🔎 ScienceGrade 5Reading: grades 5-6MultiplicationPlace valueWord problemsMulti-step word problemsDivision
The Quantum Fusion Caper
An unknown rogue inventor has stolen the experimental fusion core right from the heart of the Quantum Physics Lab! Our chief researcher was locked in the storage closet. We must analyze the laboratory clues to deduce which scientist went rogue before they activate the core.
Suspects
Possible suspects
Cross off a row as each clue rules it out. On screen, tap a row.
21 of 21 still in play
| Name | Primary Invention | Secondary Tech | Observable Tell | Hair Style | Material Weakness |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Carl Sagan | Magnetic Boots | Teleport Disk | Left-handed | Green Mohawk | Rusting Iron |
| Gregor Mendel | Acid Bubbles | Hologram Wand | Left-handed | Spiky Neon | Copper Wire |
| Rachel Carson | Sonic Waves | Jet Pack | Left-handed | Spiky Neon | Copper Wire |
| Niels Bohr | Acid Bubbles | Teleport Disk | Right-handed | Silver Streak | Salt Water |
| Jane Goodall | Gravity Glove | Nano Suit | Right-handed | Green Mohawk | Salt Water |
| Ada Lovelace | Acid Bubbles | Plasma Shield | Right-handed | Silver Streak | Salt Water |
| Sally Ride | Laser Beams | Hologram Wand | Right-handed | Green Mohawk | Salt Water |
| Mae Jemison | Sonic Waves | Teleport Disk | Left-handed | Silver Streak | Rusting Iron |
| Marie Curie | Sonic Waves | Plasma Shield | Left-handed | Spiky Neon | Rusting Iron |
| Nikola Tesla | Magnetic Boots | Plasma Shield | Right-handed | Green Mohawk | Rusting Iron |
| Katherine Johnson | Gravity Glove | Nano Suit | Right-handed | Silver Streak | Salt Water |
| Alan Turing | Acid Bubbles | Nano Suit | Right-handed | Green Mohawk | Salt Water |
| Charles Darwin | Gravity Glove | Hologram Wand | Right-handed | Spiky Neon | Salt Water |
| Dmitry Mendeleev | Magnetic Boots | Hologram Wand | Right-handed | Silver Streak | Salt Water |
| Rosalind Franklin | Acid Bubbles | Teleport Disk | Left-handed | Silver Streak | Salt Water |
| Jonas Salk | Laser Beams | Teleport Disk | Left-handed | Green Mohawk | Rusting Iron |
| Grace Hopper | Gravity Glove | Teleport Disk | Right-handed | Silver Streak | Salt Water |
| Richard Feynman | Gravity Glove | Nano Suit | Left-handed | Silver Streak | Rusting Iron |
| Louis Pasteur | Gravity Glove | Teleport Disk | Right-handed | Silver Streak | Copper Wire |
| Albert Einstein | Laser Beams | Jet Pack | Left-handed | Green Mohawk | Rusting Iron |
| Galileo Galilei | Gravity Glove | Hologram Wand | Left-handed | Silver Streak | Salt Water |
Clue 1
Multiplication facts (1-12)
The security system is locked behind a grid of power cells arranged in equal rows and columns. We must calculate the total energy output of these grid cells to decode the first clue.
Solve each problem to learn its letter. Then write that letter in every box that shows the same number, and read the secret clue.
T
99
96
36
120
64
144
144
108
64
15
70
110
36
1
15
110
T
99
100
36
108
14
108
15
108
15
110
1
40
64
T
99
9 × 11 =T
7 × 2 =R
1 × 1 =S
10 × 10 =W
3 × 5 =N
12 × 9 =A
12 × 3 =E
8 × 12 =H
11 × 10 =O
12 × 12 =L
7 × 10 =D
8 × 8 =I
10 × 12 =V
8 × 5 =U
0/14 letters found
Clue 2
Place value
The mainframe terminal requires a numeric passcode. Each digit represents a specific chemical mass, and the value depends entirely on the column it sits in. Let us analyze the decimal places to unlock the screen.
Solve each problem to learn its letter. Then write that letter in every box that shows the same number, and read the secret clue.
R
90
3000
40
4000
500
4000
6000
80
30
600
30
3000
80
900
200
2000
9000
30
40
600
200
700
600
R
90
600
5000
80
500
4000
600
50
600
6000
900
600
R
90
What is the value of the 9 in 808,196?R
What is the value of the 7 in 315,744?W
What is the value of the 2 in 402,680?M
What is the value of the 5 in 282,857?B
What is the value of the 3 in 60,635?D
What is the value of the 2 in 459,271?S
What is the value of the 6 in 56,535?A
What is the value of the 5 in 69,597?T
What is the value of the 8 in 23,189?N
What is the value of the 4 in 104,156?H
What is the value of the 3 in 463,628?I
What is the value of the 9 in 501,950?K
What is the value of the 9 in 69,443?U
What is the value of the 4 in 337,641?G
What is the value of the 5 in 75,068?O
What is the value of the 6 in 801,659?E
0/16 letters found
Clue 3
Word problems
Our lab assistant found some scattered logbook entries detailing missing equipment. Solving these word problems about chemical mixtures will point us to the next lead.
