MS Sample Set 11, Round 16 from NSB

Questions in Packet

TOSS-UP energy phrase

What alkaline earth metal, commonly used in X-ray-transparent windows, is lighter than aluminum but stiffer than steel?

Acceptable Answers:

  • BERYLLIUM

BONUS energy phrase

Oak Ridge National Lab operates the High Flux Isotope Reactor, which can produce rare radioisotopes. What particles have a high flux in this reactor?

Acceptable Answers:

  • NEUTRONS

TOSS-UP math phrase

What is the largest quotient that can be formed using two of the following five numbers: –40, –2, 1, 8, 16?

Acceptable Answers:

  • 20

BONUS math phrase

What is the y-intercept of the line that contains the points (–2, 3) and (3, 10)?

Acceptable Answers:

  • 5.8
  • 29/5
  • 5 4/5

TOSS-UP phys phrase

By definition, what is the magnitude of a unit vector?

Acceptable Answers:

  • ONE

BONUS phys phrase

In meters per second and to one significant figure, what will be the magnitude of the final velocity when a 1000-kilogram mass traveling at 20 m/s collides perfectly inelastically with a stationary mass of 3000 kg?

Acceptable Answers:

  • 5 m/s

TOSS-UP bio multiple_choice

The reactions that the cell uses to harvest energy from sugars can be classified as what? W) Decomposition X) Synthesis Y) Redox Z) Combustion

W: W) Decomposition

X: X) Synthesis

Y: Y) Redox

Z: Z) Combustion

Answer: Y) Y) Redox

BONUS bio phrase

In a biology lab, what machine is used to sterilize glassware via the application of very hot steam?

Acceptable Answers:

  • AUTOCLAVE

TOSS-UP math phrase

Joe’s average score on his first four exams was 80. If his average after the fifth exam was 82, what did he score on the fifth test?

Acceptable Answers:

  • 90

BONUS math phrase

What is the coefficient of the \(ab^2\) term in the binomial expansion of \((5a - 6b)^3\)?

Acceptable Answers:

  • 540

TOSS-UP ess phrase

Wolframite is an ore for what transition metal?

Acceptable Answers:

  • TUNGSTEN

BONUS ess multiple_choice

Which of the following statements is true regarding ocean tides and currents? W) Tides are the horizontal movement of ocean water and currents are vertical movements X) Tides are constant while currents are variable Y) Both tides and currents are influenced by gravitational pull Z) Tides and currents vary with the moon phases

W: W) Tides are the horizontal movement of ocean water and currents are vertical movements

X: X) Tides are constant while currents are variable

Y: Y) Both tides and currents are influenced by gravitational pull

Z: Z) Tides and currents vary with the moon phases

Answer: Y) Y) Both tides and currents are influenced by gravitational pull

TOSS-UP phys phrase

If an object is moving in uniform circular motion, there is a force vector pointing towards the center of the circle. What is the name of this force?

Acceptable Answers:

  • CENTRIPETAL FORCE

DO NOT ACCEPT:

  • CENTRIFUGAL FORCE

BONUS phys phrase

How much work, in joules to the nearest integer, is done by gravity when a 2-kilogram ball falls 12 meters to the ground?

Acceptable Answers:

  • 235 J (Using \(W = mgh = 2 \times 9.8 \times 12 \approx 235\))

TOSS-UP energy phrase

What is the most common type of geothermal plant?

Acceptable Answers:

  • FLASH STEAM

BONUS energy multiple_choice

The capacity factor for a power plant is defined as the amount of electric energy generated over a given time period, divided by the amount of electric energy that would have been generated had that plant operated at 100% for the entire time period. Which of the following would be a typical capacity factor for a solar photovoltaic power plant? W) 5% X) 20% Y) 50% Z) 80%

W: W) 5%

X: X) 20%

Y: Y) 50%

Z: Z) 80%

Answer: X) X) 20%

TOSS-UP math phrase

What are the smallest and largest integers that satisfy the following absolute value inequality: \(\lvert x - 5\rvert < 3\)?

Acceptable Answers:

  • 3 and 7

BONUS math phrase

How many different (that is, non-congruent) isosceles triangles that are not equilateral have the length of each side being an integer between 3 and 6 inclusive?

Acceptable Answers:

  • 11

TOSS-UP energy phrase

In the water-gas shift reaction, what gas reacts with water?

Acceptable Answers:

  • CARBON MONOXIDE

BONUS energy phrase

The radioisotope thermoelectric generators used by NASA to power spacecraft primarily use what radioactive element as a heat source?

Acceptable Answers:

  • PLUTONIUM

TOSS-UP bio phrase

What are the two types of vascular tissue found in plants?

Acceptable Answers:

  • XYLEM and PHLOEM

BONUS bio phrase

What human organ produces glucagon?

