HS Sample Set 10, Round 14 from NSB

Questions in Packet

TOSS-UP ess phrase

What class of barred spiral galaxies has the most tightly wound arms?

Acceptable Answers:

  • SBa
  • a

BONUS ess multiple_choice

Which of the following rock types would be most susceptible to chemical weathering by tropical rainfall? W) Granite X) Andesite Y) Dacite Z) Basalt

W: W) Granite

X: X) Andesite

Y: Y) Dacite

Z: Z) Basalt

Answer: Z) Z) Basalt

TOSS-UP energy phrase

What energy use comprises the greatest percentage of energy used in commercial buildings in the US?

Acceptable Answers:

  • HEATING

BONUS energy phrase

Uranium-235 and plutonium-239 can be used as fuel in a reactor because they are fissile. Uranium-238, the most abundant form of natural uranium, is NOT fissile, but can be converted to plutonium by absorbing neutrons. What term describes material that can be converted to fuel in this way?

Acceptable Answers:

  • FERTILE

TOSS-UP phys multiselect

Identify all of the following four elements that are most commonly used as semiconductor material in integrated circuits: 1) Silicon; 2) Copper; 3) Germanium; 4) Indium.

Choices:

  • Silicon
  • Copper
  • Germanium
  • Indium

Correct Answers:

  • 1
  • 3

BONUS phys multiple_choice

Which of the following particles does NOT correspond to one of the four basic types of radiation? W) Electron X) Helium nucleus Y) Photon Z) Lithium nucleus

W: W) Electron

X: X) Helium nucleus

Y: Y) Photon

Z: Z) Lithium nucleus

Answer: Z) Z) Lithium nucleus

TOSS-UP bio multiple_choice

Which of the following provides the best example of a situation in which genetic drift would play a significant role within a population? W) Non-random mating among plants with purple flowers leads to inbreeding and homozygous lethal conditions that prevent seed germination X) In a large population of plants with purple flowers, one individual exhibits white flowers caused by a mutation Y) In a small population of plants with purple flowers, three white-flowered individuals exist. A deer eats two of the three white-flowered plants, thus removing them from the population Z) In a small population of plants where some individuals have white and some have purple flowers, bees strongly prefer the purple flowers, thus more seeds are produced from the purple individuals.

W: W) Non-random mating among plants with purple flowers leads to inbreeding and homozygous lethal conditions that prevent seed germination

X: X) In a large population of plants with purple flowers, one individual exhibits white flowers caused by a mutation

Y: Y) In a small population of plants with purple flowers, three white-flowered individuals exist. A deer eats two of the three white-flowered plants, thus removing them from the population

Z: Z) In a small population of plants where some individuals have white and some have purple flowers, bees strongly prefer the purple flowers, thus more seeds are produced from the purple individuals.

Answer: Y) Y) In a small population of plants with purple flowers, three white-flowered individuals exist. A deer eats two of the three white-flowered plants, thus removing them from the population

BONUS bio phrase

Phosphofructokinase catalyzes the formation of what molecule from fructose-6-phosphate?

Acceptable Answers:

  • FRUCTOSE-1,6-BISPHOSPHATE

TOSS-UP math multiple_choice

Let \(f(x)\) be a polynomial function with real coefficients and at least one real root. Which of the following must be true? W) \(f(x)\) has an even number of non-real complex roots X) \(f(x)\) is of odd degree Y) \(f(x)\) is an even function Z) The graph of \(f(x)\) has a horizontal asymptote

W: W) \(f(x)\) has an even number of non-real complex roots

X: X) \(f(x)\) is of odd degree

Y: Y) \(f(x)\) is an even function

Z: Z) The graph of \(f(x)\) has a horizontal asymptote

Answer: W) W) \(f(x)\) has an even number of non-real complex roots

BONUS math phrase

A square has sides of length 10 centimeters. In square centimeters, what is the difference between the areas of its circumscribing circle and its inscribed circle?

Acceptable Answers:

  • \(25\pi\)

TOSS-UP chem phrase

Molten cryolite is used in what industrial process?

Acceptable Answers:

  • HALL-HÉROULT PROCESS

BONUS chem phrase

In VSEPR theory, what is the angle, in degrees, between adjacent bonds in an octahedral molecule?

Acceptable Answers:

  • 90

TOSS-UP ess multiple_choice

Which of the following clay minerals forms from the weathering of feldspar and is the main component of most porcelain? W) Kaolinite X) Chlorite Y) Saponite Z) Vermiculite

W: W) Kaolinite

X: X) Chlorite

Y: Y) Saponite

Z: Z) Vermiculite

Answer: W) W) Kaolinite

BONUS ess phrase

What is the right ascension, to the nearest hour, of the Sun on the summer solstice?

Acceptable Answers:

  • 6

TOSS-UP phys phrase

What force carrying particle holds quarks together inside of hadrons?

