HS Sample Set 9, Round 1 from NSB

Questions in Packet

TOSS-UP ess phrase

What term is used to describe the point on the surface, below which an earthquake originates?

Acceptable Answers:

  • EPICENTER

BONUS ess multiple_choice

You are traveling west by jet and cross three time zone boundaries. If your watch reads 3:00 p.m. when you arrive, to what time should you reset it? W) 12:00 noon X) 6:00 p.m. Y) 12:00 midnight Z) 6:00 a.m.

W: W) 12:00 noon

X: X) 6:00 p.m.

Y: Y) 12:00 midnight

Z: Z) 6:00 a.m.

Answer: W) W) 12:00 noon

TOSS-UP bio phrase

What type of leukocytes, characterized by their CD4 receptors, secrete cytokines that activate nearby B and T cells?

Acceptable Answers:

  • HELPER T CELLS

BONUS bio phrase

What is the term used to describe a virus that attacks bacteria?

Acceptable Answers:

  • BACTERIOPHAGE
  • PHAGE

TOSS-UP math phrase

Where is the derivative of the function $$f(x) = 2x^2 + 5x - 3$$ equal to zero?

Acceptable Answers:

  • x = -5/4
  • x = -1.25, x = -1¼

BONUS math phrase

If the line tangent to the graph of the function $$f(x)$$ at the point $$(1,3)$$ passes through the point $$(-1.5,-2)$$, what is the value of the derivative of $$f(x)$$ when $$x = 1$$?

Acceptable Answers:

  • 2

TOSS-UP energy multiple_choice

If the frequency of a wave is decreased, which of the following changes must occur for the wave to maintain a constant velocity? W) The period must decrease X) The wavelength must increase Y) The amplitude must increase Z) The amplitude must decrease

W: W) The period must decrease

X: X) The wavelength must increase

Y: Y) The amplitude must increase

Z: Z) The amplitude must decrease

Answer: X) X) The wavelength must increase

BONUS energy phrase

What is the process in plant metabolism in which Rubisco adds oxygen instead of carbon dioxide into the carbon intermediate of the Calvin Cycle, thus reducing photosynthetic efficiency?

Acceptable Answers:

  • PHOTORESPIRATION

TOSS-UP chem phrase

What name is given to the thermodynamic state function equal to the sum of internal energy and the product of pressure and volume, whose difference in a chemical reaction is equal to the isobaric heat transfer accompanying the reaction, and which is symbolized by the letter H?

Acceptable Answers:

  • ENTHALPY

BONUS chem multiple_choice

Which of the following statements regarding stoichiometry is not true? W) Calculating a stoichiometric ratio of reagents assumes the reaction goes to completion X) Volume ratios can be substituted for molar ratios in calculations for gas phase reactions Y) Percent yield is the ratio of theoretical yield to empirical yield for a reaction Z) Limiting reagent calculations require knowledge of the molar masses of all reactant species

W: W) Calculating a stoichiometric ratio of reagents assumes the reaction goes to completion

X: X) Volume ratios can be substituted for molar ratios in calculations for gas phase reactions

Y: Y) Percent yield is the ratio of theoretical yield to empirical yield for a reaction

Z: Z) Limiting reagent calculations require knowledge of the molar masses of all reactant species

Answer: Y) Y) Percent yield is the ratio of theoretical yield to empirical yield for a reaction

TOSS-UP phys phrase

The electric potential at a point due to a unit positive charge is found to be V. If the distance between the charge and the point is quadrupled, what is the new value of the electric potential?

Acceptable Answers:

  • V/4

BONUS phys multiple_choice

Which of the following statements is not true regarding light? W) The energy of light increases as frequency increases X) Refraction occurs when a beam of light travels between mediums with different indices of refraction Y) Light can be thought of as a self-propagating electromagnetic wave Z) Diffraction arises due to the wave-like properties of light, but interference is due to the particle-like properties of light

W: W) The energy of light increases as frequency increases

X: X) Refraction occurs when a beam of light travels between mediums with different indices of refraction

Y: Y) Light can be thought of as a self-propagating electromagnetic wave

Z: Z) Diffraction arises due to the wave-like properties of light, but interference is due to the particle-like properties of light

Answer: Z) Z) Diffraction arises due to the wave-like properties of light, but interference is due to the particle-like properties of light

TOSS-UP ess phrase

What extremely luminous explosion of radiation occurs from the death of a massive star?

