4th Grade Quick Questions for the Hallway (ME & FME)

Flashcards based on 4th grade science quick questions covering Matter, Energy, Force, and Motion concepts.

Conductors

Materials primarily made of metals that allow energy to pass through easily.

Insulators

Materials such as plastic, rubber, and wood that do not conduct energy well.

Examples of Metals

Commonly tested metallic materials including copper, iron, steel, and aluminum.

Worst Insulators

Metals; these are the opposite of good insulators as being good at conducting makes a material bad at insulating.

Magnetic Metals

Iron and steel; these are identifying examples of metals that are attracted to magnets.

Less Dense

A property of a material that causes it to float on water, such as plastic, wood, Styrofoam, or cork.

More Dense

A property of a material that causes it to sink in water.

Gravity

The force that pulls objects towards the Earth’s surface, causing things like an apple falling off a table to move down rather than up.

Repel

The action that occurs when magnets with like poles are put together.

Attract

The action that occurs when magnets with opposite poles are put together.

Friction

The force that works against motion and causes objects to come to a stop.

Friction Comparison (Most to Least)

Surface order of carpet, grass, and tile.

Friction Reducer

A substance like water that, when added to a surface, will decrease the friction.

Gas

A state of matter that is invisible, like air, and is found inside a container that looks empty.

Boiling Point of Water

The constant temperature ($100^\text{o}\text{C}$) at which water boils, regardless of whether the amount of water is small or large.

Freezing Point of Water

The constant temperature ($0^\text{o}\text{C}$) at which water freezes, regardless of the volume of water present.

Melting Point of Water

The constant temperature ($0^\text{o}\text{C}$) at which ice turns into liquid, regardless of the mass (e.g., $50\text{ grams}$ vs. $500\text{ grams}$).

Evaporation

The process of a liquid changing into a gas, such as when water left sitting out eventually seems to disappear.

Condensation

The process of a gas turning into a liquid, such as when water droplets form on the outside of a cold cup.

Solidification (Freezing)

The process of turning liquid water into solid water (ice) by cooling it down.

Mechanical Energy

The type of energy associated with movement, such as the movement of an animal, the hands on a clock, or flowing water.

Thermal Energy

The type of energy associated with heat; the root word "therm-" is found in tools like thermometers and thermostats.

Electrical Energy

The type of energy that travels through the wires in a circuit, flashlight, or computer.

Energy Output of a Bulb

Two specific types of energy produced: light and heat.

Light Energy (Solar Power)

The type of energy used by solar-powered objects like calculators or solar panels.

Sound Energy

The type of energy that comes out of a speaker or is associated with the roar of a lion or ultrasonic sounds from a bat.

Electrical Transformation in Circuits

In a circuit, some electrical energy is always converted into heat (thermal energy).

Battery Terminals

The two metal posts or sides of a battery that allow electricity to leave, travel through a circuit, and return.

Experimental Investigation Variable

The scientist should only change just ONE thing in an experimental setup while keeping everything else the same.

Experimental Question Identification

A method to determine the purpose of an experiment by identifying what was changed (cause) and what was measured (effect).