Acceptable Answers:

  • GLUONS

BONUS phys phrase

You're standing at home plate on a baseball diamond. From 20 meters away, a pitcher throws a 100-gram baseball towards you at –40 m/s. The baseball strikes you in the arm and bounces directly back to the pitcher at +5 m/s. What impulse, in newton-seconds rounded to the nearest tenth, did your arm deliver to the ball during the collisions?

Acceptable Answers:

  • +4.5
  • 4.5

DO NOT ACCEPT:

  • –4.5

TOSS-UP bio phrase

Chlorophyll is a pigment that chelates what metal center?

Acceptable Answers:

  • MAGNESIUM

BONUS bio multiple_choice

Which of the following hormones is most pronouncedly elevated in a woman undergoing menopause? W) Follicle-stimulating hormone X) Estrogen Y) Progesterone Z) Testosterone

W: W) Follicle-stimulating hormone

X: X) Estrogen

Y: Y) Progesterone

Z: Z) Testosterone

Answer: W) W) Follicle-stimulating hormone

TOSS-UP math multiple_choice

Which of the following equations does NOT include the half-line \(y = x\), where \(x\) and \(y\) are positive, in its solution set? W) \(x^y = y^x\) X) \(\cos(xy) = \sin(xy)\) Y) \(x \ln y = y \ln x\) Z) \(2^x + 3y = 2y + 3x\)

W: W) \(x^y = y^x\)

X: X) \(\cos(xy) = \sin(xy)\)

Y: Y) \(x \ln y = y \ln x\)

Z: Z) \(2^x + 3y = 2y + 3x\)

Answer: X) X) \(\cos(xy) = \sin(xy)\)

BONUS math phrase

A national achievement test is administered. The test has a mean score of 100 and a standard deviation of 10. If Ann’s Z-score is –1.3, what is her score on the test?

Acceptable Answers:

  • 87

TOSS-UP chem order

Order the following three ions from smallest to largest in terms of ionic radii: 1) Cl⁻; 2) Br⁻; 3) O²⁻.

Choices:

  • Cl⁻
  • Br⁻
  • O²⁻

Correct Order:

  • 3
  • 1
  • 2

BONUS chem phrase

What is the general term for the type of catalyst one would use when reacting two immiscible substances or substances in different phases?

Acceptable Answers:

  • PHASE-TRANSFER CATALYST

TOSS-UP energy multiple_choice

Which of the following policies allows users with renewable energy sources to sell excess electricity generated to the utility grid and receive compensation? W) Renewable Energy Portfolio Standards X) Feed-in Tariff Y) Net Metering Agreement Z) Carbon Cap and Trade

W: W) Renewable Energy Portfolio Standards

X: X) Feed-in Tariff

Y: Y) Net Metering Agreement

Z: Z) Carbon Cap and Trade

Answer: Y) Y) Net Metering Agreement

BONUS energy multiple_choice

Which of the following countries currently has a full ban on incandescent light bulbs? W) United States X) Australia Y) Argentina Z) Italy

W: W) United States

X: X) Australia

Y: Y) Argentina

Z: Z) Italy

Answer: Y) Y) Argentina

TOSS-UP math multiple_choice

Given two sets \(A\) and \(B\) with \(A \cup B\) containing exactly 3 elements, which of the following must be true about sets \(A\) and \(B\)? W) Each set contains at least 2 elements X) Each set contains at most 2 elements Y) Each set contains at least 3 elements Z) Each set contains at most 3 elements

W: W) Each set contains at least 2 elements

X: X) Each set contains at most 2 elements

Y: Y) Each set contains at least 3 elements

Z: Z) Each set contains at most 3 elements

Answer: Z) Z) Each set contains at most 3 elements

BONUS math phrase

What is the area between the curves \(y = x + 3\) and \(y = x^3\) between \(x = 0\) and \(x = 1\)?

Acceptable Answers:

  • \(\tfrac{13}{4}\)
  • 3.25
  • 3 ¼

TOSS-UP bio phrase

What plant-signaling molecule, similar in structure to aspirin, is thought to be produced around infection sites and carried by the phloem throughout the plant?

Acceptable Answers:

  • METHYLSALICYLIC ACID
  • METHYL SALICYLATE
  • WINTERGREEN OIL

BONUS bio multiple_choice

The phase of the Plasmodium life cycle in which it lives in the salivary gland of the mosquito is called which of the following? W) Sporozoite X) Trophozoite Y) Schizont Z) Gametocyte

W: W) Sporozoite

X: X) Trophozoite

Y: Y) Schizont

Z: Z) Gametocyte

Answer: W) W) Sporozoite

TOSS-UP phys phrase

What dimensionless quantity is usually defined as the useful output of a heat engine divided by the amount of heat energy input?

