HS Sample Set 16, Round 1 from NSB

Questions in Packet

TOSS-UP energy phrase

Scientists at Fermi National Lab are studying the decay modes of the lightest group of mesons. What is the name of this group of 3 particles?

Acceptable Answers:

  • PIONS
  • PI MESONS

BONUS energy multiselect

Identify all of the following three changes that are consequences of an El Niño event: 1) Increases in soil moisture in India; 2) High air pressure in the Western Pacific; 3) High sea surface temperatures off the coast of Peru.

Choices:

  • Increases in soil moisture in India
  • High air pressure in the Western Pacific
  • High sea surface temperatures off the coast of Peru

Correct Answers:

  • 2
  • 3

TOSS-UP math multiple_choice

In the prime factorization of a perfect square, the exponents of the prime factors must be which of the following types of numbers? W) Even X) Odd Y) Prime Z) Perfect squares

W: W) Even

X: X) Odd

Y: Y) Prime

Z: Z) Perfect squares

Answer: W) W) Even

BONUS math phrase

A right circular cylinder has height 15 and diameter 18. What is its surface area?

Acceptable Answers:

  • 432π

TOSS-UP phys multiple_choice

Which of the following best describes the volume of a 10-gram sample of water as a function of temperature? W) Linearly increasing from 0 to 100 degrees Celsius X) Linearly decreasing from 0 to 100 degrees Celsius Y) Non-linear with a local maximum at 4 degrees Celsius Z) Non-linear with a local minimum at 4 degrees Celsius

W: W) Linearly increasing from 0 to 100 degrees Celsius

X: X) Linearly decreasing from 0 to 100 degrees Celsius

Y: Y) Non-linear with a local maximum at 4 degrees Celsius

Z: Z) Non-linear with a local minimum at 4 degrees Celsius

Answer: Z) Z) Non-linear with a local minimum at 4 degrees Celsius

BONUS phys phrase

Lightning strikes a lightning rod on a building that is 3 kilometers away from you. To the nearest whole second, how long will it take the sound of the thunder to reach you?

Acceptable Answers:

  • 9

TOSS-UP bio phrase

What vitamin is essential in humans for the synthesis of several blood clotting factors?

Acceptable Answers:

  • K
  • PHYLLOQUINONE, MENAQUINONE, PHYTOMENADIONE, K1, K2

BONUS bio multiple_choice

Coronaviruses are positive-sense single-stranded RNA viruses. Which of the following describes how their genetic material is processed after entering a cell? W) Transcribed to mRNA with RNA-dependent RNA polymerase X) Directly translated by host ribosomes Y) Reverse transcribed to DNA with reverse transcriptase Z) Translated after assembly of viral ribosomes

W: W) Transcribed to mRNA with RNA-dependent RNA polymerase

X: X) Directly translated by host ribosomes

Y: Y) Reverse transcribed to DNA with reverse transcriptase

Z: Z) Translated after assembly of viral ribosomes

Answer: X) X) Directly translated by host ribosomes

TOSS-UP chem phrase

What is the value of the reaction quotient when the change in Gibbs free energy is zero?

Acceptable Answers:

  • K
  • EQUILIBRIUM CONSTANT

BONUS chem phrase

Match the flame test colors blue, green, and purple to the following three metals or compounds: 1) Boric acid; 2) Potassium; 3) Cesium.

Acceptable Answers:

  • 1) GREEN; 2) PURPLE; 3) BLUE
  • BORIC ACID IS GREEN, POTASSIUM IS PURPLE, CESIUM IS BLUE

TOSS-UP ess phrase

Jet streams are located at what boundary in Earth's atmosphere?

Acceptable Answers:

  • TROPOPAUSE

BONUS ess phrase

Speleothem cave deposits are most typically composed of what type of rock?

Acceptable Answers:

  • LIMESTONE

TOSS-UP energy phrase

Scientists supported by the Department of Energy are developing new ways to synthesize carbon fiber. In carbon fiber, what is the hybridization state of the carbon atoms?

Acceptable Answers:

  • SP2

BONUS energy phrase

Scientists supported by the Department of Energy are producing catalysts for methanol production. They are synthesizing methanol via the oxidation of what organic starting material?

Acceptable Answers:

  • METHANE

TOSS-UP math phrase

If f is a continuous function such that the definite integral from 4 to 8 of f(x) dx equals 24, what is the average value of f on the closed interval from 4 to 8?

Acceptable Answers:

  • 6

BONUS math phrase

If the product of cosine x and sine x is –1/6, what is the value of (cos x – sin x)²?

Acceptable Answers:

  • 4/3
  • 1 1/3

TOSS-UP phys phrase

J.J. Thomson won the Nobel Prize in Physics for calculating the charge-to-mass ratio of what particles in cathode rays?

Acceptable Answers:

  • ELECTRONS

BONUS phys phrase

The x-component and the y-component of an object’s velocity are both 5 meters per second. In meters per second, what is the speed of this object?

Acceptable Answers:

  • 5√2

TOSS-UP bio phrase

Ducks have webbed feet while chickens do not. This morphogenetic difference is mediated by BMP4 and Gremlin, which are proteins involved in what cellular process?