Solve each problem to learn its letter, then write the letters in the boxes to fill in the missing word.
Someonescaredthevillainoffwith.
S
47
64
81
66
77
64
66
87
91
There were 64 test tubes. 17 were used up. How many test tubes are left?S
Lab Assistant found 47 test tubes yesterday and 40 more today. How many test tubes in all?E
Lab Assistant found 29 petri dishes yesterday and 62 more today. How many petri dishes in all?R
Lab Assistant found 36 petri dishes yesterday and 45 more today. How many petri dishes in all?L
Lab Assistant lined up 11 rows of 6 petri dishes. How many petri dishes in all?T
Lab Assistant found 47 microscopes yesterday and 17 more today. How many microscopes in all?A
Lab Assistant lined up 7 rows of 11 test tubes. How many test tubes in all?W
0/7 letters found
Clue 4
Multi-step word problems
The rogue scientist left behind a complex equation tracking temperature changes over several hours. We have to perform multiple calculations in order to find the final freezing point.
Solve each problem to learn its letter, then write the letters in the boxes to fill in the missing word.
Astrandof hairturnedupatthescene.
S
61
77
69
58
23
26
S
61
75
26
23
A
K
There were 403 microscopes in all. 37 microscopes were set aside. The rest were shared equally among 6 Science Academy. How many microscopes did each get?S
There were 445 beakers in all. 3 Science Academy used 20 beakers each. The other 5 Science Academy shared the rest equally. How many beakers did each of the other Science Academy get?I
There were 316 petri dishes in all. 3 Science Academy used 28 petri dishes each. The other 4 Science Academy shared the rest equally. How many petri dishes did each of the other Science Academy get?V
There were 438 microscopes in all. 4 Science Academy used 6 microscopes each. The other 6 Science Academy shared the rest equally. How many microscopes did each of the other Science Academy get?L
There were 252 magnets in all. 22 magnets were set aside. The rest were shared equally among 10 Science Academy. How many magnets did each get?E
Lab Assistant earned 7 magnets in each of 5 rounds, plus 53 bonus magnets. Then 13 magnets were lost. How many magnets are left?T
There were 243 petri dishes in all. 9 petri dishes were set aside. The rest were shared equally among 9 Science Academy. How many petri dishes did each get?R
0/7 letters found
Clue 5
Division facts (1-12) — the last clue
We have a pile of recovered element samples that need to be distributed equally among our test tubes. Dividing them evenly will reveal the final clue.
First solve each problem. Then find each answer in the list below and cross that sentence out. One sentence will be left — that's exactly what the villain did!
Step 1 — solve these
84 ÷ 12 = ?
12 ÷ 1 = ?
6 ÷ 3 = ?
35 ÷ 7 = ?
32 ÷ 4 = ?
48 ÷ 8 = ?
121 ÷ 11 = ?
18 ÷ 6 = ?
16 ÷ 4 = ?
63 ÷ 7 = ?
3 ÷ 3 = ?
Step 2 — cross out the sentence with each answer
1.The villain fires blinding laser beams, then shrinks down using a nano suit.
2.The villain melts the locks with acid bubbles, then deflects security darts with a plasma shield.
3.The villain blasts high frequency sonic waves, then shrinks down using a nano suit.
4.The villain lifts heavy tables with a gravity glove, then escapes out the skylight using a jet pack.
5.The villain fires blinding laser beams, then vanishes instantly using a teleport disk.
6.The villain stomps around in magnetic boots, then shrinks down using a nano suit.
7.The villain stomps around in magnetic boots, then distracts the guards with a hologram wand.
8.The villain melts the locks with acid bubbles, then distracts the guards with a hologram wand.
9.The villain stomps around in magnetic boots, then deflects security darts with a plasma shield.
10.The villain melts the locks with acid bubbles, then vanishes instantly using a teleport disk.
11.The villain lifts heavy tables with a gravity glove, then deflects security darts with a plasma shield.
12.The villain lifts heavy tables with a gravity glove, then vanishes instantly using a teleport disk.
Solve it
Name the culprit
Choose the one suspect left standing.