Acceptable Answers:

  • EFFICIENCY

BONUS phys multiple_choice

By what factor is the intensity of a sound wave multiplied when both angular frequency and displacement amplitude are halved? W) 1/16 X) 1/4 Y) 4 Z) 16

W: W) 1/16

X: X) 1/4

Y: Y) 4

Z: Z) 16

Answer: W) W) 1/16

TOSS-UP chem phrase

What is the name for the change in rate of reaction when one of the atoms in the reactants is substituted with one of its isotopes?

Acceptable Answers:

  • KINETIC ISOTOPE EFFECT

BONUS chem phrase

Selenous acid is a weak diprotic acid with formula H₂SeO₃. Its first pKa value is 2.5 and its second is 7.3. To one decimal place, what is the pH of a 1 molar solution of sodium hydroselenite, the amphiprotic salt of selenous acid?

Acceptable Answers:

  • 4.9

TOSS-UP ess multiple_choice

Which of the following gases varies the most by volume within the planetary boundary layer? W) Ozone X) Oxygen Y) Water vapor Z) Carbon dioxide

W: W) Ozone

X: X) Oxygen

Y: Y) Water vapor

Z: Z) Carbon dioxide

Answer: Y) Y) Water vapor

BONUS ess phrase

Given that the global average precipitation is 1000 millimeters per year and the total water vapor in the Earth's atmosphere is estimated to equal a liquid water layer of 25 millimeters, to the nearest whole number of days, what is the average residence time of water vapor in the Earth's atmosphere?

Acceptable Answers:

  • 9

TOSS-UP ess multiple_choice

Striations, U-shaped valleys, and fjords are all landscape features formed by what process? W) Fluvial erosion X) Fluvial deposition Y) Glacial erosion Z) Glacial deposition

W: W) Fluvial erosion

X: X) Fluvial deposition

Y: Y) Glacial erosion

Z: Z) Glacial deposition

Answer: Y) Y) Glacial erosion

BONUS ess order

Given that a day on Jupiter is about ten hours long, rank the following surface locations on the Earth and Jupiter from the one that experiences the smallest Coriolis effect to the one that experiences the greatest Coriolis effect: 1) Jupiter's equator; 2) Jupiter's North pole; 3) Earth's North pole; 4) Earth's tropic of Cancer.

Choices:

  • Jupiter's equator
  • Jupiter's North pole
  • Earth's North pole
  • Earth's tropic of Cancer

Correct Order:

  • 1
  • 4
  • 3
  • 2

TOSS-UP energy multiple_choice

Which of the following is the best estimate of the percent of electricity produced in the United States using petroleum in 2014? W) 1 X) 5 Y) 10 Z) 15

W: W) 1

X: X) 5

Y: Y) 10

Z: Z) 15

Answer: W) W) 1

BONUS energy phrase

Nearly all residential electricity in the United States is supplied at electrical outlets at what voltage, in volts, and frequency in Hertz?

Acceptable Answers:

  • 120, 60

TOSS-UP chem multiselect

Identify all of the following three statements that are ALWAYS true regarding an adiabatic process: 1) Change in internal energy equals zero; 2) Heat transfer equals zero; 3) Change in internal energy equals heat transfer.

Choices:

  • Change in internal energy equals zero
  • Heat transfer equals zero
  • Change in internal energy equals heat transfer

Correct Answers:

  • 2

BONUS chem phrase

In organic synthesis, what metal is added to alkyl halides to generate nucleophilic Grignard reagents that can react with ketones and aldehydes?

Acceptable Answers:

  • MAGNESIUM
  • Mg

TOSS-UP phys phrase

In the field of electrostatics, integrals of electric field over a closed surface yield electric flux. What is the term for such a closed surface?

Acceptable Answers:

  • GAUSSIAN SURFACE
  • GAUSSIAN

BONUS phys phrase

What instrument is designed to measure the presence, direction, and strength of an electric current in a conductor, with its earliest versions simply consisting of a compass surrounded by a wire coil?

Acceptable Answers:

  • GALVANOMETER

DO NOT ACCEPT:

  • AMMETER

TOSS-UP math phrase

What is the log base 3 of 729?

Acceptable Answers:

  • 6

BONUS math phrase

A restaurant’s \$4 box allows you to pick any 2 of 4 possible entrees (including 2 of the same), one of 2 sides, one of 2 desserts, and one of 3 drinks. How many different orders are possible?

Acceptable Answers:

  • 120

TOSS-UP phys multiple_choice

Which of the following quarks does NOT have negative charge? W) Charm X) Strange Y) Down Z) Bottom

W: W) Charm

X: X) Strange

Y: Y) Down

Z: Z) Bottom

Answer: W) W) Charm

BONUS phys multiple_choice

Which of the following processes imposes the restriction that the work done on the system is zero, and the change in internal energy is equal to the heat added? W) Adiabatic X) Constant volume Y) Closed cycle Z) Free expansion

W: W) Adiabatic

X: X) Constant volume

Y: Y) Closed cycle

Z: Z) Free expansion

Answer: X) X) Constant volume