Why does ice turn into water?

Ice takes in heat and changes from solid to liquid, which is melting, not boiling.

Why will my bulb not light?

Check the cell, the wire connections and the bulb itself; the loop must also be closed.

Primary General Studies, Science and Technology, Paper 1: water, air, circuits and magnets

2026-10-31

Tutor Prep Guide · Primary General Studies

Ten items on the boiling point and melting of water, evaporation and condensation, what magnets attract, the three parts of a closed circuit and series cells.

Focus　Water boils at 100 °C and ice melts as it takes in heat; evaporation happens at any temperature while condensation needs a cold surface; magnets attract only iron, cobalt and nickel; a circuit needs a source, wires and a device; series voltages add up; metals conduct heat so handles insulate.

01　Paper details (check answers afterwards)

Item	Detail
Questions	10
Suggested time	25
Difficulty mix	Foundation 4 · Intermediate 3 · Challenge 2 · Error redo 1
Chapter	Chapter: Primary General Studies: Science and Technology
Level	P4 to P6

02　Questions (10 items)

FoundationAt what temperature does water boil at normal air pressure?
FoundationWhat does an ice cube become at room temperature?
FoundationWhich of these will a magnet pick up: an iron nail, a wooden chopstick or a plastic ruler?
FoundationWhich three parts must a closed circuit have for a bulb to light?
IntermediateA cup of water is lower after one night. Where has the water gone?
IntermediateWhy do glasses fog up when you come indoors on a cold day?
IntermediateTwo 1.5 V batteries are joined in series to a bulb. What is the voltage and what changes?
ChallengeA cup of water at 20 °C is heated until it boils. By how many degrees does it rise?
ChallengeWhy do metal pans have wooden or plastic handles?
Error redoError fix: Ben says air has no weight, so balloons have nothing to do with air. What is correct?

03　Answers and one-line notes

#	Answer	One-line note
1	100 °C.	At normal pressure water boils at 100 °C and turns into steam.
2	It melts into water.	Ice takes in heat and changes from solid to liquid, which is melting.
3	An iron nail.	A magnet only attracts metals such as iron, cobalt and nickel.
4	A power source (battery), wires and the bulb.	A circuit needs a source, wires and a device, joined in a closed loop.
5	It evaporated into the air as water vapour.	Evaporation happens at any temperature as water molecules leave the surface.
6	Water vapour in the air condenses into tiny droplets on the cold lens.	Condensation is gas turning to liquid on a cold surface.
7	3.0 V, and the bulb glows brighter than with one 1.5 V cell.	In series the voltages add up, so 1.5 V plus 1.5 V gives 3.0 V and a brighter bulb.
8	80 °C.	Boiling point 100 °C minus the starting 20 °C gives 80 °C.
9	Metals conduct heat quickly, while wood and plastic are poor conductors that insulate.	Metals are good conductors of heat; wood and plastic are insulators.
10	Air does have weight, and warm air is lighter than the cooler air around it, so a hot-air balloon rises.	Air has mass and weight; warmer air is less dense, so the balloon floats up.

04　What to do after marking

After marking, redo only the wrong items and write down which step went wrong (formula, unit, or misread number).
Repeat the same item two days later; move to the next paper only when both attempts are correct.
Parents only need the answer and note columns; there is no need to explain every item.

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