gas.).
Physical changes don't cause the old substance to be destroyed and it doesn't create a new substance. The
substance is still what it was before. Physical changes that might seem to make a substance disappear (such as
dissolving or evaporating) are actually reversible! You can change matter from one state to another by heating
or cooling it. But remember, just because a change isn't reversible (like broken glass or cracking open an egg)
doesn't mean that it's not physical. The substances are still what they were before.
A chemical change completely changes the substance. Some signs that a chemical change has occurred
include: A new substance is created, a solid is formed, a gas is released (bubbling), a substance disappears, or
a temperature change occurs without any outside influence. [Think: heat, light, sound – all evidences of a
chemical reaction.)
Write physical change or chemical change on the lines for each of the descriptions below.
1. ripping up paper ______________________________________________
2. cracking an egg open __________________________________________
3. A log burning _________________________________________________
4. freezing water into an ice cube___________________________________
5. sugar dissolving in water _______________________________________
6. A banana turning brown ________________________________________
7. bread cut up in slices __________________________________________
8. water evaporating ____________________________________________
9. a baked cupcake ______________________________________________
10. a cup of Jello _________________________________________________
11. sharpening a pencil ____________________________________________
12. iron rusting ___________________________________________________
13. a rubber band stretches and breaks ________________________________
14. butter melting __________________________________________________
15. paper burning __________________________________________________
When you mix substances together you might create a mixture, a solution, or a suspension. Usually, when we
use the word mixture, we mean a mix where you can see the separate parts clearly, like in a salad or trail mix.
When we say solution, we mean a mix where you cannot see the separate parts, such as in lemonade. The
size of the substance affects how fast or slow it will dissolve.
Smaller grains dissolve ___________________ and coarser/larger grains dissolve ___________________.
16. All matter is made up of atoms. Atoms are very tiny (microscopic). Scientists use models to show how
atoms look in matter when is is a solid, liquid or gas. Solids have a definite shape and volume. Liquids
have a definite volume but not a definite shape so they slide around until they take the form of their
container. Gases have no definite shape or volume so they scatter outwards. If they are in a container
they fill the entire container.Write the correct state of matter for each of the diagrams below.
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We use the word mass to describe how much matter is in an object or substance. We often think of this as
weight, but it is really the amount of matter. Larger things often have more matter and so have greater mass.
The word volume describes how much room a substance takes up. If two substances take up the same amount
of volume, but one is heavier, we say it is denser because it has more matter that has been condensed into a
smaller space. If we have something larger but it is lighter, then it is less dense and has less matter.
Which has more mass?
A bar of gold or a bar of chocolate?
Which has more volume?
A balloon or a baseball?
Bonus: Which one has more mass?