Acceptable Answers:

  • PANCREAS

TOSS-UP ess phrase

What type of stellar event created the Crab Nebula?

Acceptable Answers:

  • SUPERNOVA

BONUS ess multiple_choice

Geologically, detritus consists of chunks and smaller grains of rock broken off other rocks by physical weathering and erosion. What is the term for a fragment of detritus? W) Sediment X) Clast Y) Particle Z) Breccia

W: W) Sediment

X: X) Clast

Y: Y) Particle

Z: Z) Breccia

Answer: X) X) Clast

TOSS-UP phys phrase

How many lone pairs does a single molecule of water have?

Acceptable Answers:

  • TWO

BONUS phys phrase

What is the oxidation number of sulfur in the sulfate ion, SO₄²⁻?

Acceptable Answers:

  • +6

TOSS-UP ess multiple_choice

Which of the following is closest to the percentage of mass in our Solar System belonging to the Sun? W) 80 X) 90 Y) 95 Z) 99

W: W) 80

X: X) 90

Y: Y) 95

Z: Z) 99

Answer: Z) Z) 99

BONUS ess multiple_choice

The Chandrasekhar limit sets a theoretical maximum on which of the following properties of a white dwarf star? W) Luminosity X) Mass Y) Age Z) Temperature

W: W) Luminosity

X: X) Mass

Y: Y) Age

Z: Z) Temperature

Answer: X) X) Mass

TOSS-UP bio phrase

What organ system in the human body is responsible for coordinating activities of the body via hormones?

Acceptable Answers:

  • ENDOCRINE

BONUS bio phrase

What type of tissue covers the surface of the vertebrate body and is derived from all three germ layers?

Acceptable Answers:

  • EPITHELIUM

TOSS-UP ess multiple_choice

Just before the totality of a solar eclipse, the Moon's rough surface allows small patches of sunlight to break through. What is this effect known as? W) Diamond ring effect X) Bailey's beads Y) Clavius spots Z) Humboldt dots

W: W) Diamond ring effect

X: X) Bailey's beads

Y: Y) Clavius spots

Z: Z) Humboldt dots

Answer: X) X) Bailey's beads

BONUS ess phrase

Which of the planets of the Solar System has the longest orbital period?

Acceptable Answers:

  • NEPTUNE

TOSS-UP phys phrase

What allotrope of carbon is similar to graphite, but consists of only a single layer of atoms?

Acceptable Answers:

  • GRAPHENE

BONUS phys phrase

In order for nuclear fusion to occur, the repulsion from what fundamental force must be overcome?

Acceptable Answers:

  • ELECTROMAGNETIC

TOSS-UP math phrase

What is the perimeter of a right triangle with legs of length 1 and 3?

Acceptable Answers:

  • 4 + √10 (in KaTeX: $$4 + \sqrt{10}$$)

BONUS math phrase

A 5-digit palindrome has 3 different digits and is divisible by 3. What is the largest such number?

Acceptable Answers:

  • 98,589

TOSS-UP phys phrase

What is the name of the thermodynamic law that describes why the isothermal mixing of two ideal gases is spontaneous?

Acceptable Answers:

  • SECOND LAW OF THERMODYNAMICS
  • THE LAW OF ENTROPY
  • SECOND

BONUS phys phrase

The strongest known hydrogen bond occurs between the fluoride ion and what molecule?

Acceptable Answers:

  • HF
  • HYDROGEN FLUORIDE

TOSS-UP math phrase

What is the slope of the line with equation \(3x + 7y = -21\)?

Acceptable Answers:

  • \(-\tfrac{3}{7}\) (in KaTeX: $$-\frac{3}{7}$$)

BONUS math phrase

In a particular year, if April 17 is on a Friday, on what day of the week is October 29?

Acceptable Answers:

  • THURSDAY

TOSS-UP bio phrase

What is the term for the small, fingerlike projections in the small intestine that increase the overall surface area?

Acceptable Answers:

  • VILLI
  • MICROVILLI

BONUS bio phrase

What is the adjective for the type of muscle contraction that involves the muscle remaining the same length throughout the contraction?

Acceptable Answers:

  • ISOMETRIC

TOSS-UP ess phrase

Lakes and rain on Titan are primarily composed of what compound?

Acceptable Answers:

  • METHANE

BONUS ess phrase

In oceanography, what does the abbreviation PSU stand for?

Acceptable Answers:

  • PRACTICAL SALINITY UNIT

TOSS-UP bio phrase

What is the term for RNA-based viruses that produce DNA once they infect their host?

Acceptable Answers:

  • RETROVIRUS

BONUS bio phrase

What kind of tropism in plants occurs as a result of touch?

Acceptable Answers:

  • THIGMOTROPISM