HS Sample Set 12, Round 4 from NSB

Questions in Packet

TOSS-UP phys phrase

During a Science Bowl study session, the team captain pushed a textbook across a frictionless table with a force of 1.8 newtons. If the distance she pushed the book is 1.5 meters, how much work, in joules, did she do on the book?

Acceptable Answers:

  • 2.7

BONUS phys phrase

A 15-kilogram fish is swimming at 2 meters per second and eats a smaller, 5-kilogram fish that is stationary. What is the final velocity, in meters per second, of the two-fish system?

Acceptable Answers:

  • 1.5

TOSS-UP ess multiple_choice

What type of volcano is characterized by gentle eruptions and large, gently-sloped landforms? W) Composite X) Lava dome Y) Cinder cone Z) Shield

W: W) Composite

X: X) Lava dome

Y: Y) Cinder cone

Z: Z) Shield

Answer: Z) Z) Shield

BONUS ess order

Order the following three cloud types in increasing order of elevation in the Earth’s atmosphere: 1) Altocumulus; 2) Cirrocumulus; 3) Stratocumulus.

Choices:

  • Altocumulus
  • Cirrocumulus
  • Stratocumulus

Correct Order:

  • 3
  • 1
  • 2

TOSS-UP math phrase

An artist creates the background for a painting by placing a circle in a square frame so that their centers coincide. If the radius of the circle is 7 inches, and the minimum distance from the circle to the square is 5 inches, what is the perimeter, in inches, of the inside of the frame?

Acceptable Answers:

  • 96

BONUS math phrase

Solve the following equation for x over the real numbers: $$32^{2x} = 4^{2x - 1}$$.

Acceptable Answers:

  • –1/3

TOSS-UP chem phrase

How many electrons does the beryllium two plus cation have in its valence shell?

Acceptable Answers:

  • TWO

BONUS chem phrase

What element is formed when nitrogen-13 decays by positron emission?

Acceptable Answers:

  • CARBON

TOSS-UP energy phrase

Fermilab’s MicroBooNE collaboration is currently operating a 170-ton Liquid Argon Time Projection Chamber that is used to detect what class of leptons?

Acceptable Answers:

  • NEUTRINO

BONUS energy multiselect

Identify all of the following situations that produce rare-earth elements: 1) Big-bang nucleosynthesis; 2) The core of a four solar-mass main-sequence star; 3) The collision of two neutron stars.

Choices:

  • Big-bang nucleosynthesis
  • The core of a four solar-mass main-sequence star
  • The collision of two neutron stars

Correct Answers:

  • 3

TOSS-UP bio multiple_choice

Bacteria at deep sea vents obtain energy by oxidizing hydrogen sulfide. They would be classified as which of the following? W) Photoautotrophic X) Chemoautotrophic Y) Photoheterotrophic Z) Chemoheterotrophic

W: W) Photoautotrophic

X: X) Chemoautotrophic

Y: Y) Photoheterotrophic

Z: Z) Chemoheterotrophic

Answer: X) X) Chemoautotrophic

BONUS bio phrase

Human vision occurs due to the photoisomerization of what molecule?

Acceptable Answers:

  • RETINAL
  • RETINALDEHYDE

DO NOT ACCEPT:

  • RETINOL

TOSS-UP chem phrase

How many aluminum atoms are in one formula unit of the compound aluminum sulfate?

Acceptable Answers:

  • 2

BONUS chem multiple_choice

Which of the following statements concerning pressure–temperature phase diagrams is NOT TRUE? W) The slope of the liquid–solid coexistence curve is positive if the solid floats on the liquid X) Fluids at a pressure above the critical pressure cannot be boiled Y) Gases are found in the low-pressure, high-temperature regime Z) It is not possible for four phases of the same substance to be in equilibrium

W: W) The slope of the liquid–solid coexistence curve is positive if the solid floats on the liquid

X: X) Fluids at a pressure above the critical pressure cannot be boiled

Y: Y) Gases are found in the low-pressure, high-temperature regime

Z: Z) It is not possible for four phases of the same substance to be in equilibrium

Answer: W) W) The slope of the liquid–solid coexistence curve is positive if the solid floats on the liquid

TOSS-UP math phrase

A segment has its midpoint at (4, 2) and one endpoint at (1, 7). What are the coordinates of the other endpoint?