Acceptable Answers:

  • APOPTOSIS

BONUS bio multiselect

Identify all of the following three compounds that are derivatives of cholesterol: 1) Testosterone; 2) Cortisol; 3) Retinol.

Choices:

  • Testosterone
  • Cortisol
  • Retinol

Correct Answers:

  • 1
  • 2

TOSS-UP chem multiple_choice

Kate is performing an experiment where she has a chamber containing an inert gas. The chamber is at a fixed temperature and she varies the pressure of the chamber. She generates a curve by plotting pressure on the x-axis and PV over RT on the y-axis. At which of the following fixed chamber temperatures, in kelvins, would this curve be the MOST linear? W) 250 X) 500 Y) 1000 Z) 1500

W: W) 250

X: X) 500

Y: Y) 1000

Z: Z) 1500

Answer: Z) Z) 1500

BONUS chem multiselect

Identify all of the following four acids that are considered weak acids: 1) HF; 2) CH₃COOH; 3) HCN; 4) H₃PO₄.

Choices:

  • HF
  • CH₃COOH
  • HCN
  • H₃PO₄

Correct Answers:

  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4

TOSS-UP ess phrase

What is the name for the gap between Saturn’s A and B rings?

Acceptable Answers:

  • CASSINI DIVISION
  • CASSINI

BONUS ess multiple_choice

In kelvins, which of the following is closest to the radiative equilibrium temperature of Earth? W) 100 X) 250 Y) 300 Z) 350

W: W) 100

X: X) 250

Y: Y) 300

Z: Z) 350

Answer: X) X) 250

TOSS-UP energy phrase

Argonne National Lab researchers are studying photocatalysts made of Cu₂O to reduce carbon dioxide into methanol. What is the IUPAC name for Cu₂O?

Acceptable Answers:

  • COPPER (I) OXIDE

DO NOT ACCEPT:

  • CUPROUS OXIDE

BONUS energy multiselect

Identify all of the following three statements that are true of opsins: 1) They are G-protein-coupled receptors; 2) They are found in the retina; 3) They are covalently bound to retinal when active.

Choices:

  • They are G-protein-coupled receptors
  • They are found in the retina
  • They are covalently bound to retinal when active

Correct Answers:

  • 1
  • 2
  • 3

TOSS-UP math phrase

What is the discriminant of the quadratic polynomial 8x² + 7x – 2?

Acceptable Answers:

  • 113

BONUS math phrase

Lloyd is asked by his teacher to subtract 4 from a number and multiply the result by 2. Instead, he subtracts 2 and then multiplies the result by 4, giving him 124. What is the correct answer to the teacher’s question?

Acceptable Answers:

  • 58

TOSS-UP phys multiple_choice

Which of the following are the units of entropy? W) Joules X) Newtons per kelvin Y) Watts Z) Joules per kelvin

W: W) Joules

X: X) Newtons per kelvin

Y: Y) Watts

Z: Z) Joules per kelvin

Answer: Z) Z) Joules per kelvin

BONUS phys phrase

A car starting at rest undergoes a constant acceleration of 16 meters per second squared. In meters per second, what is the speed of the car after it has traveled half a meter?

Acceptable Answers:

  • 4

TOSS-UP bio phrase

What chromosome are Barr bodies derived from?

Acceptable Answers:

  • X

BONUS bio multiple_choice

In eukaryotic cells, the electron transport chain directly performs which of the following actions? W) Generating ATP X) Generating GTP Y) Pumping protons into the mitochondrial matrix Z) Pumping protons into the intermembrane space

W: W) Generating ATP

X: X) Generating GTP

Y: Y) Pumping protons into the mitochondrial matrix

Z: Z) Pumping protons into the intermembrane space

Answer: Z) Z) Pumping protons into the intermembrane space

TOSS-UP chem phrase

What principle states that two electrons cannot have the same quantum numbers?

Acceptable Answers:

  • PAULI EXCLUSION PRINCIPLE

BONUS chem multiple_choice

Which of the following statements is true regarding the energetics of electrochemical cells? W) For a voltaic cell, E-cell is positive and delta G is positive X) For a voltaic cell, E-cell is positive and delta G is negative Y) For an electrolytic cell, E-cell is negative and delta G is negative Z) For an electrolytic cell, E-cell is positive and delta G is negative

W: W) For a voltaic cell, E-cell is positive and delta G is positive

X: X) For a voltaic cell, E-cell is positive and delta G is negative

Y: Y) For an electrolytic cell, E-cell is negative and delta G is negative

Z: Z) For an electrolytic cell, E-cell is positive and delta G is negative

Answer: X) X) For a voltaic cell, E-cell is positive and delta G is negative

TOSS-UP ess phrase

In what phase is the Moon when moonrise occurs at noon?

Acceptable Answers:

  • FIRST QUARTER

BONUS ess multiple_choice

Which of the following types of stars has a luminosity most similar to that of red dwarfs? W) Red giants X) Yellow dwarfs Y) White dwarfs Z) Brown dwarfs

W: W) Red giants

X: X) Yellow dwarfs

Y: Y) White dwarfs

Z: Z) Brown dwarfs

Answer: Y) Y) White dwarfs