States of Matter Worksheet for 10-Year-Olds — Solids, Liquids & Gases | 20 Exam-Style Questions (Science)

Instructions

Read each question carefully and answer to the best of your ability. There are different types of questions, so be sure to follow the directions for each section.

Part 1: Multiple Choice

Circle the best answer for each question.

1. Which state of matter keeps its own shape and has a fixed volume?
   • A. Liquid
   • B. Gas
   • C. Solid
   • D. Plasma
2. The tiny bits that make up all matter are called:
   • A. Drops
   • B. Particles
   • C. Pieces
   • D. Atoms
3. What is the process of a liquid turning into a gas called?
   • A. Freezing
   • B. Melting
   • C. Condensation
   • D. Evaporation
4. In which state of matter are the particles spread farthest apart and moving the fastest?
   • A. Gas
   • B. Solid
   • C. Liquid
   • D. All the same
5. Which of the following is an example of a gas?
   • A. Ice
   • B. Water
   • C. Wood
   • D. Steam

Part 2: True or False

Read each statement. Write 'True' or 'False' on the line next to it.

6. __________ Liquids take the shape of the container they are in.
7. __________ The particles in a solid do not move at all.
8. __________ You can easily squeeze or compress a solid like a brick.
9. __________ Condensation is the process of a gas turning into a liquid.
10. __________ A melting ice cream cone is an example of a solid turning into a liquid.

Part 3: Fill in the Blanks

Complete each sentence using a word from the word bank below.

11. The process of water turning into ice is called ____________________.
12. A liquid has a definite ____________________ but does not have a definite shape.
13. A ____________________ will spread out to fill the entire room or container it is in.
14. When a chocolate bar sits in the sun, it starts turning into a liquid. This process is called ____________________.
15. A solid is the only state of matter that has its own definite ____________________.

Part 4: Short Answer

Write your answers in complete sentences.

16. On a cold day, you can see your breath. What state of matter is the "cloud" you see, and what is this process called?

    _________________________________________________________________________

    _________________________________________________________________________

17. Describe the main difference between how particles are arranged in a solid and in a liquid.

    _________________________________________________________________________

    _________________________________________________________________________

18. If you have a bottle of water, how can you change it into a solid? How can you change it into a gas?

    _________________________________________________________________________

    _________________________________________________________________________

19. Draw and Label! In the space below, draw three boxes.
    • In the first box, draw what the particles look like inside a Solid.
    • In the second box, draw particles inside a Liquid.
    • In the third box, draw particles inside a Gas.
    
    

    Solid

    Liquid

    Gas

20. Why can you smell cookies baking from another room? Explain using what you know about gases.

    _________________________________________________________________________

    _________________________________________________________________________

Answer Key

Part 1: Multiple Choice

1. C. Solid
2. B. Particles
3. D. Evaporation
4. A. Gas
5. D. Steam

Part 2: True or False

6. True
7. False (The particles vibrate in place.)
8. False
9. True
10. True

Part 3: Fill in the Blanks

11. freezing
12. volume
13. gas
14. melting
15. shape

Part 4: Short Answer

16. The cloud is tiny drops of liquid water. The process is called condensation.
17. In a solid, particles are packed tightly together in a fixed pattern. In a liquid, particles are close together but can slide past one another.
18. To change it to a solid, you put it in the freezer (freezing). To change it to a gas, you boil it (evaporation/boiling).
19. Solid: Drawings should show particles (dots/circles) packed very tightly in an organized, grid-like pattern.
    Liquid: Drawings should show particles close together but randomly arranged, able to move around.
    Gas: Drawings should show particles very far apart, spread all over the box, with arrows indicating fast movement.
20. The smell from the cookies is made of tiny particles that travel as a gas. The gas particles spread out from the oven and move freely through the air to fill the room, which is why you can smell them.