Acceptable Answers:

  • (7, –3)

BONUS math phrase

What is the sum from n = 1 to 6 of $$3n^2$$?

Acceptable Answers:

  • 273

TOSS-UP bio multiple_choice

What is the function of the operculum in fish? W) Propulsion X) Protection of gills Y) Sensing predators Z) Decreasing drag when swimming

W: W) Propulsion

X: X) Protection of gills

Y: Y) Sensing predators

Z: Z) Decreasing drag when swimming

Answer: X) X) Protection of gills

BONUS bio phrase

What is the percent probability that a child inherits a mitochondrial disorder from her father?

Acceptable Answers:

  • 0

TOSS-UP energy phrase

Lead-acid batteries are commonly found in cars. In these batteries, what substance serves as the electrolyte?

Acceptable Answers:

  • SULFURIC ACID

BONUS energy multiselect

Identify all of the following nuclei with which WIMPs could hypothetically interact in this manner: 1) Carbon-12; 2) Fluorine-18; 3) Fluorine-19.

Choices:

  • Carbon-12
  • Fluorine-18
  • Fluorine-19

Correct Answers:

  • 3

TOSS-UP ess phrase

The Dalton minimum and Modern maximum all correspond to the occurrence of what?

Acceptable Answers:

  • SUNSPOTS

BONUS ess phrase

What is the term for a spherically-shaped, dense group of up to a million stars that are thought to share a common origin?

Acceptable Answers:

  • GLOBULAR CLUSTER

TOSS-UP phys phrase

What scientist is famous for discovering X-rays?

Acceptable Answers:

  • WILHELM ROENTGEN
  • ROENTGEN

BONUS phys phrase

A meteor strikes the Earth and ejects a rock to a final speed of 8 kilometers per second, accelerating it over the course of 5 meters. Assuming the acceleration is constant and in kilometers per second squared, what is the magnitude of the acceleration upon the rock?

Acceptable Answers:

  • 6,400

TOSS-UP bio phrase

What animal phylum has the greatest number of identified species?

Acceptable Answers:

  • ARTHROPODA

BONUS bio multiple_choice

Which of the following is not a characteristic of paedomorphic amphibians? W) Delayed sexual maturity X) Aquatic life Y) External gills Z) Tadpole-like tail

W: W) Delayed sexual maturity

X: X) Aquatic life

Y: Y) External gills

Z: Z) Tadpole-like tail

Answer: W) W) Delayed sexual maturity

TOSS-UP ess phrase

What is the term for the steady downhill flow of soil?

Acceptable Answers:

  • CREEP

BONUS ess phrase

What is the name for the area of low pressure encircling Earth near the equator where the northeast and southeast trade winds come together?

Acceptable Answers:

  • INTERTROPICAL CONVERGENCE ZONE
  • ITCZ

TOSS-UP energy phrase

Researchers at the Advanced Photon Source have been studying a class of high-temperature superconductors based on a barium-arsenic crystal structure. These materials can demonstrate certain hallmarks of superconductivity when the material is ferromagnetic. What is the term for the transition temperature at which these materials will become paramagnetic?

Acceptable Answers:

  • CURIE TEMPERATURE

BONUS energy phrase

Researchers at Ames Lab have made a double salt consisting of two anions, platinum two minus and hydride, and one very large cation. What 6th-row s-block element was used as the cation in this salt?

Acceptable Answers:

  • CESIUM

TOSS-UP chem multiple_choice

According to Boyle’s Law, the volume of a gas is linearly related to what quantity? W) Pressure X) Pressure squared Y) One over pressure Z) One over pressure squared

W: W) Pressure

X: X) Pressure squared

Y: Y) One over pressure

Z: Z) One over pressure squared

Answer: Y) Y) One over pressure

BONUS chem multiple_choice

Which of the following statements is the best explanation for why the atomic radius decreases across a period to the right? W) Increase in ionization energy at the valence shell X) Increase in effective nuclear charge at the valence shell Y) Increase in atomic polarizability at the valence shell Z) Increase in electron affinity at the valence shell

W: W) Increase in ionization energy at the valence shell

X: X) Increase in effective nuclear charge at the valence shell

Y: Y) Increase in atomic polarizability at the valence shell

Z: Z) Increase in electron affinity at the valence shell

Answer: X) X) Increase in effective nuclear charge at the valence shell

TOSS-UP math phrase

What is the second derivative with respect to x of $$6x^2 - 15$$ evaluated at $$x = 7$$?

