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

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One paper per pupil

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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 claim does this record support?
  2. 2. What happened to the mass in the open jar?
  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.Why use the same balance for every reading?
  • A.So a difference between readings is a real difference in mass
  • B.To save time
  • C.Balances are all identical
3.A pupil concludes matter disappears because an open jar lost mass. What is wrong?
  • A.Nothing is wrong
  • B.The gas left the jar but not the world; the sealed jar shows it
  • C.Open jars destroy matter
4.Why is the sealed jar the fair test of conservation?
  • A.Open jars are inaccurate
  • B.Nothing can leave, so the balance measures all the matter
  • C.Sealed jars are heavier
5.Ice melts in a sealed bag. What should the mass do?
  • A.Rise, because water is heavier
  • B.Stay exactly the same
  • C.Fall, because liquid is lighter

LessonPrint · 5-PS1-2 · Set 23 · free to copy for classroom use

Answer key — Weighed Before, Weighed After

Set 23. Prints on its own sheet.

  1. 1.1. The total mass of matter stays the same through a change, when nothing can escape. 2. It fell from 201.3 g to 197.8 g. 3. Gas escaped from the open jar, and the sealed jar kept it inside. 4. 254.0 g, the same as before.
  2. 2.So a difference between readings is a real difference in mass
  3. 3.The gas left the jar but not the world; the sealed jar shows it
  4. 4.Nothing can leave, so the balance measures all the matter
  5. 5.Stay exactly the same

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.