Science8 (MillinerSci8)
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1. Jonas needs to split a log. He has a sledge hammer. What other tool should he also use to split the log?
A. a lever
B. a pulley
C. a wedge
D. a fulcrum
This online assessment item contains material that has been released to the public by the Massachusetts Department of Education.
2. The picture below shows a seesaw.
A seesaw on a playground is an example of what type of simple machine?
A. lever
B. screw
C. wedge
D. wheel and axle
This online assessment item contains material that has been released to the public by the Massachusetts Department of Education.
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3. The picture below shows a pair of scissors.
Scissors are an example of a complex machine. Which of the following simple machines are combined to make
scissors?
A. lever and gear
B. gear and pulley
C. lever and wedge
D. wedge and pulley
This online assessment item contains material that has been released to the public by the Massachusetts Department of Education.
4. It is easiest to push a box up which ramp?
A.
B.
C.
D.
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5.
Use the picture below to answer this question.
What simple machine is helping Tom move the soil?
A. screw
B. wheel
C. wedge
D. lever
6. Which force does a friend use to make you go higher on a playground swing?
A. pull
B. push
C. lever
D. pulley
7. When you walk on the sidewalk and roll your bike, the force you use is a
A. pull.
B. pulley.
C. push.
D. lever.
8. If you are on a seesaw and want your friend to go down, use a force that is a
A. push.
B. pull.
C. lever.
D. pulley.
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9.
Use the picture below to answer this question.
One of the simple machines from the picture that is used to move trash from one place to another uses
A. a wheel.
B. a pulley.
C. an inclined plane.
D. a lever.
10.
Use the picture below to answer this question.
The simple machine, shown by the arrow, that enables you to stop your bike is
A. a pulley.
B. an inclined plane.
C. a wheel.
D. a lever.
11. When a ball is thrown into the air, it falls back to the ground. What causes this to happen?
A. the round shape of the ball
B. the way the ball is thrown
C. the force of the air against the ball
D. the force of gravity on the ball
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12. Why can astronauts jump higher on the Moon than on Earth?
A. There is more oxygen on the Moon.
B. Their pressurized suits help them.
C. The Moon's gravity is weaker than Earth's.
D. The warm temperature on the Moon gives the astronauts more energy,
13. Which is a simple machine?
A. water
B. chair
C. pulley
D. candle
14. Which simple machine is used to hold objects together?
A. hammer
B. pulley
C. screw
D. wedge
15. Which of these is a simple machine?
A. a crayon
B. a wagon
C. a book
D. a paper clip
16. Billy was pulling his wagon on the sidewalk. What should he do to keep the wagon moving?
A. Walk behind the wagon.
B. Apply a force to the wagon.
C. Put a weight in the wagon.
D. Walk on the side of the wagon.
17. Samuel's mother sent him to bring back a big bag of sand from a sandpile down the street. Which machine should
Samuel use to help him do the job?
A. crowbar
B. pulley
C. screwdriver
D. wheelbarrow
18. Which simple machine is used on a flagpole to help when the flag is raised?
A. lever
B. pulley
C. inclined plane
D. wedge
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19. A push or pull on an object will make it
A. smaller.
B. larger.
C. hot.
D. move.
20. Jill shoots a basketball but it falls short of the hoop. Which should Jill do to make a score from the same place?
A. use less force on the ball
B. use more pull on the ball
C. use more force on the ball
D. use less energy on the ball
21. Use the picture below to answer this question.
Jack tied one end of a piece of string to a 100-gram block and tied the other end to a ring. He attached a rubber
band to the ring. Using the rubber band, he pulled on the block as shown above. He measured and found that the
rubber band was stretched to 10 cm when the block started to move. How long will the same rubber band stretch if he
pulls on a 200-gram block?
A. 5 cm
B. 10 cm
C. 20 cm
D. 40 cm
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22.
Use the pictures below to answer this question.
Sally was pulling her heavy cart by herself. Then Jo began pushing on the back of the cart. This will
A. keep the cart going at the same speed.
B. make the cart go backward.
C. make the cart go slower.
D. make the cart go faster.
23.
Use the picture below to answer this question.
Several simple machines are used to make a bicycle. Which is an example of a lever?
A. the wheel
B. the seat
C. the brake
D. the chain
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24.
Use the picture below to answer this question.
The hand truck shown in the picture is used in stores to move boxes. Which simple machines are part of a hand truck?
A. pulley and lever
B. lever and wheel and axle
C. inclined plane and wheel
D. pulley and inclined plane
25. Bob and his dad are building a tree house. Which machine will help them lift the materials up into the tree?
A. lever
B. pulley
C. wedge
D. wheel
26. Which simple machine would be BEST for lifting a piano to the second floor?
A. gear
B. screw
C. wedge
D. pulley
27. A pulley would be used to
A. cut paper.
B. lift an object.
C. split a log.
D. hold objects together.
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28. Jim's family just got a large, heavy box delivered to their house. The box was so heavy that they could not lift it.
Jim's dad suggested that they turn a wooden board into a simple machine to make moving the box easier. They moved
the board over the stairs and got the box inside easily.
