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Weighed Before, Weighed After is a free printable Grade 5 science worksheet on measuring to show the total weight of matter is conserved, aligned to Common Core standard 5-PS1-2. It prints 5 questions with an answer key on its own sheet of paper, in 25 versions that each ask different questions, so no two pupils in the class work from the same page. Print it from the browser or download it as a PDF — no account, no email.

Set 12 of 25 · the same problems every time you open this link.

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Set 1 has all 25 in a single PDF. All 25 sets ask different questions.

Weighed Before, Weighed After

5-PS1-2

NameDate

Read the record, then answer the questions.

1.Read the record, then answer the questions.

Weighed Before and Weighed After

Masses recorded on the same balance, before and after four changes. MASS BEFORE AND AFTER Sugar stirred into water, sealed jar ... 254.0 g then 254.0 g Ice melted in a sealed bag ............ 118.6 g then 118.6 g Vinegar and soda in a SEALED jar ...... 201.3 g then 201.3 g Vinegar and soda in an OPEN jar ....... 201.3 g then 197.8 g The same balance was used for every reading.

  1. 1. What happened to the mass in the open jar?
  2. 2. What claim does this record support?
  3. 3. Why did the open jar lose mass when the sealed one did not?
  4. 4. What was the mass after sugar was stirred into water?
2.A sealed jar of vinegar and soda weighs the same before and after fizzing. What does that show?
  • A.No matter was lost; the gas is still inside the jar
  • B.The balance was wrong
  • C.Matter was destroyed
3.Why use the same balance for every reading?
  • A.Balances are all identical
  • B.So a difference between readings is a real difference in mass
  • C.To save time
4.Why is the sealed jar the fair test of conservation?
  • A.Sealed jars are heavier
  • B.Nothing can leave, so the balance measures all the matter
  • C.Open jars are inaccurate
5.What would you graph to show conservation across several changes?
  • A.The time taken
  • B.Mass before against mass after, for each sealed change
  • C.The colour of each mixture

LessonPrint · 5-PS1-2 · Set 12 · free to copy for classroom use

Answer key — Weighed Before, Weighed After

Set 12. Prints on its own sheet.

  1. 1.1. It fell from 201.3 g to 197.8 g. 2. The total mass of matter stays the same through a change, when nothing can escape. 3. Gas escaped from the open jar, and the sealed jar kept it inside. 4. 254.0 g, the same as before.
  2. 2.No matter was lost; the gas is still inside the jar
  3. 3.So a difference between readings is a real difference in mass
  4. 4.Nothing can leave, so the balance measures all the matter
  5. 5.Mass before against mass after, for each sealed change

More practice for 5-PS1-2

Measure and graph to show that weight is conserved when matter changes.

Teaching this next? Weighed Before, Weighed After is the 60-minute plan for it, with the misconceptions to expect.

All Grade 5 worksheets

Last reviewed 2026-09-05. Aligned to 5-PS1-2 of the Next Generation Science Standards.