Answer Key — The Quantum Fusion Caper
Culprit: Niels Bohr (Acid Bubbles · Teleport Disk · Right-handed · Silver Streak · Salt Water)
- Clue 1 (Multiplication facts (1-12)): "THE VILLAIN DOES NOT WEAR A NANO SUIT"9 × 11 = 99 (T) · 7 × 2 = 14 (R) · 1 × 1 = 1 (S) · 10 × 10 = 100 (W) · 3 × 5 = 15 (N) · 12 × 9 = 108 (A) · 12 × 3 = 36 (E) · 8 × 12 = 96 (H) · 11 × 10 = 110 (O) · 12 × 12 = 144 (L) · 7 × 10 = 70 (D) · 8 × 8 = 64 (I) · 10 × 12 = 120 (V) · 8 × 5 = 40 (U)
- Clue 2 (Place value): "RIGHT HANDED INK SMUDGES WERE ON THE BEAKER"What is the value of the 9 in 808,196? = 90 (R) · What is the value of the 7 in 315,744? = 700 (W) · What is the value of the 2 in 402,680? = 2000 (M) · What is the value of the 5 in 282,857? = 50 (B) · What is the value of the 3 in 60,635? = 30 (D) · What is the value of the 2 in 459,271? = 200 (S) · What is the value of the 6 in 56,535? = 6000 (A) · What is the value of the 5 in 69,597? = 500 (T) · What is the value of the 8 in 23,189? = 80 (N) · What is the value of the 4 in 104,156? = 4000 (H) · What is the value of the 3 in 463,628? = 3000 (I) · What is the value of the 9 in 501,950? = 900 (K) · What is the value of the 9 in 69,443? = 9000 (U) · What is the value of the 4 in 337,641? = 40 (G) · What is the value of the 5 in 75,068? = 5000 (O) · What is the value of the 6 in 801,659? = 600 (E)
- Clue 3 (Word problems): "SALT WATER"There were 64 test tubes. 17 were used up. How many test tubes are left? = 47 (S) · Lab Assistant found 47 test tubes yesterday and 40 more today. How many test tubes in all? = 87 (E) · Lab Assistant found 29 petri dishes yesterday and 62 more today. How many petri dishes in all? = 91 (R) · Lab Assistant found 36 petri dishes yesterday and 45 more today. How many petri dishes in all? = 81 (L) · Lab Assistant lined up 11 rows of 6 petri dishes. How many petri dishes in all? = 66 (T) · Lab Assistant found 47 microscopes yesterday and 17 more today. How many microscopes in all? = 64 (A) · Lab Assistant lined up 7 rows of 11 test tubes. How many test tubes in all? = 77 (W)
- Clue 4 (Multi-step word problems): "SILVER STREAK"There were 403 microscopes in all. 37 microscopes were set aside. The rest were shared equally among 6 Science Academy. How many microscopes did each get? = 61 (S) · There were 445 beakers in all. 3 Science Academy used 20 beakers each. The other 5 Science Academy shared the rest equally. How many beakers did each of the other Science Academy get? = 77 (I) · There were 316 petri dishes in all. 3 Science Academy used 28 petri dishes each. The other 4 Science Academy shared the rest equally. How many petri dishes did each of the other Science Academy get? = 58 (V) · There were 438 microscopes in all. 4 Science Academy used 6 microscopes each. The other 6 Science Academy shared the rest equally. How many microscopes did each of the other Science Academy get? = 69 (L) · There were 252 magnets in all. 22 magnets were set aside. The rest were shared equally among 10 Science Academy. How many magnets did each get? = 23 (E) · Lab Assistant earned 7 magnets in each of 5 rounds, plus 53 bonus magnets. Then 13 magnets were lost. How many magnets are left? = 75 (T) · There were 243 petri dishes in all. 9 petri dishes were set aside. The rest were shared equally among 9 Science Academy. How many petri dishes did each get? = 26 (R)
- Clue 5 (Division facts (1-12)): surviving statement (box 10) → Niels Bohr84 ÷ 12 = 7 · 12 ÷ 1 = 12 · 6 ÷ 3 = 2 · 35 ÷ 7 = 5 · 32 ÷ 4 = 8 · 48 ÷ 8 = 6 · 121 ÷ 11 = 11 · 18 ÷ 6 = 3 · 16 ÷ 4 = 4 · 63 ÷ 7 = 9 · 3 ÷ 3 = 1
About this mystery
- Grade level
- Grade 5 math
- Math topics
- Multiplication, Place value, Word problems, Multi-step word problems, Division
- Reading level
- grades 5-6
- Theme
- The Quantum Fusion Caper — set in The Quantum Physics Lab
- Format
- Interactive online & printable worksheet with answer key
- Solution
- One unique, verified culprit among 21 suspects