Which kind of simple machine did Jim and his father use to move the box?
A. a lever
B. a wheel
C. a pulley
D. an inclined plane
29. Which simple machine BEST describes the shovel shown below?
A. screw
B. lever
C. pulley
D. wheel
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30. Look at the objects below.
Which question could you answer using these objects?
A. How fast does the toy car roll down the ramp?
B. How far does the toy car roll off the ramp?
C. How heavy is the toy car?
D. How tall is the ramp?
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31. Children sometimes use simple machines to play.
Using the picture above, what is the name of the simple machine that the child is using?
A. glide
B. pulley
C. swing
D. wheel
32. Anna wanted to know how far a bowling ball, basketball, and tennis ball would roll on a flat surface. How could
she test this?
A. roll the bowling ball across the flat surface three times and see how far it goes each time
B. roll each ball across the flat surface and see how long it takes each one to stop
C. roll each ball across the flat surface and measure how far each ball rolled
D. roll each ball down a hill and see which ball rolls the fastest
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33. Johnnie's bike is in the bike rack at school. It will remain there until Johnnie rides it home after school.
What force keeps his bike from falling over sideways?
A. pull of gravity on the bike
B. push of the bike rack on the bike
C. push of the ground up on the bike
D. friction between the tires and the ground
34. A falling leaf, a dropped ball, and water dropping from a faucet are all examples of the effect of what type of
force?
A. weight
B. mass
C. gravity
D. push
35. Which example of a simple machine is a lever?
A. screw
B. pulley
C. ramp
D. pliers
36. Use the picture below to answer this question.
The balance is a simple machine called
A. a lever.
B. a pulley.
C. a wheel and axle.
D. an inclined plane.
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37. Which simple machine is used to raise the flag on a flagpole?
A. inclined plane
B. lever
C. pulley
D. wedge
38.
What is a simple machine?
A. a machine with few parts
B. a machine that can not operate
C. a machine that is very complicated
D. a machine that can operate without energy put in
39.
Complete this sentence:
A change in force always brings about a change in
A. energy.
B. force.
C. machines.
D. position.
40.
Which answer lists only simple machines?
A. screw, car, tires
B. lever, screw, wheel
C. television, computers, lever
D. lawn mower, edger, leaf blower
41. Which one of these would be best to use to move the box out of the truck?
A. A pulley
B. A lever
C. A wheel and axle
D. An inclined plane
Permission has been granted for reproduction by the Virginia Department of Education
© Virginia Department of Education
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42.
The basket is being lifted by —
A. a pulley.
B. a wheel and axle.
C. an inclined plane.
D. a lever.
Permission has been granted for reproduction by the Virginia Department of Education
© Virginia Department of Education
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43.
The head of an axe is wide at one end and pointed at the other to help cut or trim trees. The axe head is an
example of —
A. a pulley
B. a wheel and axle
C. a wedge
D. an inclined plane
Pemission has been granted for reproduction by the Virginia Department of Education
© Virginia Department of Education
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Science8 (MillinerSci8)
44.
Each of these simple machines contains a —
A. wheel and axle.
B. lever.
C. pulley.
D. wedge.
Permission has been granted for reproduction by the Virginia Department of Education
© Virginia Department of Education
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Science8 (MillinerSci8)
45.
Which of the following is being used to hold the door open?
A. A wedge
B. A screw
C. A lever
D. A pulley
Pemission has been granted for reproduction by the Virginia Department of Education
© Virginia Department of Education
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Science8 (MillinerSci8)
46. A science class wanted to know if an empty wagon and a wagon full of books would roll down a ramp at the
same speed. Which ramps should the students build to perform a fair test?
A.
B.
C.
D.
Permission has been granted for reproduction by the Virginia Department of Education
© Virginia Department of Education
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47. Which of the following pictures shows how a wedge works?
A.
B.
C.
D.
Pemission has been granted for reproduction by the Virginia Department of Education
© Virginia Department of Education
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Answer Key
1. C) a wedge
2. A) lever
3. C) lever and wedge
4. D)
5. B) wheel
6. B) push
7. C) push.
8. A) push.
9. A) a wheel.
10. D) a lever.
11. D) the force of gravity on the ball
12. C) The Moon's gravity is weaker than Earth's.
13. C) pulley
14. C) screw
15. B) a wagon
16. B) Apply a force to the wagon.
17. D) wheelbarrow
18. B) pulley
19. D) move.
20. C) use more force on the ball
21. C) 20 cm
22. D) make the cart go faster.
23. C) the brake
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24. B) lever and wheel and axle
25. B) pulley
26. D) pulley
27. B) lift an object.
28. D) an inclined plane
29. B) lever
30. A) How fast does the toy car roll down the ramp?
31. B) pulley
32. C) roll each ball across the flat surface and measure how far each ball rolled
33. B) push of the bike rack on the bike
34. C) gravity
35. D) pliers
36. A) a lever.
37. C) pulley
38. A) a machine with few parts
39. D) position.
40. B) lever, screw, wheel
41. D) An inclined plane
42. A) a pulley.
43. C) a wedge
44. D) wedge.
45. A) A wedge
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46. B)
47. C)
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