Original Project
Substances, Chemical Reactions, and Conservation of Matter
Item SC094004: Mass is conserved when a plant dies in a sealed jar.
A student places a living plant in a jar and seals it so nothing can get in or out. He determines the total mass of the jar and everything inside it. Several weeks later, the plant is dead.
What will happen to the total mass of the jar and everything inside it after the plant dies?
- The mass will stay the same.
- The mass will increase.
- The mass will decrease.
- It depends on the type of plant.
Answer Choice |
Overall |
Grades |
Gender |
Primary Language |
||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| n = 4705 |
6–8 n = 2440 |
9–12 n = 2248 |
Male n = 2275 |
Female n = 2331 |
English n = 4147 |
Other n = 454 |
||
| A. | The mass will stay the same. | 42% | 36% | 49% | 45% | 39% | 43% | 36% |
| B. | The mass will increase. | 12% | 13% | 12% | 12% | 13% | 12% | 14% |
| C. | The mass will decrease. | 37% | 41% | 32% | 35% | 39% | 37% | 41% |
| D. | It depends on the type of plant. | 8% | 10% | 7% | 8% | 8% | 8% | 9% |