Acceptable Answers:

  • SUPERNOVA

BONUS ess phrase

What greenhouse gas has the greatest abundance in the atmosphere?

Acceptable Answers:

  • WATER VAPOR

TOSS-UP bio phrase

When a phylogenetic tree has the fewest number of evolutionary events possible, it is said to embody what principle of simplicity?

Acceptable Answers:

  • PARSIMONY

BONUS bio phrase

What phenomenon involves the injection of double-stranded RNAs turning off the expression of genes with the same sequence as the RNA?

Acceptable Answers:

  • RNA INTERFERENCE

TOSS-UP energy phrase

What is the SI unit commonly used to measure electrical resistance?

Acceptable Answers:

  • OHM

BONUS energy phrase

What law in physical chemistry, important in reaction thermodynamics, states that the total enthalpy change of a reaction is the sum of the enthalpy changes of each step of the reaction?

Acceptable Answers:

  • HESS’S LAW

TOSS-UP math phrase

If one side of a right triangle is 14 inches and its opposite angle is 30 degrees, what is the diameter of the circle circumscribed around this triangle?

Acceptable Answers:

  • 28

BONUS math phrase

A particle’s position is defined by the equation $$x(t) = 2t^3 - 15t^2 + 24t - 60$$. At what times $$t$$ is the particle at rest?

Acceptable Answers:

  • 1, 4

TOSS-UP chem multiple_choice

Ceramic materials typically belong to what class of solid structure? W) Network solid X) Ionic solid Y) Molecular solid Z) Metallic solid

W: W) Network solid

X: X) Ionic solid

Y: Y) Molecular solid

Z: Z) Metallic solid

Answer: W) W) Network solid

BONUS chem phrase

Consider the reaction of nitrogen dioxide with molecular oxygen to form dinitrogen pentoxide. If the rate of consumption of oxygen gas is 1 liter per minute, what is the rate, in liters per minute, of disappearance of nitrogen dioxide gas?

Acceptable Answers:

  • 4

TOSS-UP phys multiple_choice

What is the name of the principle that states that an object, partly or completely, submerged in a fluid will experience a buoyant force equal to the weight of the fluid the object displaces? W) Newton X) Bernoulli Y) Pascal Z) Archimedes

W: W) Newton

X: X) Bernoulli

Y: Y) Pascal

Z: Z) Archimedes

Answer: Z) Z) Archimedes

BONUS phys multiple_choice

Which of the following statements is NOT true regarding a wheel rolling along a surface? W) If the wheel is rolling smoothly, the only friction acting on it is static friction X) When rolling down a ramp, the force of static friction on the wheel is directed down the ramp Y) When rolling on a flat surface, the force of static friction on the wheel is directed in the opposite direction as the motion of the wheel Z) For a wheel rolling down a ramp, the normal force is perpendicular to the ramp

W: W) If the wheel is rolling smoothly, the only friction acting on it is static friction

X: X) When rolling down a ramp, the force of static friction on the wheel is directed down the ramp

Y: Y) When rolling on a flat surface, the force of static friction on the wheel is directed in the opposite direction as the motion of the wheel

Z: Z) For a wheel rolling down a ramp, the normal force is perpendicular to the ramp

Answer: X) X) When rolling down a ramp, the force of static friction on the wheel is directed down the ramp

TOSS-UP ess phrase

What force is primarily responsible for the collapse of molecular clouds into stars?

Acceptable Answers:

  • GRAVITY

BONUS ess multiple_choice

Native to Asia, the Burmese python was brought to the United States for sale as a pet. Owners released their Burmese pythons into the wild of the Florida Everglades, creating ecological problems in that habitat. Which best describes the Burmese Python? W) Non-competitive species X) Invasive species Y) Keystone species Z) Primary succession

W: W) Non-competitive species

X: X) Invasive species

Y: Y) Keystone species

Z: Z) Primary succession

Answer: X) X) Invasive species

TOSS-UP math phrase

In what quadrants does the graph of the equation $$y = -2x - 3$$ lie?

Acceptable Answers:

  • II, III, and IV
  • second, third, and fourth
  • all but first

BONUS math phrase

Assuming x is a value for which the denominator is defined, simplify the fraction with numerator $$6x^2 + 4x - 2$$ and denominator $$12x^2 - 4x$$.