Acceptable Answers:

  • 12

BONUS math phrase

How many points of intersection are there for the graphs of $$y = 3x$$ and $$y = x^2 - 3$$?

Acceptable Answers:

  • 1

TOSS-UP phys multiple_choice

Which of the following is an example of an action that demonstrates negative work? W) Lifting a book X) Holding a book Y) Throwing a book to the ground Z) Gently lowering a book to the ground

W: W) Lifting a book

X: X) Holding a book

Y: Y) Throwing a book to the ground

Z: Z) Gently lowering a book to the ground

Answer: Z) Z) Gently lowering a book to the ground

BONUS phys phrase

A hunter fires a bullet at 300 meters per second at an angle 30 degrees above the horizontal. To two significant figures and in seconds, how long does it take for the bullet to reach its highest point?

Acceptable Answers:

  • 15

TOSS-UP bio phrase

Mast cells are responsible for releasing what important signaling molecule that triggers vasodilation and inflammation?

Acceptable Answers:

  • HISTAMINE

BONUS bio phrase

In order for an animal to be classified as a coelomate, it must have a body cavity that is completely lined with tissue from what germ layer?

Acceptable Answers:

  • MESODERM

TOSS-UP ess phrase

How many known objects in our solar system have a radius that is larger than that of Earth?

Acceptable Answers:

  • FIVE

BONUS ess multiselect

Identify all of the following three types of objects that could be considered meteors: 1) Fragments of asteroids; 2) Fragments of comets; 3) Impact debris from Mars.

Choices:

  • Fragments of asteroids
  • Fragments of comets
  • Impact debris from Mars

Correct Answers:

  • 1
  • 2
  • 3

TOSS-UP chem phrase

In the Clemmensen reduction, zinc amalgam is used to reduce ketones and aldehydes to alkanes. In the preparation of zinc amalgam, in what substance is zinc dissolved?

Acceptable Answers:

  • MERCURY

BONUS chem multiselect

Identify all of the following statements that are true regarding enthalpies of reaction: 1) For the formation of water from oxygen and hydrogen, the enthalpy change depends on the final phase of the water; 2) For the combustion of methane, the forward reaction and the reverse reaction have the same enthalpy; 3) Enthalpy is an intensive property.

Choices:

  • For the formation of water from oxygen and hydrogen, the enthalpy change depends on the final phase of the water
  • For the combustion of methane, the forward reaction and the reverse reaction have the same enthalpy
  • Enthalpy is an intensive property

Correct Answers:

  • 1

TOSS-UP phys multiple_choice

Hubble’s law states that there is a direct correlation between the distance to a galaxy and which of the following quantities: W) Recessional velocity X) Total mass Y) Blue-shift wavelength Z) Precession period

W: W) Recessional velocity

X: X) Total mass

Y: Y) Blue-shift wavelength

Z: Z) Precession period

Answer: W) W) Recessional velocity

BONUS phys multiselect

A track star runs exactly one lap around a circular track at a constant speed. Identify all of the following statements that are true of this system: 1) Her average speed is greater than the magnitude of her average velocity; 2) Her velocity is constant; 3) The magnitude of her average velocity after half of her journey is equal to her average speed at that time.

Choices:

  • Her average speed is greater than the magnitude of her average velocity
  • Her velocity is constant
  • The magnitude of her average velocity after half of her journey is equal to her average speed at that time

Correct Answers:

  • 1

TOSS-UP math phrase

Solve the following equation for x: the absolute value of (x – 3) is equal to 5.

Acceptable Answers:

  • –2, 8

BONUS math phrase

What is the derivative evaluated at $$x = 5$$ of $$\frac{x^3 - 8}{x - 2}$$?

Acceptable Answers:

  • 12