Acceptable Answers:

  • (x + 1)/(2x)

TOSS-UP chem multiple_choice

Which of the following elemental substances is not at standard state? W) Diamond at 25 °C and one atmosphere X) Rhombic sulfur at 25 °C and one atmosphere Y) Gaseous dioxygen at 25 °C and one atmosphere Z) Gaseous neon at 25 °C and one atmosphere

W: W) Diamond at 25 °C and one atmosphere

X: X) Rhombic sulfur at 25 °C and one atmosphere

Y: Y) Gaseous dioxygen at 25 °C and one atmosphere

Z: Z) Gaseous neon at 25 °C and one atmosphere

Answer: W) W) Diamond at 25 °C and one atmosphere

BONUS chem multiple_choice

Metallic sodium will react with water to form sodium hydroxide and hydrogen gas. What type of reaction is this? W) Synthesis X) Decomposition Y) Single displacement Z) Double displacement

W: W) Synthesis

X: X) Decomposition

Y: Y) Single displacement

Z: Z) Double displacement

Answer: Y) Y) Single displacement

TOSS-UP bio phrase

What neurotransmitter is released by motor neurons at the neuromuscular junction?

Acceptable Answers:

  • ACETYLCHOLINE

BONUS bio multiple_choice

Which of the following is a monosaccharide? W) Sucrose X) Galactose Y) Maltose Z) Lactose

W: W) Sucrose

X: X) Galactose

Y: Y) Maltose

Z: Z) Lactose

Answer: X) X) Galactose

TOSS-UP energy phrase

What is the name of the prediction in classical physics that incorrectly proposed that an ideal black body at thermal equilibrium will emit increasingly higher frequencies of radiation with infinite power?

Acceptable Answers:

  • ULTRAVIOLET CATASTROPHE
  • RAYLEIGH-JEANS CATASTROPHE

BONUS energy phrase

What is the primary energy carrier that is synthesized in the Krebs Cycle and is one of the most common reducing agents in the cell?

Acceptable Answers:

  • NADH; NICOTINAMIDE ADENINE DINUCLEOTIDE

DO NOT ACCEPT:

  • NAD+

TOSS-UP phys multiple_choice

The lines in the visible region of the hydrogen spectrum are known as the: W) Balmer series X) Lyman series Y) Paschen series Z) Bohr series

W: W) Balmer series

X: X) Lyman series

Y: Y) Paschen series

Z: Z) Bohr series

Answer: W) W) Balmer series

BONUS phys multiselect

Color confinement refers to the inability to find what two particles in isolation?

Choices:

  • Quarks
  • Gluons

Correct Answers:

  • 1
  • 2

TOSS-UP ess phrase

What prefix describes clouds found in the middle altitude range?

Acceptable Answers:

  • ALTO

BONUS ess phrase

What gravitationally bound systems of matter, classified by the Hubble sequence, are the basic units of the Universe?

Acceptable Answers:

  • GALAXIES

TOSS-UP bio phrase

What immunoglobulin class is the largest antibody present in the human circulatory system?

Acceptable Answers:

  • IgM

BONUS bio multiple_choice

A scientist isolates a small amount of DNA from a Tyrannosaur fossil. Which of the following would be most useful for increasing the amount of DNA with which the scientist has to work? W) RFLP analysis X) Polymerase chain reaction Y) Southern blotting Z) SDS-PAGE

W: W) RFLP analysis

X: X) Polymerase chain reaction

Y: Y) Southern blotting

Z: Z) SDS-PAGE

Answer: X) X) Polymerase chain reaction

TOSS-UP math phrase

If $$f(x)$$ equals the cube root of $$(x + 8)$$, what is $$f^{-1}(6)$$?

Acceptable Answers:

  • 208

BONUS math phrase

What is the sum of all the distinct prime factors of $$15!$$?

Acceptable Answers:

  • 41

TOSS-UP chem phrase

What laboratory instrument, containing gradations that increase from top to bottom, is used to deliver precise quantities of titrant to the analyte in a titration?

Acceptable Answers:

  • BURETTE
  • BURET

BONUS chem phrase

If you have 50 milliliters of a 0.75 M solution of NaCl, how much water, in milliliters, should you add to dilute the NaCl concentration to 0.25 M?

Acceptable Answers:

  • 100

TOSS-UP phys phrase

A 100 milliwatt laser delivers $$2.50 \times 10^{17}$$ photons per second. Expressing your answer in scientific notation with one significant figure, how much energy in joules does each photon deliver?

Acceptable Answers:

  • $4 \times 10^{-19}$

BONUS phys phrase

Radiation dose equivalents are measured in what SI unit?

Acceptable Answers:

  • SIEVERTS